Ace Bailey is a possible chip for the Utah Jazz if they really want to trade up with the Washington Wizards and get BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. However, the Wizards might insist on an even more valuable piece along with future first-round picks: Lauri Markkanen. NBA draft analyst Nathan Grubel talked about the possibility at his Substack:
“I say all of this to say, IF there is any opportunity for the Jazz to trade up in the draft, then that possibility should be explored. Dybantsa would give the Jazz a true one-on-one wing scorer who has the length and athleticism to make more of an impact on the defensive end of the floor than a Brice Sensabaugh, for example—not to mention that he would command secondary reps and make the lives of Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, and Lauri Markkanen easier. That team would benefit from having another lead engine who could attack mismatches in pick-and-roll and create off the dribble. That type of trade would likely mean multiple first-round picks and possibly a prized young player going back the other way. Washington was interested in Ace Bailey last year. Would that potentially be a way to get him in the mix while also still having a high pick to take Peterson or Boozer?
“I’ll be keeping a close eye on what Utah decides to do in the draft, be it stand pat, move up, OR even move off another player like a Markkanen, if a Godfather offer is out there. The Jazz should be in asset accumulation mode for as long as possible. I wouldn’t move someone like Lauri just to move him, but you never know how desperate another franchise could be to add a talent like him.
“Expect Utah to be open to anything ahead of draft night BECAUSE of the certainty the franchise has with the second pick, knowing that one of Peterson, Boozer, or Wilson will be there even if Dybantsa is off the board.”
This is the hard part about dealing Lauri Markkanen: He’s more valuable than Ace Bailey right now. That’s precisely why Washington might insist on Markkanen in a possible AJ Dybantsa trade package. The Jazz have to be sure they can withstand that loss in exchange for all the benefits Dybantsa would bring. Does the organization have the stomach to do that and eat the losses attached to a Dybantsa deal? We will find out soon enough.
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This article originally appeared on BYU Cougars Wire: Getting AJ Dybantsa from Wizards might mean Jazz lose Lauri Markkanen