Could the Jazz Trade Ace Bailey to Move Up for AJ Dybantsa?

It’s no surprise to find out that the Utah Jazz love AJ Dybantsa.

Every team in the NBA loves Dybansta, the big-bodied, athletic supernova who can playmake as well as he can put up 40 points.

He’s the type of player that will have his own signature shoe in three years, a flashy nickname, and change a half-seated crowd into the hottest ticket in town.

But how far would the Jazz go to get Dybantsa?

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The BYU Cougar ended his high school career in Utah and then played his only college season in the state, but as luck would have it, the Jazz ended up with the second pick.

While there’s still a chance Dybantsa drops to them at second, the current consensus seems to point towards the Cougar going first overall with Kansas Jayhawks standout Darryn Peterson the choice at the second spot.

Peterson might have an even higher ceiling than Dybantsa when you add in his defensive game and his ability to score, but injuries and inconsistency in college have raised questions about his overall passion for the sport.

In comparison, Dybantsa exerted his body at times when he probably should have rested for BYU, pushing himself to help his team regardless of the situation.

If the Jazz want Dybantsa, though, and don’t want any other team to jump over them to get the No. 1 pick, would they go as far as adding a prospect like Ace Bailey to sweeten the deal for the Wizards?

Washington gets Bailey, who had a decent first year in the NBA, and most likely Peterson or Cameron Boozer, and the Jazz gets the Utah product who goes from high school to college to the pros in the same state.

Utah can market Dybantsa as the homegrown kid (even if he’s from Massachusetts) and move forward with this gigantic team, featuring Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr., and the 6-foot-9 first pick in the NBA Draft.

An instant identity. An instant face of the franchise. A kid that the entire state will rally around.

Is it worth giving up on Bailey, who might evolve into his own kind of special player and future All-Star?

If the Jazz believe Dybantsa is a true franchise player, then it shouldn’t even be a second thought.

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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 11:35 PM.