The Utah Jazz have the No. 2 pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA draft, and they’ll have a plethora of options because this year’s draft class is rich.
While it’s largely projected that the Wizards will take AJ Dybantsa with their No. 1 pick, all bets are off on the Jazz.
In a mock draft on Saturday, May 23, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report names his projections for the upcoming draft. He has them taking Darryn Peterson of Kansas, and while it’s not set in stone, it makes sense.
More sports news: Bulls Down to 3 Likely Top Draft Picks — Here’s the Best Fit
“There are more fun narratives to follow with this pick,” he states. “Like, say, Utah making a daring move for Dybantsa after watching him star in this state the past two seasons. Or the Jazz uniting Cameron Boozer with his father, Carlos, a former All-Star performer who’s back with the franchise in a front office role.”
My Analysis: Darryn Peterson to Jazz
More sports news: Spurs Would Be Wise to Complement Victor Wembanyama With NBA Hopeful
Peterson just makes the most sense for Utah. He could slide right in next to Keyonte George as a natural scorer, secondary playmaker and tough defender who doesn’t mind doing the dirty work. Put those two guards next to the Jazz’s young talent and suddenly this rebuild starts looking a lot further ahead than expected.
It’s also worth remembering that Peterson was viewed by plenty of people as the best player in this class before injuries got in the way at Kansas. If those concerns are behind him, Utah could be getting a player with real star upside.
Read the full article here
