The Jazz are in an enviable position, with the second pick in a draft that is considered to have three very high-level prospects at the top. That still leaves them with a difficult choice to make, however, and it’s one they have yet to come to a decision on, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who writes that Utah is “genuinely torn” on their preference between AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer.
Each of the three prospects offers an appealing skill set for the Jazz. Dybantsa has great size for a wing while showing off a high-level scoring package and funky footwork that makes him a handful to guard. Boozer has an intriguing mix of bully-ball offense alongside impressive passing instincts and the ability to space the floor at a good level for his position. Peterson is one of the more electric scoring guards that has come out of the draft in recent years, with the ability to get – and stay – red hot from deep.
Peterson stands out as the best fit with the current roster, representing a cleaner fit than either Dybantsa or Boozer, Sam Foster writes for the Salt Lake Tribune. Given the Jazz’s crowded frontcourt, the fact that Boozer is still in the mix is a testament to how highly the team regards him, Jones observes.
The Jazz were not caught by surprise by the report that Peterson, the electric guard from Kansas, will not work out for them, nor will they be deterred from selecting him because of it, Jones writes. Utah selected wing Ace Bailey fifth overall a year ago despite the fact that he didn’t work out for the Jazz and appeared to be angling to fall to Washington at No. 6.
However, they have to be sure that Peterson would buy in if they went ahead and selected him, as they can’t afford to make a mistake with this pick, Gordon Monson writes for the Tribune. In the end, the Wizards’ decision at No. 1 could go a long way toward dictating the Jazz’s own decision. While Boozer certainly appears to still be in the mix at No. 2, whichever of Peterson and Dybantsa is still on the board when it’s Utah’s time to pick will likely have pole position.
There’s also the possibility of the Jazz trading up to No. 1 to land Dybantsa, though that is considered an unlikely outcome at this time. The time Dybantsa spent at BYU for college has endeared him to the local fan base, and could make him a rare instance of a superstar who wants to come to Utah, Dave McCann writes for the Deseret News. If the Jazz organization believes that Peterson doesn’t want to play in Utah and Dybantsa does, paying a hefty price in a trade-up could be an idea worth exploring.
