Jazz Unbothered by Darryn Peterson’s Reported Wizards Preference — Here’s Why It Won’t Matter on Draft Night

Darryn Peterson may have eyes for Washington, but the Utah Jazz aren’t losing any sleep over it. With the NBA Draft just over a week away, the rising prospect has reportedly worked out exclusively for the Wizards — a move that has some around the league buzzing about where he’ll land. But according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, Utah won’t flinch if Peterson is still on the board when they pick second.

According to Woo, despite Peterson not planning to visit Salt Lake City before the draft, rival teams don’t view that as a red flag for the Jazz front office. General manager Austin Ainge has a history of going against the grain — last year, he selected Ace Bailey fifth overall even though Bailey’s camp skipped the pre-draft workout in Utah. The takeaway: the Jazz make their decisions based on talent, not courtesy visits.

Three Options, One Big Decision

The Jazz hold the No. 2 pick, and they’re in a comfortable spot — they’ll take whichever elite prospect the Wizards leave behind. Peterson and AJ Dybantsa are the top two names on most boards, and both project as future franchise cornerstones. But Utah has also brought in Cameron Boozer for a visit, adding a third name to the conversation. Boozer, the son of former Jazz great Carlos Boozer — who now works in the team’s front office — has local ties and plenty of fans in the organization. However, Woo notes that Boozer’s fit alongside Utah’s frontcourt of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler isn’t as clean as the other two options.

The Jazz front office has made clear they’re comfortable with whoever falls to them. That flexibility is a luxury most teams in the lottery don’t have, and it puts Utah in the driver’s seat regardless of which direction Washington goes.

The Peterson-Wizards Fit Question

If the Wizards do take Peterson, the fit alongside Trae Young creates an interesting subplot. Both players operate primarily as ball-dominant guards, and Washington’s backcourt could face redundancy issues if they don’t stagger minutes or tweak roles. It’s a problem the Jazz wouldn’t have to solve — but it’s one they’d watch closely from afar.

Either way, the Jazz are poised to add a player who can contribute immediately and grow into a long-term piece. Whether it’s Peterson, Dybantsa, or Boozer, Utah’s draft board is set, and pre-draft workouts aren’t shifting it.