The NBA Draft is less than a week away, and one of the top prospects is making it clear he doesn’t want to end up in Salt Lake City. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, projected by most analysts to go in the top three, has reportedly narrowed his pre-draft conversations to just one team: the Washington Wizards, who hold the No. 1 overall pick.
That’s a problem for the Utah Jazz, who pick second. But according to league sources, it might also simplify their decision — if the Wizards take BYU forward AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, Utah could pivot to Duke’s Cameron Boozer without much hesitation.
The real story here isn’t just where Peterson wants to play. It’s about who he doesn’t want to share the floor with.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Substack that Peterson’s camp is motivated partly by a desire to avoid a crowded backcourt situation in Utah. The Jazz already have Keyonte George, who broke out last season and is viewed by the franchise as a cornerstone piece. According to Fischer, “there’s as much motivation to avoid a positional overlap with incumbent ballhandler Keyonte George on the team that holds the No. 2 overall pick as there is a desire to go No. 1.”
That overlap doesn’t end with George. Utah also has Isaiah Collier, Ace Bailey, and Cody Williams competing for minutes in the backcourt. Add in Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Brice Sensabaugh, and the Jazz suddenly have a logjam of young talent despite winning just 39 games over the last two seasons. Fischer noted that “the Jazz, despite winning only 39 games over the past two seasons, are actually teeming with promising players all of a sudden.”
Peterson wants a major role right away, and Utah’s depth chart doesn’t guarantee that.
It’s a similar scenario to what happened last year with Ace Bailey, who reportedly tried to steer clear of Utah before the Jazz selected him anyway at No. 5. The team has not confirmed any tension around that pick, but the pattern is worth watching.
Ironically, Peterson wouldn’t exactly walk into a wide-open backcourt in Washington either. The Wizards already have Trae Young, Tre Johnson, D’Angelo Russell, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Sharife Cooper, and Jaden Hardy on the roster. But for Peterson, the Wizards’ rebuilding timeline and the chance to go first overall might outweigh the competition for minutes.
As draft night approaches, Utah faces a familiar question: do you take the best available player regardless of fit, or do you let a prospect’s preference force your hand? For the Jazz, Peterson’s reluctance might just make their choice easier.
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