Are the Utah Jazz enamored by Cameron Boozer, or is this all misguided judgment?
It seems the buzz is building around Cameron Boozer for the first or second overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. It's easy to understand why, as he's one of the most sure-thing, can't-miss prospects we've seen approach the NBA in a while. As a freshman, he was the steady hand that manipulated every aspect of Duke's exceptional season -- he won the National Player of the Year Award for a good reason.
But among the teams rumored to hold a significant interest in this legacy star is the Utah Jazz, holders of the number-two overall pick and employers of Boozer's father, Carlos, who appropriately is employed as a scout in Utah.
On paper, of course, a father would be fascinated at the prospect of selecting his offspring, but when a candidate as perfectly situated for success with the Jazz as Darryn Peterson projects to be available second overall, it's hard to find much appeal in selecting another power forward to fall in line behind the veteran three-headed monster of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler in the frontcourt.
Bill Simmons has been wrestling with a worm in his stomach over the Utah Jazz's draft tendencies, specifically naming Danny Ainge as a reason why Utah might go entirely off-script and ignore the national consensus for a player that the Jazz really like.
Fit being a footnote, which of these players do the Jazz believe could have the most fruitful, successful career in SLC?
With these reasons in mind, Simmons feels secure that Boozer is the guy for the Jazz.
"I think [Ainge]'s going to stay away from Peterson, and I could see him taking Boozer at two. That would be my bet right now. I might be wrong, but I really think they're going to take Boozer. ... I can't explain it, but I think they're going to take Boozer at two."
Some have been quick to note that while Simmons hold plenty of connections to higher-ups across the NBA, he's been horribly wrong when making similar draft predictions in the past.
For example, he once predicted that Jabari Smith Jr. was a lock to be taken first-overall by Orlando. He slid to three when the Magic opted for Paulo Banchero.
He predicted Minnesota would pick James Wiseman over Anthony Edwards to pair alongside Karl-Anthony Towns as "twin towers". This wasn't too far off, though, as the Wolves employed that exact strategy when they traded for Rudy Gobert.
He missed the Scoot Henderson vs. Brandon Miller pick for Charlotte, declaring that Charlotte would regret passing up a generational talent like Scoot. Such has not been the case.
I don't bring this all up to discredit Simmons -- I think it's important to explore every possibility -- because it's entirely possible Utah believes Boozer is their guy, fit aside. But if Darryn Peterson is available, the Jazz are reported to hold zero reservations in selecting the Kansas star.
Going off-script just doesn't make sense when talents like Dybantsa and Peterson fall into your lap.
