Not only is the source of these rumors iffy, but the logic behind it is even more so.
Darryn Peterson certainly has the entirety of the NBA wrapped around his finger these days, doesn't he? News broke that he is supremely confident he'll be the number-one draft pick in under a week following his workouts and meetings with the Wizards. He's so confident, in fact, that he's canceled his trip to workout for the Utah Jazz, the owners of the number-two overall pick, as a declaration of trust with the holders of the number-one spot on the board.
That sent the NBA world into a frenzy, desperately searching for answers or anything strong enough to latch to in the days leading up to the draft.
But gasoline was poured onto the fire when a follow-up report hit the timeline, stating that not only has Peterson canceled his workout in Utah, he doesn't want to be drafted by the Jazz at all, preferring to go to Memphis with the third pick.
That's where the rumors lost me, because if there's one destination that NBA players talk down on more than Utah, it's Memphis.
One look at the source of this rumor revealed that it was a Dallas beat writer who stirred the pot with alleged insider information that Peterson had an aversion for the Beehive State. A reporter with no apparent connections to the situation should raise the red flag for cautious readers.
We've seen this movie before -- it didn't work when Ace Bailey was rumored to be avoiding Utah, and it certainly won't work if they believe Peterson has the talent to push the team forward.
Tony Jones with The Athletic felt no reservations about Utah's interest in Peterson, as Utah was unsurprised by his canceled workout and holds no ill will or reservations about selecting him second overall if he's the best player available on their draft board.
"The Jazz, according to league sources, weren’t surprised by Peterson’s canceled workout. They anticipated it, on some levels. They also won’t hesitate to select Peterson if they determine the former Kansas star guard is the best player on the board when they pick. "
Thankfully, it appears that mock draft creators are unmoved by rumors spurred on by the Peterson movement, though smoke continues to billow surrounding Cameron Boozer and the Jazz's apparent infatuation with the Duke star.
Still, the Jazz have a serious decision to make surrounding the top three prospects in the draft (it sounds like Caleb Wilson isn't much of a consideration at this point in the process), and will have to decide what they value more: raw value, or ideal fit with the current roster.
