Utah’s strategic roster overhaul signals a bright future, yet Ben Golliver warns that rookie Darryn Peterson must refine his playmaking skills before dethroning Keyonte George as floor general.
ESPN’s Ben Golliver offered one of the most overarching evaluations yet of the Utah Jazz’s offseason, praising the franchise’s long‑term positioning while making a bold claim that No.2 pick Darryn Peterson isn’t ready to play point guard. In his league‑wide breakdown of what each team revealed this summer, Golliver framed Utah’s moves as both smart and forward‑looking, even if the former Kansas Jayhawk still needs time before taking on full backcourt quarterback duties.
Golliver opened with Utah’s big-picture success, saying, “The Jazz should be thrilled with their offseason,” highlighting the return they secured for Walker Kessler in restricted free agency, the re-signing of Jusuf Nurkic as a "stopgap center" and the selection of Peterson at No. 2 in this year's NBA Draft. Utah’s projected starting lineup, which currently seems to consist of Keyonte George, Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Nurkic, represents a significant talent upgrade over last season’s opening group.
The key, Golliver argued, is George’s presence next to Peterson. While the 22‑year‑old guard hasn’t yet received a rookie extension, Golliver noted that George “should fill a vital role next to Peterson,” citing his 23.6 points and 6.1 assists per game last season. His proven scoring and playmaking “will aid Peterson’s acclimation,” giving the rookie a stabilizing partner as he adjusts to NBA speed and complexity.
That adjustment is what Golliver’s claim revolves around. “Despite his self-professed goal of playing point guard,” he wrote, “Peterson wasn’t ready to handle those responsibilities during summer league.” Utah leaned heavily into giving Peterson on‑ball reps in Las Vegas, but the turnovers, decision‑making and processing challenges were evident. Golliver argued the Jazz are “better off keeping George heavily involved in its offensive initiation” while encouraging Peterson to focus on his strengths such as shot creation, off‑the‑dribble attacks and scoring versatility.
Once Peterson settles into the NBA game, Golliver believes Will Hardy can expand his responsibilities. But for now, the Jazz should keep the ball in George’s hands.
Golliver also contextualized Utah’s offensive trajectory, noting that the Jazz ranked first in points per possession during the 2021‑22 season, then plummeted after trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Peterson “could develop into a better scorer than Mitchell,” Golliver wrote, but he must “dramatically improve his assist‑to‑turnover ratio and decision-making” to help Utah regain elite offensive status.
While it's clear that Peterson’s upside is enormous, George should keep his hands on the wheel… at least for now.
