With the second pick looming, Utah weighs physical dominance against elite scoring. Despite a high-profile workout cancellation, the front office remains fearless in targeting a franchise-altering cornerstone.
One week out from the NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz still haven’t settled on their direction at No. 2. According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, the Jazz are “genuinely torn” between AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer and Darryn Peterson, or in other words, the three prospects who have separated themselves as the consensus top tier of the class.
Washington holds the No. 1 pick, Utah sits at No. 2, and Memphis picks third. The Jazz have already hosted Dybantsa and Boozer for private workouts, per league sources. Peterson, meanwhile, “canceled his workout this week amid reports that he believes he will be the No. 1 pick.” His camp is operating under the assumption that Washington will take him, and he’s hoping the Wizards follow through.
Inside the Jazz organization, the cancellation didn’t catch anyone off guard. As Jones reported, “The Jazz… weren’t surprised by Peterson’s canceled workout.” Utah anticipated the possibility and prepared for it, and despite the outside noise, the franchise isn’t deterred. Jones notes that “they also won’t hesitate to select Peterson if they determine he is the best player on the board.”
Last year, Ace Bailey’s representation attempted to steer him to Washington, and he declined to work out for the Jazz, but Utah drafted him anyway. As Jones wrote, “Bailey did not work out for the Jazz; the Jazz took him at No. 5 without hesitation.” Now, as a result of that decision, he’s viewed internally as a core piece heading into his second season.
That precedent shapes how the Jazz view this draft, and the front office believes in its ability to win players over once they’re in the building. Jones reports that “Utah’s front office is confident in its ability to sell prospects on the organization’s culture once that drafted prospect is in the building.”
Through the process, each prospect has stood out in different ways according to Jones, who describes Dybantsa as “maybe the most physically imposing of the three,” a 6‑foot‑9 wing who can play either perimeter spot and fits the league’s demand for size and versatility. Peterson is the most polished scorer, and “the Jazz are drawn to Peterson’s ability to score at a high level.” Boozer, meanwhile, has impressed with his feel and processing, and Jones writes that “they love Boozer’s ability to pass, rebound and process the game at a high level.”
Boozer’s inclusion at No. 2 is notable given Utah’s current frontcourt makeup. Jones points out that “that Boozer is firmly in the mix at No. 2 is a testament to how much the Jazz like him,” even though he overlaps positionally with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen.
On the contrary, Peterson’s camp reportedly has concerns about sharing a backcourt with Keyonte George, but Utah doesn’t view that as a barrier. The Jazz believe the two can play together, and Jones also notes the irony that despite Peterson’s preference for Washington, “Utah doesn’t have a starting‑level shooting guard on its roster,” making the Jazz an immediate fit for him.
The decision at No. 2 will define Utah’s next era, and with a week to go, the Jazz are still weighing three very different pathways.
