Jazz's $157 Million Problem? Darryn Peterson Debut Raises Uncomfortable Question

The Utah Jazz have committed $157.5 million to Keyonte George. They've also spent the No. 2 overall pick on Darryn Peterson, a guard they hope will eventually become the face of their franchise.

Now comes the tricky part ... figuring out how the two are supposed to grow together.

Wednesday's 123-103 season-opening loss to the Memphis Grizzlies offered Utah its first regular-season look at the partnership. George looked every bit like the player the Jazz rewarded with a massive extension. Peterson, meanwhile, spent much of his NBA debut playing a supporting role.

And that leaves Will Hardy with an interesting question.

How do you develop a potential franchise centerpiece when another young guard is already thriving in the role you might eventually want him to occupy?

George led Utah with 22 points and five assists, shooting 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Peterson finished with nine points, four rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes.

The rookie attempted just seven shots. Only one came from three-point range.

For perspective, Lauri Markkanen attempted 13, George took 12, Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 10 and Ace Bailey fired up 11 in just 24 minutes.

Peterson played more minutes than everyone on that list outside of Markkanen ... and took fewer shots than all four.

One game? Sure. But there's something worth examining here.

George averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists last season, establishing himself as one of the NBA's more productive young guards. Utah rewarded him with a five-year, $157.5 million extension in September.

The Jazz aren't paying George that kind of money to become an afterthought. And Peterson wasn't drafted second overall to spend the next several seasons watching someone else run the offense, either.

That's the challenge Hardy has to navigate.

The Jazz coach acknowledged during the preseason that Peterson's unselfishness could work against him. The rookie was finding teammates, making reads and showing the instincts of a natural facilitator ... but there were stretches when he wasn't even looking at the basket.

Wednesday's seven attempts fit that concern, although there's an important distinction between Peterson passing up opportunities and Hardy failing to create them. The box score doesn't tell us which was happening, or how often.

And George wasn't exactly monopolizing possessions.

Twelve shots in 29 minutes is hardly excessive, particularly when seven of them fall. He was efficient, created for teammates and gave Utah little reason to take the ball out of his hands.

So why would Hardy?

George has earned his touches. Peterson needs his. Markkanen and Jackson aren't exactly going to stand around watching, either.

But Utah didn't draft Peterson just to add another facilitator.

He averaged 20.2 points at Kansas, shooting 38.2% from three-point range. The Jazz's own pre-draft evaluation highlighted his ability to create shots off the dribble, attack in the midrange and score without depending on others to manufacture opportunities.

Those are the abilities Utah needs to develop.

Perhaps that involves Peterson handling more playmaking responsibilities while George spends additional time operating away from the ball.

George's four made threes Wednesday offered a glimpse of how dangerous he can be without needing to initiate every possession.

And Peterson has already shown the passing instincts to make that arrangement worth exploring.

But what if Hardy doesn't need to establish a clear offensive hierarchy at all?

George can initiate one possession. Peterson can take the next. Both can create for teammates, attack mismatches and work without the ball. That's the appeal of having two guards capable of handling those responsibilities.

Of course, Peterson still has to recognize when it's his turn to attack. Hardy can create opportunities all night, but that won't accomplish much if the rookie keeps passing them up.

Utah doesn't need Peterson attempting 20 shots every night. Nor should it sacrifice George's development to manufacture opportunities for its newest lottery pick.

But there's a difference between giving a rookie 31 minutes and helping him become the player he was drafted to be.

George has already earned his money. Peterson still has to prove he's worth the expectations that come with being the No. 2 pick. And Hardy has to find a way to make both investments pay off without asking either player to take a backseat.

That's easier said than done, especially with Markkanen and Jackson demanding their own opportunities.

Wednesday was one game. Peterson will have better nights, George won't always shoot this well, and Utah's offensive identity will evolve as the season progresses.

But the Jazz have spent years collecting pieces for their future. They've finally reached the point where figuring out how those pieces fit matters just as much as acquiring them.

And if Hardy can't find a way to get the best out of George and Peterson together, Utah's biggest problem won't be deciding which guard should lead the offense ...

It'll be explaining why two players with this much potential aren't making each other better.