There are plenty of number-one players to go around, my friends.
The media narrative that the Utah Jazz would even consider trading up to the number-one overall pick is completely bonkers. It's insanity.
But that's what gets clicks nowadays.
With AJ Dybantsa, the superstar who spent his last two basketball seasons down in local Brigham Young University and Utah Prep, once seemed predestined to don "Jazz" on his chest. A home-grown talent to lead the Beehive State's NBA representative to basketball glory? A bona fide mega-star who -- get this -- unabashedly wants to play in Utah? That's an opportunity that simply doesn't arise for small-market teams. Ever.
So it's easy to understand why the franchise's management and fanbase alike (save for a few Crimson-shaded exceptions) hopped about the AJ Express well over a year ago. With the Jazz in a -- shall we say enhanced -- rebuild, the timeline matched up for both parties, and it all came down to ping pong balls at the lottery.
But when Washington, not Utah, was bestowed the top pick, the disappointment of the Jazz was reflected on Dybantsa's face, though he willed himself to keep as professional as possible.
Utah would pick second overall, which was the first time the organization had ever jumped in the lottery order, but with Dybantsa as the heavy favorite to come off the board first, this Hallmark storyline would not conclude with the handsome Christmas prince forfeiting the throne to slum it with the commoners in small-time Salt Lake.
It's a shame, yes, but in all honesty, this situation couldn't be better for the Jazz.
Assuming Washington (or whoever forks over enough assets to grab the Wizards' top spot) goes with the grain and takes Dybantsa first, the Utah Jazz would be left with Darryn Peterson, a player who arguably fits better in Willy Hardy's rotation and is believed by many to actually be a better prospect than his former Team USA teammate in Dybantsa.
Peterson is already a defensive difference-maker (a rare commodity in the Utah backcourt), ingenious score-first weapon, and switchable combo guard. He outperformed Dybantsa in virtually every head-to-head meeting between the two since high school, including outscoring the projected top pick in only one half of floor time in Allen Fieldhouse this past winter.
If Dybantsa weren't in this draft pool, Peterson would be the clear-cut top pick, no hesitation.
And the best part? The Jazz have to give up nothing to acquire him. Ace Bailey, Brice Sensabaugh, and the remaining war chest of first-round picks can all stay in-house as Utah picks up a potential life-altering superstar with the second overall pick.
If the Wizards don't take Dybantsa, happy day, all is well. But if all goes according to plan, the Jazz are in arguably the most enviable spot in the draft order: all the star power of the number-one pick, but none of the pressure of making the right choice.
Win-win. Why would Utah ever give that up?
