Danny Ainge drafted a superstar, not a role player. Expect the Kansas product to command a heavy offensive workload immediately, challenging established veterans for control in Utah.
When the Utah Jazz landed in the top three of an NBA Draft for the first time since 2011, they were looking for a superstar.
CEO Danny Ainge had earned a prized selection in potentially one of the greatest classes the league has ever seen — and he didn't draft Darryn Peterson to blend into Utah's offense.
He drafted him to become one of its driving forces.
After posting a 33.5 percent usage rate during his lone season at Kansas, Peterson now faces the inevitable adjustment that comes with making the jump to the NBA. The ball simply won't be in his hands quite as often.
That doesn't mean it should be taken out of them.
A usage rate around 27 percent feels like the sweet spot for Peterson's rookie campaign.
While that would represent a noticeable decrease from his collegiate workload, it would still establish him as one of Utah's primary offensive options from day one.
For context, only Lauri Markkanen (28.0) and Keyonte George (27.8) posted higher usage rates for Utah during the 2025-26 season, while Ace Bailey (21.6), Isaiah Collier (20.4) and Kyle Filipowski (19.9) all finished well behind.
It's important to remember that the Jazz weren't necessarily trying to make the playoffs last season. Now that the philosophy has seemingly changed, these usage rates could fluctuate.
But that shouldn't impact Peterson. He'll get his touches whether Will Hardy envisions a larger role for Bailey, leans on Markkanen as the engine or plays through George.
Inevitably, that means somebody else has to sacrifice.
George appears to be the most obvious candidate. While the fourth-year guard proved he can shoulder a significant offensive burden after averaging 23.6 points and 6.1 assists last season, Peterson projects as the more natural franchise centerpiece with the size, shot creation and three-level scoring ability to eventually become Utah's offensive engine.
Markkanen, meanwhile, shouldn't be viewed as someone losing touches.
Rather, Peterson's arrival should make life easier for the former All-Star.
For years, opposing defenses have been able to key in on Markkanen as Utah's unquestioned No. 1 scoring threat. Adding another player capable of consistently creating his own offense should generate cleaner looks, fewer double teams and a more balanced attack overall.
The same philosophy applies to Bailey.
The rookie forward doesn't need a sky-high usage rate to maximize his impact. His athleticism and spot-up shooting should allow him to thrive alongside a ball-dominant creator like Peterson rather than compete with him for possessions.
Could Peterson's usage rate climb even higher? Certainly.
Victor Wembanyama's 32.1 percent usage rate during his rookie season demonstrated that elite prospects can immediately handle enormous offensive responsibility.
But Utah doesn't need Peterson to chase history. A 27 percent usage rate would already tell everyone exactly what the Jazz believe.
They didn't draft Peterson to slowly grow into the face of the franchise.
They drafted him to begin looking like it immediately.
