With the NBA draft nearly here, it's very important that Duke star Cameron Boozer ends up with a team that gives him an opportunity to not only develop early on, but also get a lot of playing time. It's also important that fans around the NBA who want Boozer, as well as Duke fans, look at the moves that teams have made in the past.
The Utah Jazz currently hold the second pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and there's definitely a feeling that if AJ Dybantsa is there, that's where he's going to end up. There's already a lot of love for Dybantsa with the Utah fan base after playing at BYU. He also got a hefty NIL check from BYU and its donors, so he would be an easy pick if Darryn Peterson went first overall to the Washington Wizards.
Even outside of that, Boozer's fit on the Jazz isn't as simple as some have made it seem. If the Jazz are going for pure talent, there's probably an argument that Boozer could be the second pick. However, with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler, one NBA insider is saying there's a belief that he won't be the guy Utah goes with due to it wanting to avoid a logjam in the frontcourt.
“No matter who the Wizards take, the Jazz will be ending up with a top-tier talent in this draft who can immediately contribute and help this organization take a step toward getting back to the playoffs in the Western Conference. In Peterson's case, he is the best fit for this team, especially since Keyonte George would be a terrific combo guard to play alongside him.
“Talent-wise, Peterson is everything the Jazz need in a true floor commander and dynamic scorer to complement George in the backcourt. Already having established contributors like Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler — who the franchise is fully expected to bring back as a restricted free agent this offseason — the Jazz would create a logjam in their frontcourt if they were to select Boozer. That is why all signs point to Utah ending up with either Dybantsa or Peterson,” Brett Siegel wrote.
I'm honestly okay with Boozer not ending up in Utah. Not even for those reasons, but I think there are better fits for him elsewhere.
I'd love to see Boozer possibly get his own team, and I mean that in the sense of him being the top option as a rookie. That isn't very common, but if he ended up with a team like the Brooklyn Nets or Chicago Bulls, he'd have a much better chance of accomplishing that than playing somewhere like Utah.
