Jazz Land 2nd Pick in 2026 NBA Draft, Projected to Select Darryn Peterson
The Utah Jazz didn't win the 2026 NBA draft lottery Sunday, but they got quite the consolation prize with the No. 2 overall pick.
And that consolation prize could be worth even more than usual this year.
After all, the 2026 NBA draft class is loaded with potential difference-makers who could all be the faces of various franchises in the near future. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer have been the headliners leading up to the draft, but players such as Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr. and Keaton Wagler also have superstar potential.
Utah will have the opportunity to choose from all of them but one after the Jazz won the lottery and the first pick that comes with it.
That means the projection here is Peterson ends up going No. 2 overall to the Jazz.
B/R's Jonathan Wasserman picked Dybantsa to go No. 1 and the Kansas star to go No. 2 in his most recent mock draft with Anthony Edwards as a pro comparison for Peterson. Listing a player as explosive as Edwards as a pro comparison underscores how much potential Peterson brings to the table.
"There are scouts who still see a No. 1 overall talent whose creation and explosion will shine more with better spacing and healthier legs," Wasserman wrote. "The consensus deems his shotmaking skill as special and even more diverse than Dybantsa's, given Peterson's three-point volume and outstanding off-ball, spot-up and movement shooting numbers."
While there were some concerns about Peterson missing games during his one season at Kansas, his talent will be too much to ignore when the draft arrives.
He can take over games as a scorer with his three-point shooting, ability to beat defenders in isolation situations off the bounce and efficiency when finding openings away from the ball.
Peterson was an All-Big 12 selection and averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from deep.
There is room for improvement as a creator for his teammates considering he averaged just 1.6 assists per game, but his scoring prowess should help him find an immediate role in his new team's offense.
The Jazz have a collection of young talent led by point guard Keyonte George, wing Ace Bailey and sharpshooter Lauri Markkanen. Utah also acquired veteran big man Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies this past season.
Adding Peterson would give the Jazz another talented scorer who can boost the offense enough for Utah to fight for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference.
