Should the Jazz trade up with the Wizards? | Hoops Nerd Show

Should the Jazz trade up with the Wizards? | Hoops Nerd Show

May 12, 2026



Should the Jazz trade up with the Wizards? | Hoops Nerd Show

The Utah Jazz are coming into this season with a chance to draft either AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The question for Jazz fans is, should they trade up for Dybantsa?

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View Comments (50)

  1. The irony of last year Ace not wanting to go the Utah because he wanted to go to Wash vs this year AJ not wanting to go to Wash because he wants to go to Utah. Karma

  2. Orlando traded down their #1 pick with Golden State (Penny x Chris Webber). Philly traded down their #1 pick with Boston (Faultz x Tatum). No assets were spent. Jazz could be part of it without losing anything. I still think Ainge can try to trade for Jaylen Brown.

  5. Michael Jordan: 6’4.5” bear foot, 6’11.5” wingspan.
    Kobe Bryant: 6’4.5” bear foot, 6’11” wingspan.
    Vice Carter: 6’5.5” bear foot. 7’ wingspan.
    Darren Peterson: 6’4.5” bear foot, 6’9.75” wingspan.

    The similarity is all there, and it’s possible that having the slightly shorter wingspan has an advantage as it is believed that under 6’11” wingspan is the sweet spot for having length and shooting ability.

    Will be interesting to see what Peterson’s max vertical is. He’s possibly the next great guard of that archetype, which is super interesting in a modern NBA context. MJ, Kobe and Vice did not have this shooting when they entered the league, and Kobe was the only one that wasn’t 2-3 years older.

    Ant might be more athletic, and he is really fun, but might not be the all round player that Peterson might end up being.

    SGA is a different archetype all together as he is very heliocentric in a way that MJ and Kobe never were, both able to run on ball plays but really getting to their spots offball in the triangle.

    I just think it is super interesting if Peterson really is this lineage of guard but now in the combo-guard role that now exists in the league, who is able to play vertically, like players of the linage used too, but has extra tools in the pace and space era, and is already ahead, and actually one of the best prospects ever seen in terms of shooting profile and efficient shot diet, with length and athleticism as a one and done player.

    He really is a step ahead of the game in this regard. Already near the skill level of Ant, likely to be an even more efficient shooter and a better off bal player. Already ahead of where MJ and Kobe were when they entered the league and were athleticism first players, who made the adjustments towards skill later in their careers.

    The red flags are a thing, but maybe the Jazz are the team that takes advantage of taking risks on red flag players like we did with Ace Bailey.

    AJ is a really nice player, but as effective as his style of play is, I’m not in love with it.

    My vision of the Jazz under Hardy is being more Warriors-esq where you can fit 3 primary scorers on the team because you have 2 1/2 guys who don’t need the ball much to score.

    AJ plays a game where he’s relentless in getting to his spot and prioritizes getting to the rim, and completed the package with a great mid range game, which has been a proven concept by SGA.

    While I’m sure Hardy can figure out a way to use this, I personally more interested in what you get with an offensive system where Key, DP, Ace and Lauri are all running actions, bending the defense with the sealing, mismatch post play of JJJ on top of it. I’m more interested in what could possibly be the first near perfect combo-guard that takes the older aesthetic guard archetype and reinventing it in the modern NBA.

    I just think this would be superior to other big wing duos who take turns like with the clippers, like with the Celtics, and what OKC resembles when J-Will is healthy and is their second option.

    More efficient than Harden/Luca/Giannis ball.

    Similar to the Warriors but with a combo guard duo, plus the uniqueness of Lauri Markannan, and there is still room for Ace Bailey to thrive.

    I just think this set up of having five weapons who all bring something different in Key, Ace, Lauri, JJJ and DP could be special in the 3 years the experiment lasts, and then you can look forward to the Key, Ace, DP era that follows.

    I just don’t think you can have that with AJ, who would just most likely be the guy, still a very viable pathway, but not the one I would choose.

    Some say DP is closer to Ray Allen than Kobe. To that I say, I want to see what an advanced version of Ray Allen looks like in the post Curry era where being a combo 1/2 is a thing.

  13. I believe there is a world in which Ace is better than AJ. It's not likely but possible with his proficiency from 3. I think there's a very good chance Darryn Peterson is better than AJ. So the people telling us to package Ace with Darren to move up are insane. And yes, it would be cool to have a BYU alum on the Jazz, but I think he's actually more likely to leave after his rookie contract than someone else. I can't imagine he wants to live his entire life in Utah. He will likely be itching to leave.

  15. For a middling 1st or a bench player getting boxed out of more minutes (Bryce, Cody), sure why not if the team thinks it is the right move. For anything worth more than that, forget it, draft BPA.

  17. DO NOT TRADE! You take whichever one WAS passes on and you walk away happier than a pig in, um, shizz. The only way UTA can miss is if they give away real assets to move up one spot.

  23. We absolutely should not trade up. Washington will ask for an arm and a leg and there is no need. Washington will want Ace, I say we pick up Peterson or boozer at 2 and run it!!

  24. Our front office should just tell AJ to go to Washington, get paid, bigger, stronger, and better and then come here when your rookie contract is up

  25. I think Ryan smith would trade up AJ would fit better here in Utah he would develop quicker here than on a really really bad wizards team ,besides Ryan smith wants his Mann he gots lots of money.AJ said he likes here in Utah he would fill the arena back up again.

  28. The wizards are not trading the pic for several reason why I wish people would stop. I know you people and you don’t want him so bad you can’t you can taste it but it’s not happening. They’re not gonna trade the first pic the witches will draft AJ and there’s several variables why that will not happen one we’re done with the rebuild and we need our superstar player to the fan base wants him and our owner can’t take a chance to get an alien eat the fan base three he drafted them from day. One seats will be football will be full and that’s what the owner wants and he wants prime prime games which you would Get and there’s many many other reasons why they’re not trading the pick they’re gonna draft AJ that’s gonna be the pick AJ is the next Dr. J that who compares to and you don’t trade Dr J so let’s just stop this talk right now because you’re just piped dreaming the wizards are gonna drift AJ are they’re not gonna come out and say it, but they’re drafting AJ they’re gonna do the they’re scouting and going through everything to make sure they get they make sure it is the right pick but the bottom line it will be HA on draft night. The name of the car will be HA to the wizards with the number one pick and then you guys can figure out who the Utah Jazz pick Boozer or Peterson.

  30. Stay at #2 and play the bluff. Either way it’s a win. I still think Washington takes Peterson especially if AJ makes it clear he wants to play in Utah. I’m just worried about minutes and hurt feelings next season. Life long Jazz fan since 1987 and I am absolutely over the moon right now!

  32. I DO NOT believe the Jazz have to trade, up unless the offer is very good, but the wizards if they are open, they will try to get everything!! Adding Peterson, or even Wilson or Boozer is a winner!!! In some ways Peterson, if it is who he is, and he is really healthy, he is a better fit, Any of those 4 are good…

  34. Totally agree. Take Peterson. Especially if it means keeping Ace Bailey. Washington isn’t stupid. They know that AJ wants Utah and Utah wants AJ. They’d GOUGE us if we wanted to trade up one spot for AJ.

    Take Peterson- he will fit seamlessly into the lineup, and we won’t have to make any roster changes in the frontcourt or otherwise.

    Our biggest deficiency is another high-level guard to pair next to Key.

    Then, further down the line if AJ wants to play in Utah, then we can trade for him, or sign him as an FA.

  35. I feel like Darryn Peterson has a similar build and body type akin to somebody like Stephon Castle.

    Castle likely is- and will be a better playmaker, but Peterson is already a much better shooter than Castle is. He shot over 40% in college, and 38.2% from 3. Dybantsa shot 33.1% from college three.

    Also, Dybantsa is a pretty sorry defender by the numbers, and we need defense- namely from the guard position. Peterson had more blocks and steals than Dybantsa did by far; even though he’s 3-4 inches shorter.

    Take whomever falls to #2. Whether it’s Dybantsa or Peterson. Don’t move the pick or get cute.

  46. picks 1-3 is just a wade,melo,bosh draft. take aj or peterson there is no wrong pick. booze is even a good pick at 2 if we needed a big. i would still rather trade markennan to get aj and roll Keyonte, Bailey, Dybantsa, jjj, walker

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