SHOCKER: Darryn Peterson SNUBS Utah Jazz in BOMBSHELL Draft Rumor—Take Him ANYWAY! Jazz BIG BOARD
Utah Jazz set sights on a swift return to playoff contention as top draft prospects headline the conversation. Does drafting Darryn Peterson—even if he prefers other teams—unlock a championship window for Salt Lake City?
Leif Thulin spotlights his 2026 NBA Draft big board, breaking down the strengths of Darin Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, and other elite prospects. The episode offers a detailed analysis of the Jazz’s evolving core, featuring Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson, and Walker Kessler. Key topics include fit and upside for incoming rookies, positional challenges, and the pivotal timeline for true title contention. Is this the class that transforms the Utah Jazz into playoff threats—and delivers a homegrown superstar to lead the franchise forward?
Jazz Draft Targets & Peterson Debate
Leif Thulin opens by discussing Darryn Peterson’s rumored refusal to come to Utah, his thoughts on drafting the best player regardless of “preferred destinations,” and introduces his NBA Draft Big Board.
10:29 — Prospect Rankings 5-10 Breakdown
Leif Thulin dives into deeper analysis of prospects ranked 5-10 on his 2026 NBA Draft board, emphasizing fit, upside, and who the Jazz could target if they don’t pick at the very top.
24:41 — Playoff Timeline & Jazz Contention Window
Leif Thulin lays out his thoughts on when the Jazz will realistically return to the playoffs and when they could be true contenders, tying it back to draft results and current roster building strategy.
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24 Comments
DP if going straight on talent. AJ if wanting a long term player that seems to like Utah and would most likely stay here longer than 7 years and has a chance to be an all star still. I take AJ for the Jazz, but I get the awe of DP if a team goes with him #1.
So did Ace.
These young men talk about where the want to go but bottom line there gonna stay with the team that can offer the most money. The bird’s rights team can always offer more money for longer.
You got centel’d
Darryn Peterson is not Kobe. Kobe would not ask to be pulled. DNP is an earned nickname. Lose me with this drama queen.
Why is this surprising? Can anybody blame any young prospect for not wanting Utah when they know nothing about it?
Is there any concern about DP’s meager assist numbers and ball handling? His assists and turnover numbers are not particularly heartening. The Jazz already have a lack of playmaking and ball handling and a penchant for turnovers as is. He is still uber talented, this and his health are the only question marks that seem to be there for me.
What about Acuff?.. but I do agree with Mikell Brown at #5.
The only “reporting” I saw regarding DP’s destinations he wants to avoid was a satire account.
My concern isn’t whether the playing wants to be here but longterm health.
Dp reminds me of cam whitemore
He will flame 🔥 out quickly even touch he has lots of athleticism.
AJ seems to be very durable and has better skills from what we have seen. Dp is a dnp or street clothes player. Yikes 😱
I hope DP gets drafted by a horrible team. His drama queen antics won't work in the NBA. His teammates won't put up with this garbage. Toughen up DP!
There's nothing wrong with having concerns about Peterson. The college schedule is easy and he can't deal with it. Darryn knows more about himself than we do, and according to him there's reason to sit out. If he's suggesting that he's particularly delicate who are we to disagree? IDK- I'm used to old school types that seize the day. I have my concerns here though with Peterson, and I don't think I'm wrong for it.
Do you have your own channel?
I feel bad if he has to live in Utah
Darryn Peterson is made like glass.
This is why the Jazz need to keep that pick…very high probability of getting an impact player or even a franchise changing talent. It will be interesting that this prospect will be coming into a different situation where the Jazz are more focused on winning versus developing (they will need to strike a good balance of both after this year).
Not worried at all about DP. Kyrie missed almost his whole lone season at Duke. We already learned from Ace’s situation that most of that stuff is just noise. Utah is a great situation for any young player, albeit it being a smaller market.
Jazz aren't getting the number one pick
I was on the Peterson train, especially after what he did to BYU, but not going to lie, maybe you can make the Kobe comp wit the meticulous skill with a big guard that isn’t the most athletic one that we’ve seen; however, we all know what made Kobe special doesn’t seem to be manifesting in this guy.
On top of that, Peterson doesn’t seem to go at the rim the way Kobe and AJ who were and are relentless.
Peterson has good rim highlights but the numbers show that his frequency is not what you’d like to see.
Someone said Peterson resembles Ray Allen more than Ant, and I’m inclined to agree. If he becomes the better version Allen 2.0, that would still be a prospect to tank for, but I don't think you can say he plays simular to either Jordan or Kobe. He's not that archetype imo.
I was also agreeing that Peterson fits the Jazz more, but now I might actually be an AJ guy. I know that guy is a basketball nut. I know that guy is in the gym and on the floor every day and every game—who’s more like Kobe?
If AJ can become an elite shooter and a +defender, he already has the hard to master skill in isolation to get to the hoop that’s only going to get better as he gets bigger and stronger, he will be one of the most valuable players in the league because most slim players don’t have that Bron and Gianni’s in them. If he becomes the Bron/T-Mac hybrid he looks like he could be, watch out.
I would think Caleb Wilson would be the focus of your second unit through the most of JJJ's contract, and when that his rookie contract is coming to an end you evaluate the team again and see where things go.
I am biased at a Carolina fan, but I think he would play great beside both JJJ and Kesler, and is good enough to play at 3 for short stretches of defensive focus. He would get minutes, and when the starters are out he would get his buckets and boards.
If we planned on tanking another year I do not think he is necessarily the pick, but I think of the top 4 he is the player most ready to play a support role on a team trying to win now/soon while DP and AJ are better fits as the guy you're trying to build around
I’d be so pissed if they get their choice and they take that dnp bum
I want AJ or Wagler – or cam as well… not sure where he fits, but I think he's a baller.
The account that reported that Darryn didn’t want to come here was a satire account.
So I know that expectations need to be tempered, but I think people are selling Ace short. If he can magnify what he's already doing: come along on defence to be a good 1-3 defender, our guard the best player guy; with his ability to get shots off, I'm in love with how quick he is with the ball, already in the air before his defender realized he made his second move; showing amazing signs as a rebounder, immediately doing the things above the rim I was hoping to see Taylor Hendricks do; If he just does those things at an elite level, playing off ball, defending, rebounding, I already think hes the perfect fit for the potential massive frontcourt with Key as his backcourt partner. Maybe you get a slight offensive punch with DP, and I'd be surprised if AJ isn't thought of as a small forward (AJ looks like he has more raw athleticism to me, but Ace looks quicker in action and moves more fluidly), but I think Ace has a better defensive upside as a switch defender than DP because his physical tools are better, and I think he's a better off-ball scorer than AJ, which is actually what we want to go along with Key, Markksman and JJJ who already make the starting 5 an offensive powerhouse. Just my thoughts. In the next 3 year window, I see Ace as being our best shooting guard starter. I think we still draft AJ or Peterson to hopefully be the guy after that window though. Not sure if I see Ace as our franchise player, but possibly the Lauri replacement after he gets to the latter stages of his career. The kid is only 19 and it's possible he ends up being better than all of them, we just don't think it's likely. Replacing Lauri is also something complicated to consider because it's possible that Lauri will still be amazing in his late 30s.
Just watch, Kody Williams is going to end up being a more ethical Kawhi Leonard that stays healthy and becomes the best jazz player of all time. Wouldn't that be funny.
The dude prances down the court when he runs. The only other player I remember seeing do that is Dennis Rodman. Great athlete but a bit mental. Any comparisons?