The Utah Jazz are just days away from one of the most important days in franchise history. They will be making the choice between Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa once the Wizards finalize their pick. Since lottery day, it’s been the consensus that AJ Dybantsa will get picked first. At FanDuel, Peterson is still considered the favorite to go #1. We’ve seen rumors lately that the Wizards are considering Darryn Peterson, but for the sake of this article, let’s assume that the Jazz get lucky and are able
to pick Peterson.
That said, what would a successful season for Darryn Peterson on the Jazz look like? Here are a few things that would make it successful.
He starts right away, and looks great
The expectations are going to be high for Darryn Peterson but he has the talent to live up to every one of them. His game is tailor-made for the NBA and he should have some jaw-dropping moments right off the bat that will ring in a new era of Jazz basketball.
I think I’m still recovering from the start that Trey Burke had in Orlando Summer League. He shot 1/12 in that first game and ended up sitting some games to “watch and learn.” It was a splash of cold water to the face like a summer water balloon. For all of summer league, Burke shot a PTSD-inducing 5% from three that kicked off a career that ended pretty unsanctimoniously.
The good news for Jazz fans, there’s almost no chance that happens… Right?
He’s one of the top vote getters for ROY
There are seasons where certain players have the inside track to Rookie of the Year. Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg were always going to have the advantage being the shoe-in #1 picks in their respective drafts. That came with more nationally televised games and more national media attention from the start of the season. For Darryn Peterson, he’ll have an advantage, but not as much as players like Wembanyama and Flagg. This draft does not have a consensus #1 pick and that will bring a more blank slate for voting.
Although, if Peterson falls to #2 and gets drafted by the Jazz (currently he has the second best odds to go first on FanDuel), that might be an advantage other #2 picks don’t always have. Peterson will have the same advantages that AJ Dybantsa and Cam Boozer will have. If he cane start right away (see point #1), and if he produces at an elite level on a winning team, Peterson has a real shot at Rookie of the Year.
Not winning the ROY won’t mean he’ll have had an unsuccessful season, but not being considered will be. You tank for the opportunity to draft a player like Darryn Peterson. If he’s not in consideration it’s one of two things. Utah is going to have some stupid arbitrary rules that do nothing for anyone, or Peterson has a nightmare season for one reason or another.
He’s first team All-Rookie and starting in the Rising Stars game
This is very much related to point #2 but it bears mentioning for this exercise that we talk about it. Peterson isn’t a “project” like a lot of prospects with upside in the draft, he’s got an absurdly developed game already. A lot of Peterson’s development will simply be processing and decision-making within Will Hardy’s system. The pure basketball aspect will be be the easy part. If he produces high-level numbers while also playing well with the current Jazz core, it’s hard to see him not being one of the top young players in the entire NBA.
He meshes well with the veterans of the Jazz
One of the most important things of all for Peterson will simply be learning to play well within the system and with the other Jazz players. This may also be the toughest for Peterson. He’s so incredibly gifted that the hardest part for him will be how to make sure he’s optimizing everything within the Jazz system. When’s the best time to shoot? Pass? Drive? He may have an easy time with this, or it may be difficult, we’ll find out soon.
The good news for Peterson is the personality part should be pretty easy. The Jazz appear to have a group of great guys that should allow him to acclimate pretty easily into the team culture. Peterson doesn’t have to be the team leader and that should take some of the pressure off him coming into the season.
If Peterson is the pick for the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Utah has one of the most read-made NBA players I can remember. He’s set up to succeed right away and there’s no reason he can’t do all of these things and more next season. Jazz fans are lucky to be a part of an incredible ride.
