Perfect Jazz 2026 NBA Draft pick after lottery move up to No. 2

The Utah Jazz were one of the big winners of the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. They went into the lottery with the fourth best odds, but that equated to a less than 50% chance (45.2%) at a top-four pick. They sprang all the way up to land the number two selection, though. While they won’t have their pick of the litter like the Washington Wizards will, there is a very good chance that Utah will walk away from draft day with the best player in a loaded class.

Having the number two overall pick bodes well for a team that is already ready to contend next season. Keyonte George was a breakout star for Utah this year, and Lauri Markkanen already has an All-Star appearance. Plus, the team traded for Jaren Jackson Jr., and they still have high hopes for Ace Bailey. So, who must the Jazz take with pick two to round out their young and promising core?

The Jazz need to draft Darryn Peterson

The first overall pick is up for grabs. All of AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson have a case to be drafted with the number one pick, and the Wizards will certainly do their duediligence with all of those players. As of now, though, Dybantsa is probably the frontrunner to go first overall. He is the best positional and schematic fit for the team.

Even though Dybantsa played his college ball in Utah at BYU, the Jazz should be rooting for him to go first overall, as their best fit is Peterson. If the Kansas product falls to pick two, the Jazz need to pick him. Peterson is far and away the most polarizing prospect in this draft class.

His collegiate experience was far from smooth. The shooting guard missed a fair amount of time and dealt with cramping issues throughout the season. He even regularly asked to be subbed out, which led to many fans questioning his competitive drive. The Kansas product has since come out to discuss just how debilitating his cramping problem was. He was also plagued by ankle and hamstring injuries. With an NBA training staff, the hope is that these bodily issues will be a thing of the past at the next level. Plus, if anything, Peterson should be applauded for playing through the pain rather than taking the easy way out and just sitting out and waiting for the draft.

When it comes to pure talent, Peterson has far and away the highest ceiling in this class. He is silky smooth as a scorer from all three levels. Even though he was limited to playing fewer than 30 minutes per game, Peterson managed to average 20.2 points per game. The 6-foot-5 guard is athletic enough to finish above the rim, but he also has really good touch. Peterson gets great elevation on his jumper, and high-degree-of-difficulty shots seem to be easy for him.

The Canton, Ohio, native is much more than just a pure scorer, though. He has shown an ability to get his teammates involved and operate as a passer, and when engaged, he can effectively defend at the point of attack. The Jazz have a lot of really good players, but George, Jackson, and Markkanen might have All-Star ceilings, not megastar potential. Even Bailey didn’t prove enough as a rookie to show he can be a top-10 NBA player.

Peterson has that level of potential. He just happens to play the position that the Jazz are the thinnest at, too. George is the long-term point guard, and Jackson and Markkanen will be joined in the frontcourt by Walker Kessler next season. The center only played five games this season. Bailey can play shooting guard, but he might be best off playing a forward spot. Peterson can start from day one in the two-guard slot, and he would provide a Jazz team with championship aspirations a true top option who can operate as the best player on the team when they do take the steps towards contention.

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