Vecenie Projects AJ Dybantsa No. 1 to Wizards, Darryn Peterson No. 2 to Jazz

Q: Will an agent's strategy and a skipped workout cost Darryn Peterson the number two draft spot?

Probably not by itself, but it has increased the risk. Peterson remains widely projected at No. 2 to Utah, and multiple reports say the Jazz are not expected to be scared off simply because he has not worked out for them. There is a recent precedent: Utah still drafted Ace Bailey in 2025 under similar circumstances. Peterson also met Jazz officials at the combine, so the team is not operating without contact. What makes the situation more complicated is that the skipped workout appears intentional. Reporting suggests Peterson’s camp focused on Washington at No. 1 and may prefer to avoid a roster situation in Utah where he would share on-ball duties with Keyonte George and other creators. That kind of draft positioning can irritate teams if they feel a player is trying to steer the process, and it gives Utah more reason to keep weighing alternatives such as Cameron Boozer. The bigger swing factor may be talent evaluation and medical comfort, not the workout itself. Peterson’s season included injuries and cramping issues, though reports say the cramping was linked to creatine use and is viewed by some evaluators as manageable. If Utah is satisfied medically and still sees him as the best player available, the lack of a private workout is unlikely to cost him the pick. So the skipped workout has opened the door for Utah to think harder about other options, but the evidence so far suggests Peterson can still go No. 2 if the Jazz believe he is the right prospect.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Jun 18

Sam Vecenie’s latest 2026 mock draft keeps BYU wing AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 to Washington and slots Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 2 to Utah ahead of Tuesday’s draft.
League-source intel cited by Vecenie says neither team has finalized its choice: Washington is still doing due diligence, and Utah is also described as undecided at No. 2.
Peterson’s lack of a scheduled Jazz workout has fueled speculation, but Vecenie reported sources do not see it as evidence of a hidden Wizards promise and said Utah would still take the top player on its board.
Vecenie’s top 5 matches Jonathan Wasserman’s latest mock exactly, with Cameron Boozer to Memphis at No. 3, Caleb Wilson to Chicago at No. 4 and Keaton Wagler to the Clippers at No. 5.