Darryn Peterson

Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz argues Utah should put Lauri Markkanen on the market, with the forward turning 30 next spring and blocking starter minutes for Darryn Peterson or Ace Bailey, and no longer fitting a young core that also includes Keyonte George and Jaren Jackson Jr. Markkanen is coming off a career year at 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists, and has three years and $149.5 million left, which Swartz notes will eat less than 28% of next season's cap.

Utah has signed Darryn Peterson. No terms disclosed.

ESPN's Jeremy Woo made Utah a winner of the first round for taking Darryn Peterson at No. 2, calling him his top prospect overall and a fit for a backcourt that needed shooting and size.

The 2026 first round opened with AJ Dybantsa to Washington, Darryn Peterson to Utah and Cameron Boozer to Memphis, with Caleb Wilson following at No. 4 to Chicago.

Washington selected BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the first pick of the 2026 draft, choosing him over Darryn Peterson. Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 51 percent shooting in his one college season.

Neither AJ Dybantsa nor Darryn Peterson would be told which of them Washington had chosen until Adam Silver announced the pick on the night.

Both the Wizards and the Jazz remained undecided between Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa days out from the 2026 draft, leaving the order of the first two picks open.

AJ Dybantsa met with Washington and Utah before the draft while Darryn Peterson met only with the Wizards, the two prospects the top of the board had narrowed to.