Latest Utah Jazz draft intel on Boozer, Dybantsa, Peterson
Jun 12, 2026, 12:01 PM | Updated: 12:02 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA Draft is less than two weeks away, and the Utah Jazz continue their preparation to make the No. 2 overall pick.
Utah is expected to choose among AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, or Caleb Wilson. At least one of those top four prospects has already visited the team for a pre-draft workout.
Here’s the latest intel on the Jazz’s pre-draft process.
Cam Boozer has visited the Utah Jazz
Boozer has completed a workout in Utah and brings deep ties to the state.
The Duke star was born in Salt Lake City while his father, All-Star Carlos Boozer, spent six seasons with the organization.
Carlos Boozer now works in the Jazz front office and participates in the pre-draft process, including dinners with top prospects.
“It’s usually Ryan [Smith], myself, Avery Bradley, Carlos Boozer, [Danny Ainge], Justin Zanik — that’s usually some combination of that group,” President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge told KSL Sports of who attends pre-draft functions. “And of course, Coach Hardy. Will is there, he has been at every one of them.”
Notably, Boozer shared a flight with lottery pick Ace Bailey when Bailey arrived in Utah after going No. 5 in the 2025 draft.
Evaluators view Cam Boozer as the most NBA-ready player among the projected top four picks, and analytics models favor him over Peterson, Dybantsa, and Wilson.
Jazz plan to host Peterson, Dybantsa next week
While Boozer has already visited, Peterson and Dybantsa are expected in Utah within the next week.
Dybantsa recently traveled internationally before spending time in New York as an analyst during the NBA Finals.
The 19-year-old spent the past two years in Utah. He played his final high school season at Utah Prep, then attended BYU for his freshman campaign, about 45 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Danny and Austin Ainge, owner Ryan Smith, and members of the coaching staff and roster attended BYU games in Provo during Dybantsa’s freshman season.
The wing also attended several Jazz games alongside BYU head coach Kevin Young and his father, Ace Dybantsa, during his time in the state.
AJ Dybantsa is at tonight’s @utahjazz game with @BYUMBB head coach Kevin Young.
They’re talking with the @Suns David Fizdale. #TakeNote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/2lXxJG4W5N
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) December 14, 2024
The Massachusetts native is the current favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards, though the organization has remained tight-lipped about its plans.
Peterson also has scheduled a visit with the Jazz ahead of the June 23 draft.
The sharpshooting guard entered the 2025-26 college basketball season as the projected No. 1 pick, but injuries — including full-body cramps — limited his availability at Kansas.
Utah has received medical reports on the top prospects and forwarded them to team doctors and specialists for further evaluation and a more complete understanding.
Though Peterson described himself as a point guard at the NBA Combine, league sources believe Utah views the Ohio native as a potential backcourt partner for Keyonte George, sharing playmaking duties.
George was the Jazz’s representation at the draft lottery, and stayed in Chicago during the combine to watch his future teammates as they prepared for the NBA.
No momentum for trade
Among the handful of rumors that have circulated, there appears to be little to no substance behind the Jazz’s desire to trade up in the draft.
Austin Ainge dismissed initial reports that the Jazz had already made efforts to trade up at the draft combine, while the team seems content with their options with the second pick.
Before the draft lottery, sources indicated that trades could be on the table regardless of where the team was picking, but there has been no indication that a trade is in the works since moving up to the No. 2 selection.
Though trades can materialize quickly during the draft process, the Jazz seem likely to stand pat with their current pick.
Players are embracing Utah more than ever
One question largely missing from this year’s pre-draft conversation: whether prospects want to play in Utah.
In the past, Salt Lake City carried a reputation as a less desirable destination among NBA locales, fueled by Derek Harper’s “you go live in Utah” comment in 1997 and Rony Seikaly’s refusal to report to the Jazz after a 1998 trade.
That perception has shifted, largely due to the efforts of Ryan Smith and the Jazz front office.
Utah’s young core — including George, Bailey, Lauri Markkanen and restricted free agent Walker Kessler — has embraced the city.
summer 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽 🏋️♂️🏃♂️🏀 >>>#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/tJHIV7tLTa
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 11, 2026
Jaren Jackson Jr. also has spoken positively about his early experience after the Jazz acquired him in February, and he has spent the offseason working out with teammates in Utah.
Both Cam Boozer and AJ Dybantsa have strong ties to Utah, and Peterson has made the Jazz one of his limited pre-draft workout stops.
The draft will take place June 23-24 in New York.
Are you on Instagram? Let’s connect, give us a follow @kslsports.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 2-6pm with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
