Welcome to the Utah Jazz Mailbag! This week, we look at the likelihood that AJ Dybantsa is still on the board with the second pick. Each week, we will send out a prompt on X and BlueSky asking for the questions you have about the Jazz. Then, we’ll respond to as many as we can in that week’s Jazz mailbag in the Jazz Notes podcast. Do you get the feeling that sentiment has shifted towards Darryn Peterson likely going number one now vs AJ? Is that a sign that his medical issues appear to be mostly resolved? - AggieStrong (@strongbonez21) June 8, 2026. I do not expect Darryn Peterson to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. But, I believe there’s a clear explanation for why the narrative has started to shift in that direction, particularly in Utah. The first explanation is draft fatigue. Immediately after teams learned the lottery results, almost every mock draft placed AJ Dybantsa at No. 1. That projection followed a consistent trend throughout the college basketball season, when analysts widely viewed Dybantsa as the likely top pick regardless of which team won the selection. Our latest NBA Mock Draft!! pic.twitter.com/7JGKoFAlQr - Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 7, 2026. The BYU forward delivered an outstanding freshman season in Provo. He led the country in scoring and showcased elite physical tools. Few players in basketball history possess Dybantsa’s combination of size, athleticism, and scoring instincts, and those who do often develop into upper-echelon NBA stars. However, the lottery took place four weeks ago, and seeing the same name atop mock drafts has begun to feel repetitive. As a result, fans and media members have started searching for new storylines in the name of variety rather than logic. Simply put, the time between the lottery and the draft exceeds our attention spans, so our minds begin to wander. In reality, very little has changed since the lottery results were announced, so expectations at the top of the draft should not change either. Since the end of the college basketball season, neither Dybantsa nor Peterson has played a competitive game. Both participated in physical testing at the draft combine, which largely confirmed what evaluators already knew. AJ Dybantsa’s closest physical comp in the DX database: a 20-year old Paul George. Same height in shoes (~6’10), similar weight (~215), nearly identical wingspan and standing reach. pic.twitter.com/8dKY0sdzH3 - Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 12, 2026. Dybantsa remains an elite athlete with superior measurables, while Peterson is a good athlete but less of a physical outlier. The interview process can uncover unknowns, but neither player carries notable red flags in his personality, again, leaving little room for change. Medical reports could influence draft order, but they typically hurt a player’s stock more than help it. In Peterson’s case, he dealt with unexplained cramping during his freshman season. There does not appear to be a definitive diagnosis, which could cut both ways as evaluators assess his outlook. Last week, I spoke with a team executive who expressed concerns about Peterson’s medical issues. However, the executive also acknowledged that the player’s talent and potential are undeniable. Ultimately, the decision to draft Peterson will depend on how much risk the team is willing to take on. If the Jazz are confident in their ability to mitigate Peterson’s medical issues, they may be willing to take a chance on him. However, if they are concerned about the potential risks, they may opt for a safer pick. Either way, the decision will be a difficult one, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.