Peterson Keeps Draft Chip on His Shoulder; Boozer Sets High Bar in Memphis; Cavaliers Gain Flexibility With Pick Swap
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Jazz
The Utah Jazz took guard Darryn Peterson at No. 2 in last week’s NBA Draft, but the former Kansas standout said he still feels overlooked. Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Peterson insisted he belonged at the top of the board, noting that outside evaluators “don’t see how hard I work.” The 19-year-old joins a young Utah core featuring Ace Bailey, Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen as the organization continues its rebuild.
Grizzlies
New Memphis forward Cameron Boozer, selected third overall, told the same program he believes the Grizzlies can “bring [the franchise] back to where they once were” after several down seasons. Boozer cited the team’s energetic fan base and predicted that “in a couple of years, and maybe this year, we’re going to surprise people.” Widely considered one of the most polished prospects in the class, the 6-foot-9 forward is expected to become a cornerstone in Memphis.
Cavaliers
Cleveland traded the No. 29 pick to Sacramento on draft night, moving down five spots to No. 34 and picking up an additional future second-rounder. The Kings used the acquired selection on UConn forward Alex Karaban. By shifting into the second round, the Cavaliers gain both extra draft capital and greater contract flexibility, as second-round deals are not bound by the first-round rookie scale. Cleveland is now scheduled to make its choice at No. 34 when the second round resumes on Wednesday.
Source: Hoops Wire
