The Utah Jazz suddenly have a good problem to have, as the team is stockpiled with talent.
They recently made Darryn Peterson the No. 2 pick in the draft, adding him to a core of Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, and Brice Sensabaugh.
Peterson will be as untouchable as they come, as his ability to score at all three levels at a high rate has helped him draw comparisons to Kobe Bryant.
George needs to prove he can stay healthy for close to a full season, but he and Peterson have a legitimate chance to form one of the deadliest backcourts in the NBA for years to come.
The Jazz could be primed to compete for a playoff spot as soon as next season, but the front office may need to make some key decisions to get them there.
They’re going to need to decide whether Jackson is a center or power forward, as he’s spent most of his career at the four spot. Jackson is considered one of the best defenders and rim protectors in the game today, but he doesn’t offer much rebounding and size, which will likely make it difficult for him to match up against bigger men at his position.
The Jazz will also need to determine if Markkanen is truly a part of the team’s long-term plans, as he’s had considerable trouble staying healthy for the majority of his career and is approaching his 30th birthday.
At this stage of his career, Markkanen is probably best served as a stretch four on a championship-contending team rather than a vital piece of a rebuilding team, so moving off of him could allow the Jazz to have Bailey and Sensabaugh both be part of the starting lineup.
At the end of the day, the Jazz’s long-term future will depend on how well Peterson develops into the superstar scorer many project him to be. It appears he’ll be operating in more of an on-ball role in the NBA than the off-ball role he learned to embrace at Kansas, so Peterson will need to learn to beat double and triple teams and get to his spots effectively.
Bailey still also has plenty of room to grow as a three-level scorer. If the Rutgers product reaches his fullest potential, there could be a new 1-2 punch in Utah for the long-term future.
