Why the Jazz Took Darryn Peterson Over Cam Boozer Despite Being Snubbed for Workout
Why the Jazz Took Darryn Peterson Over Cam Boozer Despite Being Snubbed for Workout
Peterson met with Utah over the weekend after he only worked out for the Wizards.Blake Silverman|
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Utah JazzKansas JayhawksAustin and Danny Ainge will never let the chaos of the NBA draft get to them. The Jazz executives have now made top-five picks in two years in a row with players who reportedly didn’t work out for the franchise in the pre-draft process.
On Tuesday, Utah selected Kansas guard Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick instead of Duke forward Cameron Boozer, who went third to the Grizzlies. Last year, the Jazz took Ace Bailey with the fifth pick after he didn’t work out for the team in a bizarre pre-draft process. Peterson now joins Bailey as a key member of the young Utah core along with Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.
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While Peterson only worked out for the Wizards, who took AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick, the Jazz visited him in Ohio ahead of the draft, a trip that president of basketball operations Austin Ainge had glowing reviews about according to Chandler Holt of KSL Sports.
Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer were the clear top three in this draft. The choice among them seemed difficult for the franchises at the top of the draft, however, with pros and cons for each top prospect.
Why the Jazz went for Darryn Peterson over Cameron Boozer
The new Jazz guard is debatably the most talented player with the highest upside amongst the three. Utah bets on the talent that could give them a top-10 player in the league one day if everything goes right. Peterson ia already a high-level scorer who can make shots at all three levels. He can play on and off the ball and brings elite rim pressure, making him a seamless fit in any offense.
He averaged 20.2 points per game and shot 38.2% from three-point range on just under seven attempts per game in his sole season with Kansas.
Boozer was seen as the safer play as a hard-nosed forward who can score near the rim, stretch the floor and even serve as an offensive hub if needed with his new team. He was extremely productive with Duke as he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 39.1% from three on lesser volume. He could very well become the best player from his draft class, but Peterson’s higher upside as a scorer plus Utah’s already deep frontcourt with Jackson and Markkanen made the franchise bet on the talent.
That’s not to say Utah’s bet on Peterson can’t go wrong, however. The last two months of his season with Kansas were strange, as he struggled with cramps and saw his explosiveness take a dive after missing time at the start of the season. But he has a real chance to become a premier scorer at the next level, which the Jazz need alongside the existing core to take a step forward and compete in a loaded Western Conference.
"Keyonte [George] and I will be one of the best backcourts in the NBA,” Peterson said of his fit with Utah via Holt and KSL Sports.
As optimistic and confident as that sounds, he’s absolutely right. Despite another odd and unconventional pre-draft process, the younger Ainge is all in on Peterson’s fit with the franchise both on the floor and in the locker room.
“He’s a really talented player, he’s a really hard worker,” he said of the pick Tuesday night via KSL Sports. “He’s got culture fit, talent fit, game fit with our organization. And we think he’ll be a huge part of us in the short term and the long term. We’re really excited to have him.
“Had the chance to talk to him a minute ago and he’s super pumped.”
The pre-draft chaos didn’t end up mattering for the Jazz with the pick of Bailey last year. And the Ainges just proved that talent wins out above all else once again by bringing in the draft’s most intriguing young player.
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BLAKE SILVERMANBlake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
