<\/p>\n
Darryn Peterson arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Adam Hunger\/AP Photo\/Adam Hunger<\/p>\n
Bennett Stirtz arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Adam Hunger\/AP Photo\/Adam Hunger<\/p>\n
Aday Mara walks off the stage after being selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder as the 12th pick in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Yuki Iwamura\/AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura<\/p>\n
DENVER (AP) \u2014 The usually stoic Darryn Peterson couldn’t mask his feelings after being taken by Utah with the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
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His grandfather was crying. His mom was crying. So the Kansas standout got a little emotional, too.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt was surreal,” Peterson said, \u201cto hear my name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, the real work begins as Peterson tries to help the Jazz turn the corner inside a deep and competitive Northwest Division. Utah finished 42 games behind Oklahoma City last season \u2014 and the Thunder only got bigger (taking Michigan 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara) and acquired more shooting (picking up Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz).<\/p>\n
Peterson becomes a complement to emerging Jazz star Keyonte George.<\/p>\n
“He\u2019s a really talented player and really hard worker,\u201d Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said of Peterson on the team’s website. \u201cHe\u2019s a culture fit, a talent fit and a game fit with our organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Denver, another team trying to keep up with the Thunder, took UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. at No. 26 but is in the process of sending his draft rights to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a deal to acquire more draft assets.<\/p>\n
Difficult decisions loom for the Nuggets heading into the summer. Everyone not named Nikola Jokic may be up for trade discussions. The biggest dilemma is how to keep Aaron Gordon healthy and on the court after another injury-riddled season. The biggest decision is what to do about Peyton Watson, the talented, high-flying guard\/forward who\u2019s going to command a lucrative contract to stay in town.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Jokic is in line to sign a supermax extension this summer.<\/p>\n
Portland fortified its team Tuesday, not through a first-round pick \u2014 the Blazers didn’t have one \u2014 but by hiring Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori as its head coach. He takes over for Tiago Splitter, who left for Chicago. Splitter was the fill-in coach for Chauncey Billups following Billups’ arrest in an alleged gambling scheme.<\/p>\n
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The Blazers feature a talented core of young players in Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara. Damian Lillard will be back after missing last season due to an Achilles injury. Lillard played for the Blazers for the first 11 seasons of his career before spending two seasons with Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
Minnesota made a splash on the eve of the draft by trading Julius Randle and a first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team deal that also included the Chicago Bulls, a person with knowledge of the terms said. The Timberwolves sent the draft rights of the 28th pick \u2014 Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson \u2014 to the Nets and will be receiving the No. 33 pick that will be made in the second round on Wednesday night, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not received the required approvals from the league office.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what your team needs,\u201d Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “So it\u2019s a balance of being able to fill those needs but also be able to get the best talent available.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denver Nuggets <\/p>\n
Needs: Dependable depth at a reduced price given their cap restraints. Last season, they brought in Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. on friendly one-year deals.<\/p>\n
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Who they drafted: Well, Reed, but they’re in the process of sending his draft rights to the Spurs.<\/p>\n
NBA comparison: Joakim Noah, the longtime NBA center.<\/p>\n
Minnesota Timberwolves<\/p>\n
Needs: A point guard and backup center depth behind Rudy Gobert.<\/p>\n
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Who they drafted: Technically, they took Jefferson, but his draft rights are going to the Nets.<\/p>\n
NBA comparison: Kyle Anderson.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n
Needs: They’re already loaded. But maybe even more height and 3-point shooting because, well, a team can never have enough.<\/p>\n
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Who they drafted: Mara and then moved up in a trade with the Grizzlies, who selected Stirtz at No. 16 and dealt his draft rights to the Thunder for two second-round picks.<\/p>\n
NBA comparison: Mara resembles 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein. With Stirtz, it’s Payton Pritchard.<\/p>\n
Portland Trail Blazers <\/p>\n
Needs: Stability. New Blazers owner Tom Dundon has ruffled some feathers by letting Splitter go and laying off numerous members of the staff.<\/p>\n
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Utah Jazz <\/p>\n
Needs: When the Jazz can\u2019t get out and run, they get bogged down in the half-court so they need more outside shooters.<\/p>\n
Who they drafted: Peterson.<\/p>\n
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NBA comparison: Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n
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By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use<\/a> and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds, AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson, and AP freelancers Matthew Coles and Tyler Mason contributed to this report.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n