A look at Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson as potential No. 2 picks

This article was first published as the Jazz Insiders_newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday._

A lot has been made about who the Washington Wizards will take with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft and who the Utah Jazz will take with the No. 2 pick.

That conversation mostly begins and ends with the names AJ Dybansta and Darryn Peterson. But there are two other players who should not be taken out of the running just yet — Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson.

The 2026 draft class has been lauded for it’s top-end talent for a long time. And for months, there has been a clear top-four (Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, Wilson), with a consensus drop-off for the remainder of the lottery.

Within that top-four, most people have considered the top-two locked up for Dybantsa and Peterson, but there are reasons to believe that Boozer or Wilson could jump into one of the top two picks of the draft.

Boozer, after a standout freshmen season at Duke, is an analytics darling to the teams that are evaluating draft prospects. He is at the top of analytics models for a number of teams because of his production and efficiency for the Blue Devils. So what’s holding teams back?

Despite his 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, there is a generally held belief that Boozer’s ultimate ceiling is probably lower than that of Dybantsa and Peterson, and there is some fear about Boozer being able to fit into a modern NBA lineup. But, there are quietly some scouts and front office executives across the league who see Boozer as more of a sure thing, with the analytics to back up their beliefs.

Darryn Peterson wants NBA teams to see the real him

Wilson didn’t get a chance to show off his prowess in the NCAA Tournament for North Carolina this spring due to season-ending surgery to repair a broken thumb. But missing March Madness did not diminish what NBA teams already thought of Wilson, who has continuously been compared to Chris Bosh throughout the pre-draft process.

Wilson also was one of the standouts during interviews at the pre-draft combine. He comes across as incredibly intelligent, passionate and full of determination. He showed up in a big way during his collegiate season in bright-light games and there was a lot of NBA decision-makers who thought he could have boosted his draft profile even more with a deep NCAA Tournament run.

There are going to be conversations had over the next several weeks about fit for the top picks and the teams that are picking them, there will be private workouts and deep internal discussions about projected talent for these four players at the top of the pack.

A part of that discussion will include what the NBA finds throughout their medical evaluations of the picks and there’s a chance that if any red flags pop up, it could mean ascendance for Boozer or Wilson.

New with the Jazz

The Jazz are unlikely to trade up for the No. 1 pick — and they shouldn’t

From the archives

Draft profile: Is Ace Bailey worth a top 5 selection?

‘Jazz fans deserve this’ — Inside the NBA Draft lottery room

Extra points

• AJ Dybantsa believes he is No. 1, and that belief sets him apart (Deseret News)
• Keyonte George mentoring NBA prospect Jaden Bradley (Deseret News)
• How AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson fared at the NBA Draft Combine (Deseret News)

Around the league

• Knicks leading Cavs, 2-0, in Eastern Conference Finals
• Trail Blazers lay off roughly 70 employees as head coaching search continues
• 2026 NBA free agent rankings

Up next

• NBA draft | First round | June 23 | 6 p.m. MDT
• NBA draft | Second round | June 24 | 6 p.m. MDT