Assuming that AJ Dybantsa and Cam Boozer are off the board for the Grizzlies, they should be all in on Darryn Peterson. Boozer should be available at #3, but it is still worth considering an alternative scenario that he isn't. The Grizzlies have a strong foundation that can speed up their rebuild, but Darryn Peterson would be the proven scorer the team needs to return to playoff basketball.
There are exactly two weeks left until the 2026 NBA Draft, and there will be lots of intel to sort through. However, it would be a surprise if AJ Dybantsa didn't go #1 overall to the Wizards, meaning the Grizzlies will get to have one of Boozer or Peterson in a Grizzlies jersey. All signs point to Boozer, but Grizzlies fans can still rejoice if Peterson is the pick.
With a Ja Morant summer trade looking inevitable, the Grizzlies will have to find a reliable backcourt scorer for the long term. Ty Jerome, while exciting, is likely a short-term solution, and there are still multiple young guards the Grizzlies have to see more of. Nothing is a given in this league, but Peterson has shown plenty of signs of being a star guard and can be impactful right away.
Peterson could definitely evolve into a leading scoring option
Even though Peterson has the intention of playing point guard, he likely fits better as a shooting guard in the NBA. However, regardless of whether he plays as a point guard or shooting guard, his talent is worth banking on. It is not easy to find a prospect with his scoring prowess, and fans should be excited about how well he played despite not being at 100%.
A strong argument can be made that Darryn Peterson is the best player in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he had significant momentum as the consensus #1 pick early in the cycle. However, the main thing that prevented him from sticking as the consensus #1 overall pick comes down to health. Peterson had persistent issues with cramping and also dealt with multiple lower-body injuries.
Still, that didn't prevent Peterson from scoring in bursts and showing how much of an offensive force he is. Peterson averaged 20.2 points in just 29 minutes per game, and it likely would have been more if he were playing at 100%. Peterson is an extremely confident jump shooter and will likely get back to the rim pressure he showed prior to his lone season at Kansas.
In a league gravitating towards bigger guards, Peterson measured extremely well at the NBA Draft combine. Peterson measured 6 foot 4.5 barefoot and possesses an impressive 6 foot 9.75 wingspan. Peterson weighed in at 199.8 pounds and will likely continue getting stronger throughout his NBA career.
When looking at his scoring ability and physical tools, it is easy to see Darryn Peterson having an immediate impact, similar to a prospect like Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs. Peterson will have to grow as a playmaker offensively, but he should bring defensive upside while also having the offensive skillset that can dominate a playoff setting one day.
The current expectation is the Grizzlies select Cam Boozer in two weeks; however, the fanbase can still be very confident if Darryn Peterson ends up being the pick at #3 instead.
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