Mock Draft: Jazz take Caleb Wilson at No. 2, Grizzlies land Darryn Peterson at No. 3

CBS Sports’ 2026 NBA mock draft paints a clear fork in the road for two lottery-slot teams: the Utah Jazz selecting North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson with the No. 2 pick, and the Memphis Grizzlies taking Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 3. The entire scenario is a projection, not a prediction of what teams will do, but it highlights how sharply front offices can differ when evaluating “need and fit” versus “best player available” when the board is crowded at the top.

In Utah’s version of the lottery math, the Jazz pass on Peterson and instead target Wilson’s defensive versatility and athletic profile. CBS frames Wilson as a fit among “towering presences” on the Jazz’s roster, emphasizing that he can operate as a switchable forward with upside for a young franchise still trying to define its identity.

Wilson’s draft case is built on a blend of size, mobility, and immediate college production. At 6-foot-9 and 211 pounds, the NBA’s official draft profile lists him as a freshman at North Carolina, where he posted 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game across 24 appearances. The same profile notes a fractured thumb that ended his season in early March, and it credits the run with major honors including ACC All-Rookie Team and First-Team All-ACC recognition.

Peterson’s mock-slot story is closer to what Memphis typically values, at least in CBS’ telling. With Peterson available at No. 3, CBS argues the Grizzlies would not overthink the selection, describing him as a “lead guard of the future” with physical tools and shooting that project well to the modern NBA. CBS also references medical caution tied to Peterson’s one-year college stint, positioning Memphis as willing to weigh that risk against the upside.

The NBA’s own prospect profile backs up the “shooting, creation, and two-way frame” pitch. Peterson is listed at 6-foot-5 and 199 pounds and identified as a guard from Kansas, with a freshman season that produced 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His listed splits during that span include 44% from the field, 38% from three, and 83% at the free-throw line. That same profile also notes he missed time with hamstring and ankle injuries.

The draft window matters because both players’ stock is likely to keep responding to interviews, workouts, and medical evaluations in the weeks leading up to the event. The NBA lists the 2026 NBA Draft as a two-day process, with the first round on June 23 and the second round on June 24.

What to watch next, assuming this mock framework stays in the public conversation: whether teams treat Wilson primarily as a long-term defensive creator at the four, or whether they view his jump-shooting and shot-creation as closer to the ready-now threshold than scouts currently expect. On the other side, the questions for Peterson will likely revolve around durability and role clarity, given how aggressively CBS and other evaluators tie him to being a primary scorer who can also defend multiple spots.