Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) brings the ball up the court against the Boston Celtics during the second half at Delta Center with Kyrie Irving & ESPN's Brian Windhorst in the background
Rob Gray-Imagn Images
After the Utah Jazz inked Keyonte George to a $157.5 million contract extension, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reminded NBA fans what happened to the Cleveland Cavs and Kyrie Irving. The Jazz's No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson sang George's praises after the draft. However, Windhorst gave a cautionary tale about Utah's immediate future.
Looking back on when the Cavs eventually parted ways with Dion Waiters, who was drafted fourth overall in the 2012 draft one year removed from when selecting Irving first overall the year prior, Windhorst is wondering if the Jazz will reach a similar fate with Peterson, he said, per ESPN's The Hoop Collective.
“If you're trying to establish yourself as the franchise guard, and you're up for a contract, it's time to get paid. Then, the team drafts with the number 2 pick — a guard — one of the things that you're worried about in any situation on that team is how those guys are going to mesh,” Windhorst said. “It's happened a lot of times in NBA history, but I remember when the Cavs had Kyrie Irving, and they drafted Dion Waiters. How are they going to work together because they both wanna have a role and they both want to get paid?
“It didn't work out. In fact, it's sort of a cautionary tale. I remember Calvin Booth. The former general manager of the Nuggets. He had that incredible line in that interview with The Ringer, where he said that redundancy is a silent killer in the NBA. Especially when you're talking about young guys who aren't experienced and haven't gotten paid.”
Jazz's Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson are both represented by Wasserman Basketball.
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“The fact that they were in the same agency, I think, helped because there was a willingness to work together,” Windhorst added. “Right from the start, if he came in from a different agency, I'm not so sure you would have had that willingness.”
With the Jazz invested in both top prospects for their immediate future, George and Peterson are pillars of the Jazz's future, as ESPN's Dave McMenamin stated.
“They need Peterson to be the superstar. I would say that the Jazz are looking at this, believing that they've got one of the most dynamic and talented young backcourts in the league,” McMenamin said. “Obviously, you look at Philly to top that list with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — they believe they've got a backcourt that has the potential to be the best offensive backcourt in the league.”
It'll be interesting to see how things unfold for Peterson, George, and the Jazz this upcoming season.