Bill Simmons makes massive prediction about Danny Ainge’s plans with No. 2 pick in 2026 NBA Draft

Follow us on Google Discover

Bill Simmons believes Danny Ainge could make one of the biggest calls of the 2026 NBA Draft by taking Cameron Boozer with the No. 2 pick.

The Utah Jazz are sitting in the kind of draft position that can reshape a rebuild. Ainge has never been shy about trusting his own board, and this class gives him several different ways to chase a franchise cornerstone.

Darryn Peterson has been widely discussed near the top of the draft, but Simmons thinks Utah could go in another direction when the moment arrives.

Bill Simmons predicts Danny Ainge will take Cameron Boozer at No. 2

NBA Central shared Bill Simmons’ prediction that Danny Ainge will stay away from Darryn Peterson and target Cameron Boozer with the second pick.

“I think he’s gonna stay away from Peterson, and I could see him taking Boozer at two. That would be my bet right now,” Simmons said.

He added, “I might be wrong, but I really think they’re gonna take Boozer. I do. I can’t explain it, but I think they’re gonna take Boozer at two.”

Simmons framed it as a gut feeling, not a locked report, but the prediction fits the uncertainty around the top of the board.

Utah has been linked to multiple elite prospects, and Ainge has the draft history to make a pick that does not simply follow consensus.

Cameron Boozer gives Utah Jazz a different No. 2 pick argument

Boozer’s case is built around production, size, and fit. The Duke forward is listed around 6-foot-9 and 253 pounds, and his freshman season included major scoring, rebounding, passing, and three-point efficiency.

That matters for Utah because Boozer looks less like a long-term project and more like a player who could help define a frontcourt immediately. His combination of strength, feel, and skill gives the Jazz a different type of foundation than a high-usage guard like Peterson.

There is also an obvious Utah layer. Boozer is the son of former Jazz star Carlos Boozer, and reports have noted the family connection as part of the storyline, even if the pick would ultimately have to stand on basketball reasons.

Peterson may still be the cleaner perimeter upside swing for some teams, but Simmons’ prediction points to the kind of decision Ainge has made before: trust the player he believes can anchor the next version of the franchise, even if the room expects something else.