Caden Powell

With the 2026 NBA draft combine over, the Jazz are in the next stage of their draft preparation, writes Sarah Todd of Deseret News.

One important area for Utah, which holds the second overall pick, is the return of medical evaluations and testing. Given that potential No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson dealt with health issues throughout his freshman season at Kansas, those medicals could play a crucial role in the Jazz’s decision on draft night. Peterson was limited to just 24 games this season, and often came under scrutiny for subbing himself out as he dealt with nagging hamstring and cramping issues.

The Jazz will also begin their pre-draft workouts this week. For the top prospects, this will likely consist more of in-depth interviews and dinners with coaches rather than heavily intensive skill drills, Todd writes.

We have more from around the draft:

• The Kings will host a pre-draft workout on Monday for six players: Quadir Copeland (North Carolina State), Melvin Council (Kansas), Tre White (Kansas), Nick Martinelli (Northwestern), KeShawn Murphy (Auburn), and Caden Powell (Baylor), per Sean Cunningham of KCRA News (via Twitter). In addition to the seventh overall pick, the Kings hold two second-round picks at No. 34 and No. 45. The aforementioned prospects would all likely be competing for the second-round picks or undrafted free agency slots. Of the six, Martinelli is highest rated on Jeremy Woo’s big board for ESPN at 53rd overall, while White, Murphy, and Powell are all unranked.
• With the league adjusting to the reality of the new rules regarding tanking and the lottery, one topic of discussion is how the new odds will impact the Grizzlies and Jazz, who completed a trade involving Utah’s 2027 first-round pick. The Jazz are hoping to be a much-improved team next season as they get their first extended look at a Lauri Markkanen/Jaren Jackson Jr./Walker Kessler frontcourt. They’ll also add the No. 2 overall pick and are expecting internal growth from players like Keyonte George and Ace Bailey. If Utah is at least in the play-in mix, the Grizzlies will actually gain expected value from that traded pick as a result of the lottery changes, Chris Crouse writes for Forty Eight Minutes, even though the pick would be prohibited from landing in the top five.
• Greek big man Alexandros Samodurov, an early entrant in the 2026 draft after playing this season for Panathinaikos, has committed to UNC, Jonathan Givony reports (via Twitter). The 21-year-old big man, who recently removed his name from the draft pool, flashed a burgeoning outside shot this year, in addition to strong shot-blocking ability.