Wizards’ case for drafting AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall after winning 2026 NBA Draft Lottery

On Sunday afternoon, the Washington Wizards won the NBA Draft lottery, meaning they will be selecting first overall at the upcoming draft in June. The Wizards finished with the worst record in the NBA this past year, but now will have a chance to add a blue-chip prospect to the intriguing collection of talent they assembled throughout the season.

One of the top prospects in college basketball throughout last season was BYU standout freshman AJ Dybantsa, and the Wizards will likely be encouraged by many to select him at number one.

In a vacuum, Dybantsa would seem to fit what the Wizards are building to a tee. The Wizards upgraded at the point guard and power forward positions by trading for Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young and Dallas Mavericks’ Anthony Davis last year, givin the team two all-star talents whose value had gone down heading into the 2026 deadline.

Washington also has an intriguing piece in the middle in Alex Sarr, who showed some real signs of growth in his second season in the NBA. What the Wizards don’t have is an elite presence on the wing, and Dybantsa figures to give them just that if he were selected there.

The BYU freshman showcased his intriguing combination of size, athleticism, and agility throughout this past season, able to knock down contested jumpers and create shots off the dribble. He would also give the Wizards some solid versatility on defense, which is very important when trying to build a team around Young.

While Davis and Young may not be hoping for a prolonged rebuild, the emergence of a player like Dybantsa would make sense from a team-building perspective and give the Wizards a player who can help them win games now and a potential building block for the future.

The NBA Draft is slated to take place in late June.

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