The 2026 draft lottery has made a lot of noise, as the Washington Wizards are set to pick first overall, probably AJ Dybantsa, in the upcoming NBA Draft. However, reports have emerged that the franchise might be looking to trade its top pick with the Utah Jazz or the Memphis Grizzlies, who are slated to pick next. While AJ Dybantsa is the top prospect to be picked first, recent opinions of NBA executives have emerged in a recent report.
The talent packed in the top four prospects of this year’s draft class has made the decision even more difficult for teams. During the NBA draft combine, The Athletic surveyed 13 NBA executives and asked them what the Wizards should do with their top pick this season.
Even though there is no clear consensus on who is the best one in the 2026 draft, seven of the 10 executives believed that the Wizards should draft Dybantsa. One of the executives even stated:
“Take AJ and sleep like a baby.”
It’s clear that there is consensus on Dybantsa’s talent, and a majority of executives believe in his prospects of doing well in the pro league. However, in case he tanks, some believe that the worst he can do is emulate Andrew Wiggins’ career. As per the report by Josh Robbins and David Aldridge:
“Dybantsa’s worst possible outcome, that respondent said, would be to have a career similar to Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 pick in 2014, a wing who has made one All-Star team during his 12-year pro career.”
Two of the remaining three executives, among 10 who voted, picked Darryn Peterson, while one chose Cameron Boozer. If the Wizards indeed decide to draft the BYU Cougars forward, he will have an opportunity to play under Anthony Davis. He can help space the offense with an efficient Trae Young to handle the ball for him.
AJ Dybantsa meets with the lottery teams during Draft Combine
The NBA Draft Combine was scheduled from May 10-17 in Chicago. During this period, one of the top prospects, AJ Dybantsa, met with several teams that hold top draft picks, including the Brooklyn Nets. Notably, the Nets have the sixth pick and would not even get to choose from the top four.
Dybantsa performed excellently in the combine, as was expected of him. He will bring a serious offensive arsenal to any team he gets added to. His real strength lies in his ability to create shots and handle the ball even in traffic. Although he can put some work into his long-range shooting, he is a serious threat in the paint.
Earlier, Dybantsa went viral for his reaction after the Wizards were awarded the top pick in the NBA Draft lottery. Several analysts and fans on social media speculated that Dybantsa might not be interested in playing for the Wizards, even if he gets drafted by them. Only time will tell if he gets picked first in the 2026 NBA Draft and suits up for them.
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