The Wizards made aggressive moves at the trade deadline, adding Trae Young and Anthony Davis in deals aimed at accelerating their rebuild.
According to a new mock draft from Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, Washington could take another major step forward this offseason. (You can check out the most recent Hoops Wire Mock here.)
Buckley projects the Wizards to land the No. 1 overall pick and select BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2026 class.
“The race for No. 1 has felt too close to call for much of the pre-draft season, but Dybantsa might be pulling away from the pack,” Buckley wrote. “While the Wizards used their in-season trades for Anthony Davis and Trae Young to grease the gears for a return to relevance, they still find themselves without a clear-cut centerpiece. Hit this lottery’s jackpot to collect Dybantsa as the prize, and that itch would be immediately scratched.”
Dybantsa put together a strong season at BYU, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 34.8 minutes per game, showing the type of all-around scoring ability that has NBA teams intrigued.
While it’s only a projection, the fit would be an interesting one.
Young’s playmaking and Davis’ presence inside would, in theory, ease the burden on a young scorer like Dybantsa. At the same time, Washington would still need to prove it can turn its roster into a legitimate contender.
Granted, it all remains a hypothetical. But if the lottery breaks their way, the Wizards could find themselves in a very different position sooner rather than later.
RELATED | Hoops Wire mock draft
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