Wizards like momentum as No. 1 pick looms: ‘Train leaving the station’

The Wizards may finally be turning a corner.

After years of rebuilding, Washington enters the offseason with the No. 1 overall pick and a roster that looks far more competitive on paper. The additions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis have given the franchise exactly what it lacked. A dynamic playmaker. A proven interior presence.

Now comes the next piece.

As previously reported by Hoops Wire, the Wizards are believed to be leaning toward BYU wing AJ Dybantsa with the top selection. He would join a growing young core built around Young and Davis, with a focus on accelerating development and, perhaps, pushing toward relevance sooner than expected.

That shift is not accidental.

“The Wizards train is starting to leave the station,” general manager Will Dawkins said at his end-of-season news conference, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “It’s not full speed ahead, but we do plan to move with a little momentum.”

Momentum would be a welcome change. Washington has lost at least 64 games in each of the past three seasons. The hope now is that stretch is over.

Health will matter. Fit will matter. But the direction is becoming clearer.

The Wizards are not just rebuilding anymore. They are starting to build something with purpose.