The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is the latest example of big stuff happening with the Washington Wizards when I’m traveling or heavily scheduled and unable to write or talk about the news.
If I’m on an airplane, you can count on the Wizards making a trade or getting a piece of major news. It feels inevitable.
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So, in the last year (at least for a while) where the NBA rewards tanking, the Wizards tanked hardest and best and won the number one overall pick in this year’s loaded draft. “Loaded” in this case is used in a reputational kind of way. I haven’t run Ye Olde Draft Analyzer (YODA for short) yet and don’t have firm opinions on any of the prospects. In other words, I’ve heard people talk about how great this draft is at the top, but I haven’t assessed those claims for myself. Yet.
Judging by the headlines, The Official Rumor Silly Season is underway. The Wizards front office wisely communicated an openness to trading the top pick. If the prospects are as good as they’re reputed to be, a trade could deliver a proverbial King’s Ransom.
My favorite so far is the one about the Utah Jazz wanting to trade up a spot to pick Brigham Young forward AJ Dybantsa. If Dybantsa isn’t Washington’s guy at #1, then taking other stuff to move down a spot and get the guy they wanted anyway is just good business.
Here’s my quick first take on the numbers of the prospects widely considered to be in play for Washington at the top spot in the draft: Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer.
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AJ Dybantsa | F | BYU
AJ Dybantsa could be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft whether the Wizards keep the pick or not. | NBAE via Getty Images
What to like: It’d be hard to argue too much with Dybanta’s on-court production — per 100 team possessions, he averaged 41.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. He converted 56.8% of his twos, which suggests he’ll be able to compete inside, and he basically never fouled. He got to the free throw line regularly, which means he was stressing opponent defenses.
Yellow Flags: He shot 33.1% on threes, and his 77.4% free throw percentage is fine but not exceptional. Slightly bigger concern: not many steals or blocks for a 6-9 kid with superior athleticism. His overall offensive efficiency was strong despite the ho-hum three-point shooting and 5.0 turnovers per 100 possessions.
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How he measured: Just fine — over 6-8 in socks with a 7-foot wingspan. His agility times were strong, and he practically jumped out of the gym (fourth best maximum vertical at the combine).
Darryn Peterson | G | Kansas
Is Darryn Peterson the most talented player in this year’s NBA Draft? | NBAE via Getty Images
What to like: Veteran draftnik Jonathan Givony says Peterson is the best talent in this year’s draft. He views Peterson as on a different level than Dybantsa. That’s strong praise. A few numbers jump off the screen — per 100 possessions, 40.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks. He shot 38.2% on threes and 82.6% from free throw line on (a high) 11.1 attempts per 100. Those stocks (steals + blocks) are an impressive signal of his athleticism and defensive activity.
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Yellow Flags: Sub-50% on twos, a dozen missed games, and just 697 total NCAA minutes. The cramping issue is a legitimate concern, though reportedly the cause (creatine supplements) has been identified and corrected. His offensive rating (points produced per 100 individual possessions) was decent but unexceptional. Reportedly, Peterson would have preferred to play more of an on-ball role.
How he measured: Another ”just fine” — 6-4.5 in socks with a 6-9.75 wingspan. His agility times and vertical measurements look more than good enough to suggest he won’t be overwhelmed physically in the NBA.
Cameron Boozer | F | Duke
Could insane production and average NBA athleticism land Cameron Boozer in the top spot in this year’s NBA Draft? | NBAE via Getty Images
What to like: Insane production — per 100 possessions, 40.3 points, 18.3 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks. He shot 39.1% on a pretty good volume of threes, 60.7% on twos, and 78.9% from the free throw line on 13.2 attempts per 100. His offensive rating was 136, which is…well…insane considering his 29.9% usage.
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Yellow Flags: Turnovers were a bit elevated (4.5 per 100), and the blocks are on the low side for someone who played a decent amount in the paint. Other than that, see “How he measured.”
How he measured: Potential concerns here, depending on how much his NBA team needs him to play inside. He’s 6-8.25 in socks with a 7-1.5 wingspan and a standing reach of 9-feet. Those are basically wing dimensions. But, he also weighs 253 pounds, which means he’s a big dude.
The agility times look pretty ordinary for a forward. The vertical measurements landed below the middle of the pack. Perhaps part of the explanation behind the relatively low blocks.
The forgoing should not be confused with a full evaluation, which is still to come. My initial impressions suggest it would difficult to go too wrong with any one of these three. They were all wildly productive at the highest levels of college basketball. Each has many strengths and a few fairly small worry points to nitpick. On first look, all three appear to be very strong prospects with a high likelihood of becoming outstanding NBA players.
For once, the Wizards cup runneth over.
