Washington Wizards president Michael Winger confirmed Sunday that the franchise is willing to consider trading down from the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Utah Jazz president Austin Ainge also indicated that Utah is open to discussing potential deals involving the No. 2 selection.
“We’re open,” Ainge said. “We’ll always listen.”
Winger explained that Washington does not see the top overall pick as a franchise-changing necessity after the team already made major roster additions this season.
The Wizards traded for former All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis while also continuing to build around several recent lottery selections.
He added that general manager Will Dawkins intends to evaluate all available options, including the possibility of moving down if the organization identifies multiple players it values similarly later in the draft.
One major factor in any trade discussions will be AJ Dybantsa, who is widely viewed as the leading prospect in the class.
Utah has frequently been connected to Dybantsa throughout the season, though the Jazz complicated their draft positioning after acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Memphis Grizzlies in February.
Around the league, there is growing belief that teams inside the top four could explore trades involving movement within that range.
However, executives generally do not expect any team holding a top-four selection to move completely out of those spots.
Wizards, Jazz Open To Trading Down From Top Two Picks After NBA Draft Lottery https://t.co/OXCMQTzUui
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 11, 2026
