New NBA Mock Draft Drops from Insider After Wizards Win 2026 Lottery amid Dybantsa-Peterson Debate
One prominent NBA draft expert isn't expecting any surprises from the Washington Wizards after they earned the No. 1 overall pick.
The Athletic's Sam Vecenie projected Washington to select BYU forward AJ Dybantsa over Kansas guard Darryn Peterson:
"Dybantsa is seen as having extremely high upside with a tremendously high floor. For the Wizards, he would slot in perfectly on the wing regardless of the team's direction next season. He fits perfectly between Anthony Davis and Trae Young but also blends nicely with the team's young core of Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Kyshawn George because he does something those four don't: put pressure on the rim."
Dybantsa appears to have built a firm lead over Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer, the three players most commonly linked to the No. 1 pick.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman likewise had Dybantsa atop his post-lottery mock and summed up why the Cougars standout has become the favorite:
"Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer are each No. 1 on various scouts' boards. But there is still some hesitation around Peterson's shot difficulty and lack of playmaking evidence at Kansas. And a fraction of NBA staff still believe Boozer's lack of explosion/quickness will restrict his advantage-creation, limit his defensive effectiveness and consequently block roads to upside."
There are worthy cases to consider Peterson or Boozer if you're the Wizards.
Peterson averaged 20.2 points and shot 38.2 percent from beyond the arc in his lone year with the Jayhawks. Wasserman compared him to the Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards. He could emerge as an elite offensive force at the next level.
In the case of Boozer, a team might be getting a player who averages close to a double-double for the next decade. That kind of consistency has to be alluring for Washington when the franchise has languished for so long.
Alas, Dybantsa might represent the best of both worlds. While he's not guaranteed to become a perennial All-Star, his floor is pretty high, and he's a better athlete than Boozer.
The fact the 6'9" forward complements their existing roster could make this an easy call for the Wizards.
