New AJ Dybantsa Rumors on Wizards Interest, Preferred Landing Spot in 2026 NBA Draft

The Washington Wizards using the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NBA draft to select AJ Dybantsa might not be as much of a foregone conclusion as mock draft consensus would indicate.

CBS Sports' Adam Finkelstein reported Wednesday he had asked a scout from a lottery team outside Washington if they felt the Wizards would definitely pick Dybantsa.

"Absolutely not," the scout told Finkelstein. "We were surprised the [draft lottery] broadcast made it seem like such a foregone conclusion."

Many mock drafts released by draft experts after the Wizards won Sunday's lottery had Dybantsa as the projected top selection.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor and ESPN's Jeremy Woo each predicted in their latest mocks that Dybantsa will go to the Wizards at No. 1, followed by Darryn Peterson to the Utah Jazz at No. 2 and Cameron Boozer to the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3.

Dybantsa indicated he's expecting to go as a top-two pick when he told reporters after the draft lottery that he "wasn't really worried about [picks] 14 through three."

That opens up the possibility that Dybantsa is considering a potential fall to the Jazz at No. 2.

According to Finkelstein, "one of the most repeated pieces of intel floating around Chicago this week" during the scouting combine is "that Dybantsa was reportedly hoping to stay in Utah."

"He's been in Utah now for two years (one season at Utah Prep and one season in Provo at BYU)," Finkelstein reported. "His family is now with him in Utah, and they've grown to like the state and were hoping to stay."

Wasserman noted in his latest mock draft that Dybantsa, Peterson and Boozer "are each No. 1 on various scouts' boards." Should the Wizards end up ranking one of those other top-three options higher, a path could potentially open for Dybantsa to stick around in Utah following his departure from BYU, or for the Wizards to trade down from No. 1.

The Jazz could also decide to move up and guarantee themselves a chance to draft Dybantsa. ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported Monday the Jazz are "expected" to discuss a potential trade for the top pick with the Wizards.

For now, the Wizards remain in control of the top pick heading into the start of the 2026 draft on June 23 in Brooklyn.