New AJ Dybantsa Reveal Preferred NBA Draft Landing Spot Amid Wizards, No. 1 Pick Buzz

BYU star AJ Dybantsa seemed destined to end up with the Washington Wizards from the moment the Eastern Conference team won the 2026 NBA draft lottery.

But he reportedly had his eye on the team that ended up with the No. 2 selection.

Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports reported Wednesday "one of the most repeated pieces of intel floating around Chicago this week [was] that Dybantsa was reportedly hoping to stay in Utah."

Dybantsa played his final season of high school basketball at Utah Prep and then suited up for the Cougars in his one collegiate campaign. With the Utah Jazz having favorable odds going into the lottery, it seemed like he might end up staying in the state that Finkelstein reported his family has "grown to like."

Yet the Jazz ended up with the No. 2 pick.

Given that reported preference, some might assume Dybantsa will attempt to take matters into his own hands and perhaps refuse to work out with the Wizards or be public about his desire to be with the Jazz.

In such a loaded draft, the strategy might convince Washington to trade out of that top pick and still end up with a potential franchise cornerstone in Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson.

However, Finkelstein reported "by the end of the day Tuesday, those whispers had quieted down a bit, as Dybantsa's camp had reportedly indicated to some they weren't interested in playing that game, despite their preference to end up in Utah."

AJ DYBANTSA GOES OFF

01:29

There still may be some doubt until the Wizards make the actual pick, and one scout told Finkelstein "absolutely not" when asked if other teams feel it is a foregone conclusion Dybantsa ends up in Washington.

But indications, at least for now, suggest he will eventually be the top pick.

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected the BYU star as the No. 1 overall selection in his latest mock draft and pointed to Boston Celtics playmaker Jaylen Brown as a pro comparison. Dybantsa coming anywhere close to Brown's caliber and teaming with Anthony Davis in the nation's capital could make the Wizards contenders in the Eastern Conference.

As for the Jazz, they will surely be happy with Peterson at No. 2. 

Wasserman gave another lofty pro comparison for the Kansas star in Anthony Edwards, which means Utah could have a go-to option to spearhead the offense for years to come.

There is so much talent in this draft, both teams could end up happy with respective stars even if Dybantsa has to leave Utah.