New AJ Dybantsa Rumors on Wizards Meeting Ahead of 2026 NBA Draft amid No. 1 Pick Buzz

The Washington Wizards are doing their homework as they prepare to make the first pick of the 2026 NBA draft, and that reportedly includes hosting top prospect AJ Dybantsa.

David Aldridge and Josh Robbins of The Athletic reported Wednesday the Eastern Conference team will host Dybantsa "in the next few days, perhaps as soon as Thursday."

That doesn't mean Washington will automatically select the BYU product with the first pick.

Aldridge and Robbins reported Kansas star Darryn Peterson is also "still in the mix for the Wizards at No. 1" while noting the Utah Jazz are expected to select him if Washington does make the expected move and draft Dybantsa.

B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected the Wizards to take Dybantsa at No. 1 in his most recent mock draft and listed Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown as a pro comparison. 

"As it stands, though, Dybantsa's positional size, advanced footwork for creation, high-level shotmaking, 25.5 points per game and competitiveness suggest he may be too rare of a scoring prospect to pass on," Wasserman wrote.

"With the front office invested in the development of Tre Johnson and Alex Sarr, who'll play alongside Anthony Davis, room for a small forward to start and grow could give Dybantsa bonus fit-points in Washington."

AJ Dybantsa Scores 34 Points vs. Texas Longhorns

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All Dybantsa did in his one collegiate season at BYU was take home the Big 12 Rookie of the Year while being named a First-Team All-American. He averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game and shot 51 percent from the field.

He posted those numbers while drawing the majority of the attention from every defense he faced. If the Wizards do draft him to play alongside Davis and Trae Young, he figures to have far more driving lanes and openings than he did at the collegiate level.

That could put him in position to produce enough to challenge for the Rookie of the Year as the Wizards attempt to turn the corner and become an Eastern Conference playoff contender.