The Utah Jazz, owners of the No. 2 selection in next month’s NBA Draft, have approached the Washington Wizards to discuss a possible trade for the No. 1 overall pick, reporter Marc J. Spears of Andscape said.
Spears noted that Utah’s interest in jumping to the top spot centers on forward AJ Dybantsa, widely projected as this year’s leading prospect. Dybantsa, who starred at Utah Prep before spending his lone college season at BYU, is viewed as a strong cultural fit for a franchise that rarely lands marquee free agents.
Should Washington keep the first pick and choose Dybantsa, the Jazz would still have several highly rated options at No. 2, beginning with Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. The 6-foot-6 scorer averaged 20.2 points and hit 38.2 percent of his three-point attempts despite missing time with health issues, including recurring cramps. His size and shooting are considered complementary to Utah’s frontcourt anchored by Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Duke forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson are also candidates to go second, though league observers largely expect them to be selected after Dybantsa and Peterson.
Recent precedent suggests moving from No. 2 to No. 1 would likely require Utah to add an unprotected or lightly protected future first-round pick. In 2017, the 76ers climbed from No. 3 to No. 1 by sending that choice and a future first that later became No. 14. The following year, Dallas advanced from No. 5 to No. 3 for Luka Doncic and included a future pick that landed tenth overall.
Washington’s decision will hinge on its evaluation of the top prospects and whether Utah covets the same player. Team president Michael Winger told Jake Fischer of The Stein Line after Sunday’s lottery that the Wizards are willing to listen to offers for the No. 1 pick.
Source: Hoops Rumors
