The Washington Wizards will make the first selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, and most league observers continue to link high school standout AJ Dybantsa to that pick.
Dybantsa told Monumental Sports Network’s Chase Hughes he has targeted the No. 1 slot “for a while” and is already considering how he would fit in Washington. “I think I’m pretty versatile, adaptable, so I think I can play anywhere,” he said, adding that he is familiar with several roster pieces, citing Tre Johnson, Anthony Davis and Trae Young by name.
An unnamed general manager echoed that expectation to college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, saying the Wizards are likely to “go with Dybantsa” because the club “can’t afford to get this one wrong.” Team president Michael Winger called the selection “a welcomed opportunity and challenge,” noting that the franchise looks forward to adding another young cornerstone.
Jazz Slide Into Second Slot
The Utah Jazz jumped to No. 2 in the lottery, a development that president of basketball operations Austin Ainge described as “a big relief,” according to the Deseret News. “It’s a really important tool for us,” Ainge said. Utah recently added Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline, joining a core of Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Ace Bailey and Walker Kessler.
Ainge acknowledged that drafting second simplifies the process. “We just have to figure out who we believe is No. 1 and No. 2,” he said. “It’s much easier, but we still have to get it right.”
Early Mock Draft Alignment
Updated projections from The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie and Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman mirror each other through the first nine selections. Both analysts send Dybantsa to Washington, Darryn Peterson to Utah and Cameron Boozer to the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3. The consensus top nine continues with Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings, Mikel Brown Jr. and Brandon Burries.
Divergence appears later in the first round. Karim Lopez lands 20th in Vecenie’s mock but 10th in Wasserman’s. Both projections have the Oklahoma City Thunder selecting Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 12, while Labaron Philon and Jayden Quaintance occupy similar mid-first-round slots across the two boards.
The NBA Draft will be held on June 25, giving front offices six weeks to finalize decisions at the top of the order.
Source: Hoops Wire
