AJ Dybantsa is reportedly not viewed around the league as a guaranteed No. 1 overall pick for the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Unlike some recent draft classes, rival executives and scouts reportedly believe there is no unanimous top prospect, with strong cases being made for Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson.
Because teams remain divided on how the top prospects should be ranked, league observers believe there is a greater possibility of trades involving picks near the top of the draft.
Dybantsa is still widely considered one of the safest prospects in the class after surpassing Peterson during their freshman seasons in many evaluators’ eyes.
The star forward has also been heavily linked to the Utah Jazz due to owner Ryan Smith’s strong relationship with the BYU basketball program.
Some around the league believe Utah could attempt to trade up for Dybantsa, although that scenario remains speculative.
The Jazz may also choose to stay at No. 2 and simply select either Dybantsa or Peterson depending on who remains available.
Peterson is viewed by some evaluators as a cleaner fit alongside Utah’s current frontcourt built around Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler.
AJ Dybantsa Not Considered Lock To Be Picked At No. 1 By Wizards https://t.co/OSlLZ06jzG
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 19, 2026
