The Washington Wizards control the No. 1 overall pick and would have the right to select AJ Dybantsa in the 2026 NBA Draft. Reports suggested Dybantsa hoped the Utah Jazz would win the top selection, but his latest comments indicate he values being the No. 1 pick more than remaining in Utah. When asked how important the top selection is, he emphasized that it has been his ranking position for years and that he does not plan to drop in the draft. The Wizards are expected to keep the pick, with no compelling trade-down offer reported, and the situation points toward Washington selecting Dybantsa.
"“Very important,” Dybantsa said with a straight face. “I've been No. 1 since my first rankings came out. I mean, ESPN ranked me No. 1 in 9th grade, I was like 14 and I ain't drop so I don't plan on dropping in the draft.”"
"The Washington Wizards hold the keys to the No. 1 overall pick and ultimately the right to select AJ Dybantsa with the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Many thought that the BYU standout could force the Wizards' hand after reports surfaced suggesting that the forward held out hope that the Utah Jazz would land the top selection in the NBA Draft Lottery."
"Between the quote above and the Big 12 product already making it clear that his NBA Draft Lottery expression was blown out of proportion, it feels almost obvious at this point that whoever owns the top pick when the NBA Draft comes around is the team Dybantsa wants to play for. Whether that's the Wizards, the Jazz, or any other team that manages to persuade Washington to forfeit the top pick, it doesn't matter."
"All indications suggest that Washington will be keeping their top pick, and after over a decade without the luxury of securing a cornerstone, that was the expected outcome all along. The Wizards have yet to receive an offer that makes them feel like trading down is i"
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