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BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa continues to be the betting favorite to go No. 1 to the Washington Wizards in Tuesday’s 2026 NBA Draft. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor also has him mocked first to the Wizards.
“At 6-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools with the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands,” O’Connor wrote. “He gets to the rim at will, cooks in the midrange, draws fouls at a high rate, and displays point-forward potential.
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“In Washington, the pressure will be alleviated on him early in his career, now that he’s teammates with Trae Young and Anthony Davis. In the longer term, Dybantsa fits: Alex Sarr already looks like an effective two-way big, while guards and wings like Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Bilal Coulibaly have all shown flashes. But none of them project to be a superstar like Dybantsa, whose upside will be determined by whether he can become a knockdown 3-point shooter, as well as a more impactful defender to take full advantage of his physical tools. But even with those areas for improvement, Dybantsa has an MVP ceiling.”
And yet there are some who think Kansas’ Darryn Peterson is the best overall prospect in this year’s draft and should go first overall. Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh even makes a case for Duke’s Cameron Boozer to go No. 1.
So what happens if Peterson or Boozer move up to the first pick? Using the “Ask Kevin O’Connor” feature of our 2026 NBA Draft Guide, you can project any number of different outcomes based on changing scenarios. Here’s a look at how the draft could shake out based on the different No. 1 picks. Change the pick parameters yourself for additional outcomes.
If A.J. Dybantsa goes No. 1
1. Washington Wizards: A.J. Dybantsa, 6-9, BYU freshman forward
2. Utah Jazz: Cameron Boozer, 6-8, Duke freshman forward
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Darryn Peterson, 6-5, Kansas freshman guard
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, 6-9, North Carolina freshman big
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Brayden Burries, 6-4, Arizona freshman guard
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., 6-4, Louisville freshman guard
7. Sacramento Kings:…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-draft-2026-what-happens-if-the-wizards-dont-take-aj-dybantsa-no-1-190649326.html
Author : Yahoo Sports Staff
Publish date : 2026-06-22 19:06:00
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