The Washington Wizards enter April with yet another chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick this offseason after an abysmal regular season.
With a chance to cap off their rebuild by landing a top prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft before the new era of Trae Young and Anthony Davis officially begins next season, all eyes have shifted to NBA mock drafts as fans anticipate who could join the movement in the DMV this offseason.
And as the NCAA Tournament approaches an end, the discourse surrounding the top prospects has shifted drastically, with the draft board looking much different than it did when the college basketball regular season began.
Looking at the recent mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Washington's fanbase could be heading towards an offseason pick that could divide the fanbase if it comes into fruition.
Wizards projected to select G Darryn Peterson No. 2 overall
If you told the Wizards fanbase that they'd be the team landing Darryn Peterson six months ago, nearly every fan would be ecstatic, and while some still may be, the narrative surrounding the freshman standout has drastically shifted.
Not only is BYU's AJ Dybantsa the dream target for nearly every team now after a monster year in the Big 12, but the questions surrounding Peterson's work ethic and character has turned things around for his draft stock.
And that's not even including that many in NBA circles are beginning to climb on board the Darius Acuff Jr. train, one that Wizards' star Trae Young has long been on.
Fans may prefer Cam Boozer or Darius Acuff Jr. over Darryn Peterson
As mentioned above, the feelings surrounding a potential fit for Peterson in Washington has shifted as the season has unfolded.
Some fans are still really high on the prospect himself and the potential for the player he could become, while others believe he could be a cancer to offset the culture being built in D.C.
The freshman campaigns of Acuff Jr. and Duke's Cameron Boozer has shifted the focus of Wizards fans calling for their team to either bolster their frontcourt or take a swing on backcourt potential that could compliment Tre Johnson moving forward.
Dybantsa may be the favorite, but it's safe to say that Peterson may not even be in the top four choices for some within the fanbase.
At the same time, part of the fanbase may be on cloud nine if Peterson joins the Wizards.