Stephen A. Smith delivers a rare take the Wizards should listen to

Stephen A. Smith is widely considered one of the top sports analyst in the world.

The ESPN personality has made a name for himself on bold takes, questionable agendas, and bluntly stating what nobody else wants to say.

In the past, Smith hasn't exactly put together a track record for saying positive things about the Washington Wizards, and there's a fair argument to make that he may be one of the team's biggest critics over the course of their constant cycle of mediocrity at the bottom of the East.

However, the long-time analyst may have finally said something that the Wizards and their fanbase can get behind, and considering the importance of the team's decision ahead, it may be important that they actually listen to this take from Smith.

Stephen A. Smith says Darryn Peterson should NOT be the No. 1 pick

The debate between who should be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson has been one of the biggest topics in the offseason thus far.

Unlike past drafts, there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut favorite to be the top selection.

Last offseason, it was clear that Cooper Flagg was the guy. We won't talk about 2024 because everyone knows how weak a draft that was. Before that, it was Victor Wembanyama in 2023 and Paolo Banchero in 2022.

This offseason, there have been arguments made for why Dybantsa should be the top pick, and the same goes for Peterson and even Duke standout Cameron Boozer.

For Washington, though, the importance behind this selection could completely alter the direction of the struggling franchise for quite some time.

And with Peterson's recent decision to only meet with the Wizards, many wondered if Washington could, in fact, pivot to the star guard over the likes of Dybantsa.

If the Wizards are smart, they should seriously pay attention to Smith's take because the first time in a long time, he may not be talking to just hear himself speak.

"I don't trust your availability, period," Smith said. "I can trust AJ Dybantsa, I know he's gonna show up to work."

It's hard to argue that Peterson is one of the most special talents in the league, and Smith even references that he's one of one.

Still, the narrative surrounding Peterson is that his work ethic and character have flaws that don't scream reliable, and considering every team wants their cornerstone player to be reliable, it doesn't feel like a safe pick.

Dybantsa is just as much talented, if not more, and the drive behind the BYU star isn't in question.

It's a no-brainer who the Wizards need to select, so they need to make sure they don't overthink their selection.

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