The Washington Wizards haven't tipped their hand all offseason as to which direction they're leaning with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
It's obvious that Washington's decision comes down to AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, but up until today, there was no clear hint at which player the Wizards' front office was zeroing in on.
Nonetheless, after Trae Young signed a four-year, $212 million extension on Monday, the massive deal for the team's star guard to stick around in the D.C. for the long haul all but confirms which direction the Wizards are leaning towards ahead of Tuesday night's NBA Draft.
BREAKING: Trae Young intends to sign a four-year, approximately $212 million deal to stay with the Washington Wizards, with a player option in Year 4, sources tell ESPN. The four-time NBA All-Star declined his $49M player option for a long-term commitment ahead of free agency. pic.twitter.com/BAGANqomo0
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
Wizards will pass on Darryn Peterson, select AJ Dybantsa
All along, the possibility of the Wizards pivoting to Peterson seemed like a smoke screen that had no real traction.
The Kansas guard made it clear during the combine process that he envisions himself as a point guard at the next level, and considering that the Wizards were months removed from landing Young, who they hoped to be their point guard of the future, the fit didn't seem realistic.
Mix that with the fact that Peterson held several major red flags, including a questionable work ethic and concerns about his reliability, and it never felt like the possibility of the Jayhawks' playmaker would actually be under real consideration from Washington unless Dybantsa attempted to force his way to Utah.
Nonetheless, that never occurred, and in fact, Dybantsa has suggested the exact opposite over the last few weeks.
Dybantss has made it clear that being the top pick is his top priority, and he's stated that he'd be more than willing to suit up in Washington numerous times.
Considering his talent level, fit in the frontcourt, and the lack of concern about what he can bring to the DMV, the notion all along was that when the Wizards earned the No. 1 overall selection, Dybantsa was the prized prospect most teams were after.
All that to say, with Washington's front office inking Young to a steep contract that many are labeling as an overpay, it's clear that the Wizards' future plans consist of the former All-Star guard running the show in the backcourt moving forward.
The chances that Dybantsa will be the top pick on Tuesday received a major boost with Young's extension alone, and for fans who were fearing that the Dybantsa dream could be nearing a total collapse, it's safe to say you can take a breath now.
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