For the last couple of months, it felt like the dream was always that the Washington Wizards would select AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The BYU star offers a versatile skill set that many project to give him the potential to be a future MVP at the next level, and considering his size and upside, it felt like Dybantsa would be the ideal addition to Washington's young roster.
However, the noise surrounding the possibility that Washington could pivot to Peterson has gotten louder the closer we get to draft night.
And according to NBA Insider Marc Stein, there's enough smoke about a Wizards pivot that fans should prepare for the Dybantsa dream to collapse.
Wizards could be eyeing Darryn Peterson at No. 1
Stein's latest scoop of intel on Thursday night revealed that Washington has a growing interest in the possibility of selecting Peterson with the top pick, which shouldn't come as a total surprise given the guard opted to decline meetings with any other teams after his private workout with the Wizards.
"Increased consideration" is the way one well-placed insider put it." Stein wrote.
Peterson is a tremendous talent, so it's not the end of the world if the Wizards elect to swing on the upside of the Kansas standout, especially with scouts labeling the sharpshooter as a one-of-one talent.
Still, the knock on Peterson's work ethic has been the biggest downfall of the prospect this entire cycle, and for the Wizards, who can't afford to strike out on this selection, is taking a swing really worth it for Washington?
Dybanyta's upside is almost even to Peterson's, and if you ask some people around the league, many would say it's higher.
Not to mention, Peterson's desire to play point guard at the next level already offers concerns about his fit on the team with the future of Trae Young in D.C., assuming the All-Star guard elects to re-sign with the Wizards in free agency.
There are so many questions about how Peterson will fit in the DMV that it's genuinely hard to believe that the Wizards would actually pivot to a less certain prospect.
This could also be a giant smokescreen coming out of the nation's capital to throw the teams underneath them into a frenzy on draft night, assuming they take Dybantsa and the Utah Jazz feel obligated to pivot away from Peterson with the recent buzz about his disinterest in suiting up in Salt Lake City.
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