The Washington Wizards want to build around AJ Dybantsa, Anthony Davis, and Trae Young, but they need the 2026 number one overall pick to improve his jumper to turn this core into a serious contender. AD is a career 29.5 percent 3-point shooter and has shot under that mark for six straight years. His jumper isn’t coming. The Wizards have granted Davis’ wish to play the four, which puts two non-shooters on the floor. It is tough to win like that in the modern NBA and almost impossible with a third below-average option.
Dybantsa made 33.1 percent of his 148 NCAA 3-point attempts. He is already an elite scorer that is difficult to contain. Fans saw his driving, ability to draw fouls, and mid-range game shine in summer league, but the top pick made just one of his 11 3-pointers in Las Vegas. The 19-year-old is a future superstar, but Washington has to make the pieces fit around him to become a serious contender.
The Wizards are loaded with young talent and have added veterans to try to get back into contention. They want to snap their five-year playoff drought and quickly become a force in the East. That won’t be possible if they are playing with a cramped floor because 60 percent of their starting five can’t shoot. AD and Alex Sarr are unlikely to become knockdown shooters, but Dybantsa could.
Wizards need AJ Dybantsa to become a plus shooter to fit next to Anthony Davis
Davis is a ten-time All-Star and one of the 75 best players in NBA history. He is still an elite defender and scorer. There is no questioning his star power. The Wizards want to keep him and think they can quickly become a contender in the Eastern Conference.
Trae Young has been a below-league-average 3-point shooter in three of the last four years. Teams will still guard him from deep, but Young isn’t the elite marksman some fans think. Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly struggle to make threes. The Wizards have Kyshawn George, Bub Carrington, and Tre Johnson to make long-range shots, but those aren’t their best players.
Dybantsa has the potential to be a top-five player in the world by year three. The 19-year-old needs a jumper to reach those heights. He is already an impossible-to-stop force in transition and when he attacks the basket. The 6’9 wing will have some rookie growing pains, but he is the present and future of the franchise. Washington should be building around him.
AD is a fantastic fit if Dybantsa becomes a plus shooter. They could form an elite defensive duo with a beautiful two-man game. Young and AJ will have to share the ball-handling duties, but that is easy to do if the team is a serious threat. The star trio working on hinges on the rookie becoming an above-league-average 3-point shooter.
The Washington Wizards have exited their rebuild. They got their number one overall pick and traded for two stars. The Wiz are pressing the gas pedal, and fans should be excited. They are a Dybantsa jumper away from being a serious threat. Bet on the future star to quickly add one to his game. All fans can do is stay tuned to see how it all plays out.
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