The Washington Wizards traded for Anthony Davis, Trae Young, and Deandre Ayton. They are done losing. This team wants to compete this season, but that means AJ Dybantsa being a starter on a playoff team as a rookie. That usually doesn’t happen in the NBA, even for number one overall draft picks. Even superstars usually need one season before jumping into the playoffs, but the Wizards don’t want to wait.
AD and Ayton are in the final guaranteed year of their contracts. Davis made it clear that he wants to wait until after this season to discuss a new deal. The Wizards should explore his trade market at the deadline because they can’t risk losing AD with zero in return. The time is now for this group to win.
Dybantsa will start and play a key role for Washington. The Wizards spent years trying to land a top pick and finally hit the jackpot. They know he is the future face of the franchise, but winning now means bucking a trend for top draft choices.
Number one overall picks don’t make the playoffs in year one
It takes time to impact winning in the NBA. The Mavericks won just 26 games last season with Cooper Flagg. It took Victor Wembanyama until his third NBA season to make the playoffs. Cade Cunningham didn’t make it until year four. Anthony Edwards, Paolo Banchero, and Zaccharie Risacher qualified in their second season.
The last number one overall pick to make the playoffs as a rookie was Markelle Fultz, but he barely played. Ben Simmons was technically a starter on a playoff team during his rookie season, but he missed the year after he was drafted with a foot injury. The last player to do it as a starter just after being drafted first overall was Derrick Rose in the 2008-09 season.
Dybantsa would be the first top pick in 16 years to make it happen. There are several elite number one overall picks in that span, but all failed to qualify in year one. The Wizards put pressure on AJ to go against this trend.
LeBron James had this to say about the Wizards on his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash.
“They went from let’s work with the lottery balls every year to now this needs to work if this is what the team is going to be…It is kind of fast-tracked. Maybe a little bit sooner than as a franchise they wanted.”
The pressure is on now. This may be AD’s lone season in Washington, and the rumors will grow louder if the Wizards are struggling. They need AJ to be different.
AJ Dybantsa could be different after superstar flashes
Most number one overall picks don’t walk into a situation with two superstars in place. Usually, they are entering on a young team with zero expectations. The Sixers just exiting the process had Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons when they took Fultz in 2017 and made the postseason. That alone should give Wizards fans some hope.
Dybantsa looks special. He is averaging 13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.0 steals in 23.9 minutes per game through three preseason games. The 6’9 forward is doing that, while shooting 12.5 percent from 3-point range. He needs some time to adjust, but the teenager is bringing plenty of hype already.
If Washington has three stars, they quickly become scary. The Eastern Conference is loaded with talent, but the Wizards could quickly push into the playoff mix. Trae Young is an elite creator. Anthony Davis remains an elite two-way force. If Dybantsa is an absolute bucket from the jump, Washington is dangerous.
Washington Wizards fans already see the potential. They accelerated their timeline as the NBA reformed the draft lottery. No team wants to be in the bottom three, but the Wizards are ready to get back to the playoffs. They have the pieces. Washington needs their young talent to impact winning.
It is a lot to ask, especially from AJ Dybantsa. Can he be the first number one overall pick to be a starter on a playoff team since Derrick Rose in 2009? Don’t rule it out. The Wizards have the talent and desire to compete. It is all about Dybantsa quickly acclimating to the NBA. That is always easier said than done, but the teenager could be different. The Wizards certainly hope so.
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