The interest in the Washington Wizards' No. 1 overall pick was expressed pretty early on after the NBA Draft Lottery was finalized.
Considering the amount of talent headlining the 2026 NBA Draft, it doesn't come as a shock to hear teams are intrigued about the idea of moving up in the draft.
Nonetheless, given that it took the Wizards over a decade to find themselves back at the top of the NBA Draft order, it won't be easy for the team to forfeit their top pick.
Given the chance to land a premium talent like AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson makes that possibility even harder to consider for Washington.
However, there could be real value in a trade-down scenario for the Wizards, and if teams come calling with an offer Washington can't refuse, it won't be completely shocking to see Will Dawkins make a move if he deems there's enough value.
And depending on where that potential trade back leaves the Wizards, a chance for another move down could be worth exploring.
Wizards double trade down idea could hold value
Hypothetically, the Wizards are offered real value in a package for a trade down with the Utah Jazz or Memphis Grizzlies, for example, they could land a package that makes a move backwards worth their while.
Obviously, a trade with the Jazz is much more likely than a move with the Grizzlies, given Utah has Ace Bailey to offer and the chance to still select one of Dybantsa or Peterson.
Not only would landing last year's draft target in Bailey alongside one of the two names above be a major boost to the team's young core, but it could also lead to more offers than the Wizards already have.
Say the Oklahoma City Thunder are serious about moving up to land Cameron Boozer, would it be worth forcing Sam Presti's hand to land some of his accumulated draft capital, especially with the new anti-tanking rules?
This scenario isn't what the fanbase would prefer, and that's understandable given it's been a while since the team has had a certified franchise star, but it's at least worth mentioning as a possibility.
For fans against this idea, the good news is that it's not likely to happen.
A double trade down for the Wizards is unlikely
Not only is it unlikely that the Wizards would actually trade back twice from No. 1, but it's unlikely that any team would do that.
Moving on from the top pick is a major decision, but to move back even further, especially into a position in the late lottery, would be a risk Washington likely wouldn't be willing to take.
There are certainly several intriguing prospects like Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., and even Caleb Wilson, but given the long wait to earn the top pick, expect the Wizards to utilize the No. 1 selection.
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