The Washington Wizards have made their decision, selecting AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, and to say this was the expected choice would be an understatement.
Still, Washington landing the BYU standout doesn't guarantee that they're walking away with the top prospect in the draft, even if he was projected as the top pick.
There's no telling how long it'll take for the Wizards to look back on their selection to determine if they made the right move or not, but considering how close scouts have graded the prospects at the top of this draft class, it feels like Washington could have made the case for several players.
The choice to make Dybantsa the face of the franchise puts plenty of weight on the 19-year-old's shoulders, and if he fails to prove the Wizards right, Washington's fanbase will be distraught.
Washington's selection came down between Dybantsa and Kansas star Darryn Peterson, but the decision to pass on Peterson isn't the mistake that could come back and haunt them.
Instead, the mistake that could haunt them consists of the player the team never truly considered for the top spot.
Cameron Boozer could become the Wizards biggest what-if
Cameron Boozer met with the Wizards, but it never felt like he was truly under consideration to be selected with the top pick, even after his dominant freshman season at Duke.
The 6-foot-8 forward impressed with the Blue Devils, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 55.6% shooting from field goal range and 39.1% from three.
Boozer's production is clear, and that's just scratching the surface at what his potential could be.
Many have labeled the ACC product as the safest pick in the draft, given his floor as a reliable stretch big, but that's the absolute worst-case scenario.
At his best, Boozer has all of the tools to be the best player in this draft, especially with the right developmental staff around him.
His IQ is off the charts, he's been mentored by an NBA Hall of Famer, and the talent is undeniable. If he can put it all together, there's no doubt that he could be a future superstar.
Obviously, Dybantsa has MVP potential of his own, but even with his ceiling being immensely high, his floor is arguably lower than Boozer's.
Only time will tell, and while there are plenty of reasons to be positive about Dybantsa being the face of the franchise in D.C. moving forward, Washington just needs to hope they made the right choice.
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