The Washington Wizards own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and all expectations are that one of AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson will be crowned the top pick come June.
Washington has made it clear behind the scenes that, as of now, the team hasn't locked in on a specific target, at least not one that the team is willing to share with the public.
However, all the hype surrounding Dybantsa or Peterson as the top pick may be overshadowing the reality that Duke standout Cameron Boozer has just as much of a chance to be selected at No. 1 as the names above.
Wizards have not ruled out selecting Cameron Boozer
Prior to Washington landing the top pick, the Wizards were just hopeful to land a top 3 selection.
In turn, general manager Will Dawkins and his staff did their due diligence on several of the top prospects, one of which being Boozer, who has been projected by many to land anywhere between 1-4 in the draft.
The Duke product posted a monster freshman season, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 55.6% shooting from field goal range and 39.1% from beyond the arc.
Boozer's floor makes him one of the safest picks in the draft, with many comparing him to an even better Al Horford, but his unknown ceiling is what may be the most intriguing part about him.
The talent level is undeniable, and the possibility of Boozer ever reaching his ceiling is what could entice the Wizards to overlook a prospect like Dybantsa or Peterson if they believe Boozer's ceiling is higher.
Considering the projection of Dybantsa, though, it's clear why the Wizards' brass is still up in the air.
Nonetheless, if the Wizards do deem Boozer as the top pick in the draft, they could roll the dice on a trade down that allows them to land their guy and bolster their roster and future draft compensation.
Boozer could lead Wizards to trade back
Hearing about the possibility of a trade down likely isn't what any fan wants to hear, especially considering this is the first time since 2010 that the Wizards have earned the top pick.
At the same time, if a team offers Washington a package they can't refuse and they've already determined Boozer as their guy, they could take a similar route to the Boston Celtics' strategy in 2017 to move back from the top spot and select Jayson Tatum, who's undeniably proven to be the top pick in that respective draft class.
All that to say, the Wizards have plenty of options, and all of them lead to a dream offseason for Washington.
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