Obviously, for the Washington Wizards, the most ideal spot in the 2026 NBA Draft is earning the No. 1 overall pick and the opportunity to select their pick of the litter, also known as AJ Dybantsa.
At the same time, if anyone knows how things work for Washington, good fortune is not exactly their friend, and the most likely outcome for the Wizards is slipping in the NBA Draft Lottery, even with the odds they have to earn a top pick.
Regardless of where they end up, though, there's no question that the team will have the opportunity to select a top prospect, but it shouldn't be the player everybody is mocking to them; it should be the player nobody but star guard Trae Young expects.
Wizards should draft Darius Acuff Jr.
There's an argument to be made that the Wizards' backcourt is too stacked, especially with the likes of Young, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, and even Bilal Coulibaly filling up the depth chart.
However, when you take the time to examine their roster, it's easy to see that the Wizards frontcourt shares the same problem.
Having a tough time determining which position group needs to be added to most is certainly a luxury the Wizards aren't used to, but it's the reality of where things are for the team in the nation's capital right now.
Most mocks have the Wizards pinned to Kansas standout Darryn Peterson or Duke's Cameron Boozer, assuming they lose out on the Dybantsa sweepstakes, but if you ask me, the most ideal target for the Wizards is Arkansas' blue-chip prospect, Darius Acuff Jr.
Acuff Jr. has been flying up draft boards as of late, and for good reason. The combo guard is an elite scorer, with a great feel for the game and an efficient jumper. He can get to the rim at ease, he's not shy of the moment, and he's proven that when the lights are bright, he can put a team on his back; all reasons why Trae Young was highlighting the SEC product down the stretch of the college season.
Washington could build around Acuff for years to come
For now, Washington has their sights set on building a contender around Young and star big man Anthony Davis, but that doesn't mean the team should ignore building for the future too.
Tre Johnson impressed throughout his rookie campaign, and while he proved he can be an elite scorer, it's to be seen if he can be a cornerstone piece the Wizards can put all their chips in on or if he'll be a Klay Thompson-type co-star for the Wizards next building block.
With Acuff, you can find that out, and there's a fair argument that he could be the backcourt star that not only helps the Wizards get back in the mix but stay in the mix of the East for years to come.
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