The Washington Wizards won the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa is now widely expected to hear his name first. BetMGM listed Dybantsa at -450 to go No. 1 after opening at +360, and he drew 38.8% of all bets and 74.1% of the money at the sportsbook. [1]
The Wizards' lottery win has also fueled talk of a possible trade with the Utah Jazz, who hold the No. 2 pick. Reports said one scenario would send the No. 1 selection from Washington to Utah, giving the Jazz a path to Dybantsa, who played his high school senior season at Utah Prep and one season at BYU. [2]
Jazz owner Ryan Smith did not rule out a bold push for the top slot. Asked about trading up, he said, "We are trying to win a championship. So everything should be on the table," and added, "Austin and Danny (Ainge) have also been known to do some pretty crazy stuff on draft night." [2]
Not everyone around the draft believes Dybantsa is a lock to go first. An unnamed scout quoted in reports said, "Absolutely not," when asked if the selection was a foregone conclusion, and another said, "We were surprised the broadcast made it seem like such a foregone conclusion." [2]
The debate comes as the NBA Draft Combine is underway and the draft is just over a month away, leaving Washington in control of the top choice for now and Utah waiting at No. 2. [2]
