Washington holds the most valuable asset in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Jonathan Wasserman’s latest Bleacher Report mock draft projects the Wizards to use it on BYU forward AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 overall. That projection represents consensus across virtually every major outlet right now, with Dybantsa viewed as the most polished scoring prospect entering the June 23-24 draft in Brooklyn.

Dybantsa, a 6’9″ freshman who averaged 25.5 points per game at BYU, blends positional size with advanced footwork, elite shotmaking from multiple areas, and a 42.5-inch max vertical that surfaced at the NBA combine in Chicago. Wasserman describes his appeal as possessing “the fewest holes” of any prospect in the class, citing scoring versatility that even No. 2 contender Darryn Peterson doesn’t fully replicate.

The opportunity cost of selecting Dybantsa at No. 1 is effectively zero — no one projects another player going first. The real cost comes in the form of Peterson, the Kansas guard Wasserman projects to Utah at No. 2, who has arguably the highest ceiling in the class. Peterson’s combination of shooting range, on-ball juice, and defensive quickness gives some evaluators reason to prefer him long-term, but Dybantsa’s consistent production and physical profile make him the safer bet at the top spot.

Washington also brings second-round picks into this draft cycle, holding pick 51 via the Minnesota Timberwolves and pick 60 via the Oklahoma City Thunder. At 51, Wasserman projects Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, a microwave scorer who put up 28 points in his first combine scrimmage despite measuring under 6’0″ barefoot. At 60 — the final selection of the entire draft — Wasserman has Duke forward Maliq Brown, who led the nation in defensive box plus-minus and displayed strong instincts and finishing touch at the combine. Picking up two late second-rounders in addition to the No. 1 pick gives Washington genuine depth in a single draft class.

Across major outlets, Dybantsa to Washington is essentially unanimous at the first pick. CBS Sports projects Dybantsa to the Wizards as well, with Adam Finkelstein calling him “too rare of a scoring prospect to pass on.” Tankathon’s model also assigns Dybantsa to Washington at pick 1. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor Mock Draft 6.0 follows suit, noting that Dybantsa could become “one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators” in Washington’s rebuild.

One important wrinkle: Wasserman notes that Washington’s front office will likely take calls on trading down, particularly if the Wizards prefer Peterson and believe a rival team badly wants Dybantsa. Team president Michael Winger has already gone on record saying the front office will consider trading down to accumulate assets. A trade down would still allow Washington to add a top-two prospect while gaining additional picks — a sensible option given how asset-poor the franchise currently is.

That said, Dybantsa’s scarcity as a prospect makes the risk of trading down difficult to justify unless a team offers an overwhelming package. Prospects who combine 6’9″ size, mid-range mastery, rim pressure, and perimeter shooting range don’t appear in most draft classes. Taking him at No. 1 and surrounding him with the veteran infrastructure the Wizards have assembled — including Trae Young and Anthony Davis — gives Washington a legitimate franchise cornerstone.

The Gillespie and Brown picks add shooting and defensive versatility without requiring instant production. Gillespie can serve as a bench sparkplug while Brown’s elite defensive IQ fits alongside more offensive-minded players. For a Wizards roster in full rebuild mode, locking in Dybantsa and using two late picks to add specific role players is exactly the kind of draft that builds a winning culture from the ground up.

Outlet	Projected Player
Bleacher Report	AJ Dybantsa
CBS Sports	AJ Dybantsa
Tankathon	AJ Dybantsa
Yahoo Sports	AJ Dybantsa