The Wizards Are Smart To Keep All Options Open At No. 1

The Washington Wizards were one lottery ball away from landing Zion Williamson in 2019 and Cooper Flagg in 2025. In 2023, Washington held six of the possible 11 remaining numbers in the draft lottery before narrowly missing out on the No. 1 pick, which became Victor Wembanyama.

But the franchise many called “cursed” after its several near misses in the lottery finally got its glorious moment on Sunday afternoon when NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum revealed the Wizards had won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

So, after all those years awaiting the top pick to select the franchise’s next star, surely they wouldn’t consider trading down, right!? Well, it’s not as simple as that.

It should come as no surprise to Wizards fans that Michael Winger, the team’s President of Basketball Operations, told TheSteinLine’s Jake Fischer that the Wizards ”will at least consider trading down.“

Washington is keeping all of its options open, as it should, in a draft deprived of a sure-fire No. 1 pick. The 2026 draft class lacks a Wemby or a Williamson that everyone knows is going first overall and every executive understands would be impossible to trade for.

While AJ Dybantsa is viewed by most as the favorite to be selected by Washington, it’s not a lock. Darryn Peterson, and even Cameron Boozer, have drawn buzz as potential candidates to go No. 1. Just look at how certain draft boards differ.

ESPN and The Ringer pinned Dybantsa as their top prospect, while DraftExpress has Peterson going No. 1.

In a draft that lacks a clear top choice, Washington would be smart to keep it’s hand close to its chest. Why openly admit your preference between Dybantsa and Peterson? Why say there’s a clear No. 1 choice? Why give rival teams any information regarding your draft strategy?

There’s no reason to do any of those things, which is why Winger said Washington will consider trading down.

Winger means this in the same way he means there’s several prospects Washington will consider with the top choice. Maybe they internally view Dybantsa as miles ahead of Peterson and Boozer. Maybe they don’t.

But why offer that information to the Utah Jazz, or other teams, who could offer a lucrative trade package for the top pick?

If Utah truly wants Dybantsa — the two have several connections spanning from the 6-foot-9 forward’s playing days at Utah Prep and BYU to the many Jazz games he attended last season — they’ll have to pay a premium price. And they know that.

The Wizards will do their homework. They’ll bring Dybantsa and Peterson in for private workouts, meetings and physical tests. Just as they’ll do for prospects like Boozer, Caleb Wilson and more. And Washington’s brass — comprised of Winger, general manager Will Dawkins, senior vice president of player personnel Travis Schlenk and others — will determine its top prospect.

If the Wizards believe Dybantsa is the obvious choice at No. 1, they can simply select him and move forward with a generational talent as the face of their franchise. Should they believe Peterson is on the same level, if not a step better, than Dybantsa, they can milk Utah for several key assets while still selecting their preferred prospect at No. 2.

Bottom line: Washington is in a terrific spot. They can draft the best player in the class, or they can trade down, pick up an additional first-round pick and maybe more, and still leave with a generational talent they likely believe is better than whoever goes No. 1.

Will Washington trade the top pick? I think it’s unlikely. But they’d be dumb to not keep their phones open to at least here Utah’s offer.