AJ Dybantsa embraces a two-team race while Darryn Peterson fixates on Washington, sparking a high-stakes standoff for the Jazz and Wizards as the draft board tightens.
The top of the 2026 NBA Draft took another twist Thursday morning as new details emerged about the pre‑draft activity surrounding AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, alongside the messaging coming from their families.
During an ESPN segment, NBA Insider Brian Windhorst revealed that AJ Dybantsa’s father, Ace Dybantsa, texted him a photo featuring both a Utah Jazz shirt and a Washington Wizards shirt, a move that immediately raised eyebrows given the uncertainty at the top of the draft.
“Ace Dybantsa, AJ’s dad, sent me this morning,” Windhorst said. “It’s a Jazz shirt and a Wizards shirt. He’s got them both. They’re preparing.”
The image has only further solidified what league sources have been saying for weeks, which is that Dybantsa’s camp is keeping all options open. He visited both Washington and Utah last week, and his family appears comfortable with either landing spot.
The same cannot be said for Darryn Peterson.
Windhorst and ESPN’s panel confirmed that Peterson has only visited the Wizards, and that his decision not to visit Utah has become “a bit of a story” inside league circles.
“Darryn Peterson did not [visit Utah],” Windhorst said. “Darryn’s only visited with the Wizards, just to be clear.”
Peterson’s desire to land with Washington has become increasingly public, and this latest twist in the tale only reinforces the perception that the Kansas guard strongly prefers to land at No. 1, but then again, who wouldn’t? His father recently posted a photo of Peterson in a Wizards jersey on Instagram, further signaling where the family hopes he ends up.
The contrast between the two camps is striking, as Dybantsa has been confirmed to have visited both teams while his family is displaying openness to Utah and Washington. Meanwhile, Peterson has visited only Washington and is publicly leaning toward the Wizards through his actions in the lead-up to the draft.
For Utah, this scenario is all too familiar, as last year, Ace Bailey’s camp attempted to steer him away from the Jazz, declining a workout and pushing for Washington. Despite that, Utah drafted him at No. 5, and he is now viewed internally as a franchise cornerstone.
The Jazz hold the No. 2 pick and remain focused on Dybantsa, Peterson and Cameron Boozer as the three players at the top of their board. Washington’s decision at No. 1 will determine which of the three falls to Utah, and Thursday’s developments only add more intrigue to an already unpredictable draft week.
