Brooklyn’s youth movement and Jordi Fernández’s developmental system offer the projected No. 1 pick a long leash to refine his prolific scoring and become a franchise cornerstone.
BYU's A.J. Dybantsa is the most favored No. 1 pick in this year's draft, and SB Nation believes the Brooklyn Nets are the best landing spot for the versatile, scoring wing.
Dybantsa would become the ninth first-round pick for Brooklyn since 2020 if the team wins the prized lottery on Sunday. The 6-foot-9 forward would learn under coach Jordi Fernández, who gave his rookies extended opportunities at the start of the new year to develop their skills even through the rough losing patches.
Ricky O'Donnell said Fernández is the best at getting the most out of talented young wings, and Brooklyn is the organization for him to develop for the next several years.
"Fernandez feels like the ideal head coach for Dybantsa in the NBA," O'Donnell wrote. "And going to Brooklyn would also give him a long leash to learn how to lead a franchise while they build the team around him."
The Nets are not close to title contention in the Eastern Conference. They were the youngest roster this past season, with an average age of 23.36 and finished with the third-worst record at 20-62.
Although those factors are viewed negatively, Dybantsa would be entering a situation where he can polish his game and acclimate himself to becoming a franchise cornerstone without immediate expectations to win.
Most No. 1 picks are also the building blocks for their teams. For example, the San Antonio Spurs accelerated their championship window for Victor Wembanyama.
The Spurs traded for De'Aaron Fox in February 2025, committing to pairing their No. 1 pick with a star guard to form a dynamic duo. Alongside selecting Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper in back-to-back drafts, San Antonio currently has a 2-1 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals.
O'Donnell listed Brooklyn as his favorite landing spot for Dybantsa because of the talent distribution in the conferences. The Western Conference received back-to-back No. 1 picks in Flagg -- drafted by the Dallas Mavericks -- and Wembanyama.
Dybantsa heading to the Nets would be the first time the Eastern Conference received the No. 1 pick since 2024, when the Atlanta Hawks drafted Zaccharie Risacher.
The Brockton, Massachusetts, native is a prolific scorer who has learned from some of the greatest players to grace the NBA floor. He's worked out with Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Paul George, and said he takes pieces of their workouts and implements them into his.
Dybantsa led the nation in scoring with 25.5 points on 51/33.1/77.4 shooting splits at BYU. He played in an NBA-style offense under coach Kevin Young, who was an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns in 2020-21 before becoming the associate head coach from 2021-2024.
The draft lottery is on Sunday, and for many Nets fans, it's one of the most significant days in the franchise's history. Brooklyn possesses a 14% chance to land the No. 1 pick (first time in 26 years) and a 52.1% chance of landing in the top-four (first time in 16 years).
If the Nets land the No. 1 pick, Dybantsa is a heavy favorite to become their selection -- or any other team that lands the pick. Dybantsa may not have immediate success in Brooklyn, but he'd learn under Fernández and learn how to handle becoming the face of a young franchise.
"Dybantsa in Brooklyn would be something of a slow burn, but that’s okay," O'Donnell wrote. "It’s a perfect spot for him to grow."
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!