North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson is projected to land with the Washington Wizards in ESPN's midseason 2026 NBA mock draft
The Washington Wizards closed out 2025 with momentum having won five of their last ten games before opening the 2026 slate with a 20 point win over Brooklyn. While Washington made headlines across the league after finalizing a trade that sent Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks to the Wizards, all eyes have remained focused on the Wizards' draft capital with a top-eight protected first round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft a priority among the fanbase.
Washington's three-game losing streak has pushed the team to 10-28 overall, good for the fourth-worst record in the NBA, but what's the early outlook on the Wizards' standing in the 2026 NBA Draft? With ESPN projecting the Wizards to land the fourth overall selection based on current league standings, Washington is predicted to land forward Caleb Wilson out of North Carolina.
"Wilson has remained productive for North Carolina, and his mix of vertical explosiveness, defensive playmaking and room to grow offensively has solidified him as a likely top-five selection," ESPN wrote on Tuesday morning. "While there will be important tests ahead for him in conference play, particularly a pair of head-to-head games against Cam Boozer and Duke, Wilson's energy and winning impact, even with an unpolished offensive game, have been endearing. Teams have questions about his perimeter shooting, something he'll have a better chance of answering in predraft workouts, but he has created some separation in this next tier of the draft as a potentially versatile frontcourt standout. After acquiring Trae Young, the Wizards are still building with a clean slate, although that move could preclude them from targeting a point guard depending on where this pick falls. Wilson could fit nicely alongside the improving Alex Sarr up front, creating a team capable of playing fast while also keeping size on the court."
Wilson has drawn buzz as a potential ACC Player of the Year candidate after leading the Tar Heels with 19.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 16 games, but it would mark an intriguing pick for a team that already features Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr in the frontcourt.
"Wilson looks to have made a tangible jump since arriving in college, impressing NBA teams with a newfound competitive gear that's translating into big-time production," ESPN wrote at the start of the college basketball season. "His energy and impact in the paint defensively and on the glass have made a huge difference, coupled with a strong feel and passing ability. The main challenge moving forward will be projecting his jump shot, as he hasn't taken many 3s and has been inconsistent from the foul line (68.8%). It's unlikely he can be an offensive focal point in the NBA without major growth in that area, but some scouts believe there's an opportunity for Wilson to vault into the upper echelon of this class if he can sustain this level of play."
Washington will look to keep the tank alive as they return to action on Wednesday night in the second of four consecutive West Coast road games with a 10:30 PM ET matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers set for Wednesday, Jan. 14.