General manager Will Dawkins highlighted the "power of choice" available to the Washington Wizards in the 2026 NBA Draft
The good luck finally went the Washington Wizards' way after landing the top overall pick during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery reveal on Sunday afternoon, giving the front office "the power of choice," as general manager Will Dawkins noted.
Immediate mock drafts have pointed to former BYU star AJ Dybantsa as the consensus first pick, though some of the conversation has since turned to whether the Wizards should hold onto the pick. Though credible reports have yet to materialize, several NBA analysts, former coaches and players have questioned whether the Utah Jazz should make an aggressive push to swap the top of the draft order with a chance to keep Dybantsa in Utah after college.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports fueled the talk after reporting that Wizards president Michael Winger told him Washington will "at least consider trading down" with the top pick "not a savior moment." Dawkins noted that the Wizards are likely "to have conversations like we do in every draft" as the front office does their homework on every possible move.
"If you've seen us the last couple [of] years, we've moved around in different spots so we're always open to conversation. Again, Michael [Winger] might have said we don't see the savior in the draft but we're going to get a really, really good player," Dawkins said on 106.7 The Fan on Monday.
Yet the "power of choice" gives Washington a chance to do their due diligence on more than just one player as Dawkins noted he will meet with the players at the draft combine starting on Tuesday through Thursday. The draft evaluation process will also give the front office its last bit of player insight before they potentially become available in free agency, making the period important for players beyond those in the discussion for the top overall pick. Still, the ability for Washington to go whatever direction they want, not contingent on other draft moves, gives the front office the flexibility that they have lacked in recent years.
"We haven't had every single year. We have that this year. We're very happy with where we're at. We know we're going to get a high level player. This isn't just a one person draft but we've got to go find the one right person for us," Dawkins added.
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