Washington Wizards Hold the Ultimate Win-Win Card at No. 1

The Washington Wizards may be preparing to make the most important decision of their franchise history, but the good news is that they appear to be holding three winning lottery tickets. 

For much of the past couple of months, AJ Dybantsa has been viewed as the favorite to become the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The betting odds continue to lean in his direction, and respected draft insiders have consistently linked him to the top spot. But as the draft process continues, one thing has become absolutely clear: this race is much closer than many Wizards fans realize.

Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer are making Dybantsa fight for that No. 1 ranking every step of the way.

Peterson's freshman campaign was extraordinary. He finished with a 25.4 Player Efficiency Rating while posting a historic 12.6 Box Plus-Minus, the highest ever recorded by a freshman guard. His shooting profile was equally impressive, connecting on 38.2 percent of his three-pointers while taking nearly seven attempts per game.

Peterson established himself as one of college basketball's most complete offensive weapons. He is a true three-level scorer who also brings defensive intensity and a competitive mentality that NBA front offices covet. While there are some legitimate concerns regarding AJ Dybantsa’s defensive ceiling in the NBA, Darryn Peterson, on the other hand, is often projected as a two-way demon whose STOCK production (Steals and Blocks) severely outweigh AJ Dybantsa’s in college.

The primary debate surrounding Peterson centers on his role. Kansas often utilized him off the ball, limiting opportunities to showcase his playmaking abilities. While his college assist numbers were modest, a lot of that may be attributed to him playing off-ball or the coaching staff intentionally limiting the amount of on-ball pressure Darryn faced in order to help him recover from his injury. 

Then there is Cam Boozer, whose freshman season at Duke was arguably the most dominant in the country.

Boozer posted an elite 33.7 PER while averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. His blend of scoring, rebounding, efficiency, and playmaking places him in rare historical territory. In fact, he became the first freshman since Larry Bird to average at least 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Meanwhile, Dybantsa remains an elite prospect with superstar upside, marketability, athleticism, and offensive versatility. The fact that Boozer and Peterson continue to challenge him for the top spot speaks volumes about the strength of this class.

That is what makes Washington's situation so unique. Most rebuilding teams spend years searching for one franchise-changing prospect. The Wizards may have three. Whether the selection ends up being Dybantsa, Peterson, or Boozer, Washington is staring at a rare multiple-choice question where every answer looks correct.

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