The 2026 NBA Draft is now just around the corner. Conversations around the top prospects are already heating up. Before the draft lottery took place, the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards each had a 14% chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, it was the Wizards who eventually won the lottery on May 10.
Since then, projected No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa has constantly been linked with Washington. But now, a new report has added an interesting twist to the situation.
NBA Draft Expert’s Recent Revelation Regarding AJ Dybantsa
According to CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein, Washington may not actually be Dybantsa’s preferred landing spot. In fact, the report suggests that Dybantsa would prefer to end up in Utah over anywhere else.
“That comment by Dybantsa was also consistent with one of the most repeated pieces of intel floating around Chicago this week: that Dybantsa was reportedly hoping to stay in Utah. He’s been in Utah now for two years (one season at Utah Prep and one season in Provo at BYU). His family is now with him in Utah, and they’ve grown to like the state and were hoping to stay.”
“Now that has led some to wonder whether we could see some “workout shenanigans” where Dybantsa could potentially refuse to work out for Washington in hopes of forcing his way to Utah… Dybantsa’s camp had reportedly indicated to some they weren’t interested in playing that game, despite their preference to end up in Utah,” Finkelstein wrote in his report.
This kind of situation isn’t new to the NBA. There have been plenty of cases where a player gravitates toward a city they’ve called home for a long time.
A notable example is LaMelo Ball, who expressed comfort with Charlotte after spending time in the region and signed a five-year designated rookie max extension (as per the Associated Press). For Dybantsa, his time at BYU in Utah appears to have had a similar effect.
Still, despite the rumors about Utah being his preferred spot, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins reportedly believes Dybantsa would be an excellent fit for Washington’s offense.
“This guy has a charisma to him. He’s been able to do it at every level that he’s stepped at, and increased his play. When you talk about basketball, he can score it, he can defend, he’s long, and he can make plays for others. He’s a high-level talent,” Dawkins said regarding Dybantsa.
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During his freshman season at BYU, Dybantsa established himself as one of the best scorers in college basketball. He averaged 25.5 points per game and led the nation in scoring. One of his biggest moments came against BYU rival Utah.
In that game, he scored 43 points. That performance broke the school’s freshman single-game scoring record, which had previously belonged to NBA legend Danny Ainge.
Dybantsa also made history during postseason play. In the Big 12 Conference Tournament, he scored a combined 93 points and set a new tournament total scoring record. The previous mark had been held by Kevin Durant.
For now, though, the situation remains uncertain. Washington owns the No. 1 pick, but questions about Dybantsa’s preferred destination are now becoming a major storyline before draft night.
