The Washington Wizards have officially secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft ahead of a pivotal offseason. The Wizards entered the draft lottery with the best odds of landing the top selection, but fans had little hope after years of bad luck, with the franchise last picking No. 1 overall in 2010.
However, with that year’s top pick, John Wall, representing the organization at the lottery, luck finally swung in Washington’s favor as the franchise won the AJ Dybantsa sweepstakes. The Wizards now have a perfect opportunity to land a franchise cornerstone and potentially return to playoff contention.
NBA World Anticipating Playoff Wizards After Landing No. 1 Pick
The Wizards endured a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, finishing last in the Eastern Conference with a 17-65 record, the worst mark in the NBA.
Despite the struggles, the team made major moves during the season, acquiring veteran big man Anthony Davis in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks and All-Star guard Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks.
With a blue-chip prospect like Dybantsa now expected to join the roster, Washington’s projected starting lineup suddenly looks dangerous on paper.
A core of Trae Young, Kyshawn George, AJ Dybantsa, Anthony Davis, and Alex Sarr certainly appears competitive, and the NBA world is already expecting the Wizards to make a playoff push next season.
“Wizards actually going to be a playoff team next year (if healthy),” wrote @CrispyWrestlin.
Wizards actually going to be a playoff team next year (if healthy) https://t.co/U3JusYkhyX
— CrispyWrestling (@CrispyWrestlin) May 10, 2026
“Healthy Wizards are nice af ngl,” added @LockedByBron.
Healthy Wizards are nice af ngl https://t.co/Lp7o3kWrLQ
— ⟡ 𝙸𝚜𝚘 ⟡ (@LockedByBron) May 10, 2026
“The Wizards being good is great for the NBA ngl,” @shaesharpeshow posted.
The Wizards being good is great for the NBA ngl https://t.co/66v184bI3w
— 𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘𝐘𝐘🌹 (@shaesharpeshow) May 10, 2026
However, health will be a major factor in determining just how dangerous this lineup can be. Davis’ injury history is lengthy and well-documented, and he has yet to appear in a game for Washington since the trade due to a left-hand ligament injury. Young also dealt with injuries throughout last season, appearing in just 15 games.
“Missing a combined total of 100 games,” wrote @Waffle925013.
Missing a combined total of 100 games 😭 https://t.co/qbkdIMnC4B
— Baldffle (@Waffle925013) May 10, 2026
“this s**t is a** bro,” added @MIK3MCDANIEL.
this shit is ass bro 😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/GFcHsmZdms
— no speeding🍪 (@MIK3MCDANIEL) May 10, 2026
“If AD can stay healthy they can be above .500,” @ns6yo posted.
If AD can stay healthy they can be above .500 https://t.co/1mFXfXNZJI
— ➏ (@ns6yo) May 10, 2026
The 2025-26 season was a turbulent one for the Wizards, with major roster changes throughout the year hurting the team’s rhythm. While this offseason was expected to be a busy one, the franchise remained cautious given its recent history of bad luck.
The availability concerns remain, but Wizards fans now have every reason to look ahead with optimism. Not only could the franchise’s rough years finally be behind it, but Washington may also become one of the league’s more attractive destinations moving forward.
Dybantsa had a dominant lone season at BYU, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while leading the program to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed. A versatile forward, he possesses every tool needed to become a franchise player, and the Wizards finally have the chance to change their fortune
