The Washington Wizards haven't given any indication of which direction they're leaning with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
AJ Dybantsa could change their franchise overnight, but Darryn Peterson could be the generational shooting talent that Washington can't risk missing out on.
And that's not even factoring in the possibility that Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson could be the best options in the long-term.
All that to say, Washington is taking their time with the decision that could alter their future for the next 10-15 years, and they have every right to do so.
Wizards won't get this opportunity again any time soon
The last time the Wizards earned the top selection in the NBA Draft before this offseason was 2010, the pick that landed the team John Wall.
Since then, Washington has faced a historic run of bad luck, especially in the NBA Draft Lottery and the draft as a whole.
From bust like Johnny Davis, to landing the No. 2 overall pick in the weakest draft class in years (fortunately, Alex Sarr salvaged their bad luck), and over a decade without landing the top pick again, even after consistently finishing with one of the worst records in the league.
It's clear the opportunity to hold the rights to the No. 1 overall pick doesn't come around often, and in the Wizards' case, with the new anti-tanking rules, this could be the last time they hold the prized selection in their hands for the foreseeable future.
To take things one step further, this NBA Draft class doesn't have a clear cut top prospect.
Dybantsa and Peterson are much closer than anyone realizes, and both players could be legitimate superstars at the next level.
It's not like the Wizards have a clear option to select the best player available. Instead, they have two prospects who have the chance to be great in their own ways, but it has to line up with both the current needs of the team, the direction they want to go in with their roster construction, and who they have more confidence could be the franchise face for years to come.
All that to say, Washington is treating this decision the right way.
Wizards are treating the No. 1 pick exactly like they should
The Wizards are dedicated to seeing out this entire process, and in doing so, they have vowed to leave no stone unturned.
They haven't ruled out a trade down if the value is right, but they're also doing their due diligence with every top prospect to ensure that when draft night comes, they make the best decision for the organization.
For a fanbase that's been forced to deal with a constant cycle of mediocrity, the fact that the front office isn't buying into the hype and just following the trend of the media is a great sign, because the decision-makers of the past would have almost certainly botched this situation.
