NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
For the Washington Wizards, the rebuild is in its final stages. After tanking this season and dumping some of the worst contracts in the league, on Sunday, the Wizards got what they hope is the final piece, the number one pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. One of the team’s most beloved players was proudly standing on stage when the pick was named, only fitting that it was John Wall, the last number one pick the team had. With a draft class dripping with talent and players who can help push a team to a new level, the Wiz get first crack at it. So what should they do, and who should they pick on to help level up the franchise?
Moves Already Made:
During the season, we saw the Wizards acquire Trae Young from the Hawks, who, at only the age of 27, has already seen some playoff success as well as All-Star nods. They also grabbed NBA Champion Anthony Davis, who is a skilled big man and defender WHEN healthy. Rumors swirling about whether he even wants to be on the team will have to be sorted out. When added to a young core made up of last season’s top pick, Tre Johnson, along with Alex Sarr, a younger version of the type of player Davis is.
Looking at the roster overall, it is not short on talent and potential now it has stars to move the needle and make them competitive night in and night out. One of the questions I have is, do we have the right guy leading the charge in the head coach, Brian Keefe? He has done a great job holding things down and growing the young players along with his staff. Now, with improved talent and expectations, can he handle all of it and give the team what it needs and wants? And if he is not the answer, how long of a rope do you give him until you make a move? We all know not too many sports love to dump a guy if it’s not working faster than the NBA, just something to keep an eye on for sure, hopefully I am wrong, and he crushes it.
Who To Pick?
This to me should be a layup. If you are Will Dawkins and the brain trust, you SPRINT to the podium and the card in with the name AJ Dybantsa out of BYU. He is the type of player who is thriving in the league right now. Long, athletic, with a decent jump shot that will only improve with time. He can score on all 3 levels, and at 6’9, he can have an impact on defense. Dybantsa is also an underrated and improving playmaker. Something that will pair really well with Tre Johnson, who is an elite deep shooter.
AJ averaged around 26 ppg and shot 51% from the field, both numbers that should leave people drooling at his potential. Yes, this draft class is deep, but for what the Wizards need in terms of type of player and face of the franchise, he checks all the boxes. This is the type of player you snag with a number one pick. Don’t let the clickbait posts on social media fool you, this should and is THE right pick. If Anthony Davis suits up for Washington, they would have one of the most exciting front courts in the league early on when you toss in Sarr.
What’s Next?
So, for a Wizards team that hasn’t been to the postseason since it was bounced 1st round in 2021, what’s next? First and foremost, it’s to change the way the Wizards are thought of and seen by everyone, from fans to the media. Years of being bad have led to loads of jokes, memes, and not being taken seriously. Winning cleans that up, as the fans will buy merch, tickets, and the media will start paying attention for the right reasons. No way I’m calling this a championship team, way too many unknowns for me to feel that way.
What I do predict is if health and a bit of luck come our way these is one of the 8 best teams in the Eastern Conference. We, as Washington Wizards fans, have been through some very dark moments. It is time to push the clouds away and let the sunshine through.
