After evaluating the top prospects, the Wizards have narrowed their selection to BYU forward AJ Dybantsa or Kansas guard Darryn Peterson with the No. 1 pick, Jeremy Woo of ESPN reports in his latest mock draft.
Sources tell Woo and ESPN’s Shams Charania that Peterson met with Washington officials in Los Angeles and conducted “multiple on-court workouts” with the organization’s top decision makers in hopes of becoming the first name off the board. He informed the Jazz, who have the No. 2 pick, that he’s “comfortable with his position” and won’t hold visits or workouts with any other teams.
Woo adds that Peterson views himself as a point guard in the NBA and doesn’t see Trae Young‘s presence on the Wizards as an impediment to those plans. Young, who was acquired from Atlanta in January, has a $49MM player option for next season and could decide to test free agency.
Dybantsa was in Washington on Thursday and Friday, according to Woo, and then headed to Utah on Saturday. Those are his only two planned visits before the June 23 draft.
Dybantsa has strong ties to Utah, playing at Utah Prep during his senior year of high school before moving on to BYU, where he led NCAA Division I in scoring last season at 25.5 points per game. However, he has made it clear that he wants to be the No. 1 pick.
Woo notes that many observers around the league see Dybantsa as a better fit with the Wizards than the Jazz, who drafted a similar type of player last year in Ace Bailey. Dybantsa’s size, physicality and willingness to attack the basket are all qualities that are needed in Washington.
The other teams at the top of the draft have been expecting Dybantsa and Peterson to be the first two selections for the past few weeks, Woo states. He adds that Peterson’s medical records, including the explanation for the frequent cramping that limited his effectiveness in college, haven’t raised major concerns with NBA personnel. Rival teams don’t believe Peterson’s refusal to visit Utah will affect his draft status, noting that Bailey didn’t work out for the Jazz last year.
Woo indicates that Utah will be comfortable with whoever is left on the board at No. 2 and doesn’t plan to make an aggressive offer to trade up. Cameron Boozer also visited the Jazz and has some support in the organization, but he’s not a smooth positional fit with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler already on the roster.
Woo’s mock draft has Boozer going to the Grizzlies at No. 3 and Caleb Wilson heading to the Bulls at No. 4. He hears that Keaton Wagler is a strong possibility for the Clippers if they keep the fifth pick, and the Illinois guard decided last week to cancel several workouts inside the top 10. Louisville guard Mikel Brown is set to work out for L.A. this week, Woo adds.