Jazz Mailbag: What would it take it trade up to the No. 1 pick?

The versatile wing delivered an elite freshman campaign, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field and 33 percent from three.

Those numbers, combined with his physical profile, propelled him into the draft lottery as the presumptive favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards.

But, unlike recent drafts featuring clear-cut top prospects like Victor Wembanyama or Cooper Flagg—players viewed as near-locks at No. 1 well before draft night—the 2026 class lacks a definitive stand-alone superstar.

AJ Dybantsa showing off his 42 inch running vertical leap at the NBA draft combine. Unofficially leads the pack here in Chicago thus far. pic.twitter.com/N1sQQIU8ZS

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 12, 2026

Darryn Peterson entered the season as the projected top pick by many outlets before Dybantsa surged ahead midway through the year.

That shift highlights how front offices across the NBA value high school and college production differently.

On one hand, the Jazz haven’t hesitated to bet on high school stars, selecting players like Ace Bailey (No. 5 in 2025), Cody Williams (No. 10), and Keyonte George (No. 16 in 2023)—all elite recruits whose college performances were less than spectacular.

On the other hand, teams like the Memphis Grizzlies have found success by leaning into proven college production, hitting on players like Desmond Bane, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, and Cedric Coward.

Washington, meanwhile, seems to have a strategy of its own.

Under President of Basketball Operations Michael Winger, the Wizards have prioritized positional length in the draft. Their recent selections—Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Bubb Carrington, Kyshawn George, Will Riley, and Tre Johnson—all reflect that preference.

Sarr, Riley, and Johnson were highly touted prep prospects, while Coulibaly, Carrington, and George emerged later in the process. But the unifying theme has been length.

By that standard, Dybantsa checks all of Washington’s boxes.

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa measured 6’8.5 barefoot and 217 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 7’0.25 wingspan and 8’10 standing reach.

In line with his past measurements, and still elite dimensions for an NBA wing. pic.twitter.com/ieVet2rRju

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 11, 2026

Having measured just over 6-foot-8 barefoot with a 7-foot-plus wingspan and an 8-foot-10 standing reach at the NBA combine, easy to see why he remains the favorite to go No. 1.

There’s simply nothing on his résumé that would disqualify him based on Washington’s recent draft trends.

Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Jazz feel the same way.

The Jazz may view Dybantsa, Peterson, and fellow freshman standout Cam Boozer as having the same long-term upside. If that’s the case, there’s little incentive to sacrifice additional assets just to move up one spot.

However, that doesn’t mean Austin Ainge won’t explore the possibility.

If Utah believes their preferred player won’t be available at No. 2, they should at the very least make the call. But unless the Jazz see a clear separation between Dybantsa and the rest of the class, they won’t feel pressured to overpay.

Darryn Peterson, 19-25 spot-up 3s pic.twitter.com/zmAb3B6YC1

— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) May 12, 2026

And from Washington’s perspective, the calculus is just as straightforward.

If the Wizards believe the No. 1 pick yields a can’t-miss franchise cornerstone, there’s no reason to move off that spot, regardless of what the Jazz could offer in return.

That creates a difficult middle ground.

The Wizards won’t be willing to move down unless they see little to no difference between the first and second picks, at which point, the Jazz shouldn’t overpay to move up one spot. Conversely, if the Wizards think the top pick is too valuable to trade, the Jazz won’t be able to build a trade package to convince Washington to move back.

Ultimately, the simplest outcome remains the most likely, with the Wizards staying put and selecting Dybantsa at No. 1, leaving the Jazz in a strong position at No. 2 to choose between Peterson and Boozer.