Technically, the Washington Wizards maintain they have considered all options on how they will use their No. 1 pick during Tuesday’s NBA Draft.
Rival executives and scouts believe otherwise.
“I don’t think there is any way in the world that Washington passes on AJ Dybantsa,” a rival NBA scout told me.
The reasons? Dybantsa led BYU with a league-leading 25.5 points per game during his freshman season. Dybantsa has impressed talent evaluators with his scoring fundamentals and versatility that liken comparisons to Kevin Durant and Paul George. With a listed 7-foot wingspan and 6-foot-9 frame, Dybantsa has impressed enough executives and scouts to believe he can become an elite scorer and perimeter defender.
NBA executives and scouts are also intrigued with Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson after averaging 20.2 points while shooting 43.8% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range. John Wall, a former Wizards player and Amazon Prime analyst, argued on the ‘Road Trippin’ podcast that the franchise should select Peterson because of how well he scores on and off the ball. With the Wizards agreeing to a four-year extension with Trae Young, Wall contended Peterson would adjust better than Dybantsa would in an off-ball role.
Other executives and scouts view the dynamic differently. Though they rank Peterson as a better three-level scorer and more efficient shooter, NBA talent evaluators consider Dybantsa as the better option because of his more consistent play, enhanced athleticism and superior availability. They believe that the Wizards have made the same conclusions.
“Dybantsa has that positional size that is more elite,” another rival NBA scout told me. “He grew into more of a decisive and mature player.”
That rival NBA scout added “there are more concerns with Peterson and some of the cramping issues” that limited him to only 24 games this season. Peterson also became hobbled last season with hamstring and ankle injuries. Yet. rival NBA executives and scouts dismissed whether teams view Peterson’s inconsistent availability as a an ominous redflag on his career-long durability. As another NBA scout said about Peterson’s health issues, “I don’t think much of it at all because everyone has known him since he was a kid.”
In other words, the Utah Jazz likely won’t regret selecting Peterson at No. 1 the same way the Portland Trail Blazers did with picking Greg Oden at No. 1 over Durant in the 2007 NBA Draft. While Durant became one of the NBA’s most elite scorers of all time, Oden lasted only three NBA seasons amid numerous ailments. Instead, NBA talent evaluators view Peterson’s recent injuries as signs that he needs to improve his training and recovery regimen. Those challenges can become pronounced at least in the beginning of an NBA player’s career because of the league’s 82-game schedule, limited practice time and fluid travel schedule. But NBA talent evaluators suspect he will improve his regimen while teams prioritize load management.
Hence, one NBA scout predicted that “Utah definitely takes Peterson” at No. 2 because he is considered the best scorer of his draft class. One NBA executive considered Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer as this year’s draft class best player because of his team-oriented approach, his two-way presence and his relative maturity. But NBA talent evaluators predicted that Dybantsa and Peterson have better athleticism and more upside. No one suspects that any dark-horse candidates could climb to No. 1 or 2, including North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson or Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr.
“They are going to be versatile wings that are going to become elite scorers and also will make an impact on making their teammates better,” an NBA scout told me about Dybantsa and Peterson. “They’re going to be passers. They’ll have to become better and targeted defensive players, but they have the ability to do that. They’re going to be better shooters, too. Their ceiling is so high.”
Dybantsa and Peterson see themselves through the same lens.
During pre-draft interviews, Dybantsa and Peterson displayed their confidence by proclaiming themselves as the best player in the Draft that deserve to become the No. 1 pick. Peterson confirmed he didn’t work out for the Jazz, though NBA talent evaluator view that as more to position himself better at No. 1 than any disinterest with the Jazz. Both Dybansta and Peterson have conveyed their professionalism by saying they will embrace any team that drafts them.
The Wizards are expected to select Dybantsa because his positional versatility could mesh well with their playmaking guard (Young), their defensive-oriented bigs (Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr) and wings (Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly). Dybantsa is expected to adjust to the NBA’s physicality just fine because of his consistent workout routine and his strong athleticism.
The Jazz are expected to draft Peterson because his elite scoring would likely lead to an immediate role as their starting shooting guard. He can complement Keyonte George as a playmaker. Peterson can free up space off the Jazz’s All-Star caliber frontcourt (Lauri Markkanen , Jaren Jackson).
The Wizards and Jazz have assembled a roster filled with proven veterans and promising young players in hopes of accelerating their rebuilding. Because both teams have depth, Dybansta and Peterson aren’t expected to become the franchise savior, though. That leaves them time to maximize their potential more gradually as possible All-Star caliber players.
Still, one NBA scout considered it “80% likely” that the Wizards will select Dybansta at No. 1 because of his durability, length and athleticism. That scout stressed, however, the Jazz should feel excited about drafting Peterson.
“They are two great players and have huge upside,” the scout said. “I think they’re going to be awesome.”
