Full Breakdown
2026 NBA Draft Lottery Sets Stage for Wizards and Jazz with Top Prospects AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson
5/14/2026, 4:55:57 AM
Draft Lottery Results and Projected Top Picks
The NBA lottery on May 13 moved the Utah Jazz to the No. 2 overall slot after a lottery jump, while the Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 pick—their first top selection since drafting John Wall in 2010. Mock drafts project the Wizards will select BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, and the Jazz will likely choose Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. The Jazz will retain no second-round pick, and the draft will be held June 23–24.
Prospect Snapshots
AJ Dybantsa (BYU) led Division I with 25.5 ppg on 51 % shooting, earned the Julius Erving Award, and measures 6-9 with a 7-1 wing-span and 3.7 apg. Darryn Peterson (Kansas) posted 20.2 ppg on 44 % FG, 38 % 3P and 83 % FT in 24 games, but missed time with cramps and a hamstring issue. BYU wing Richie Saunders shot 37.6 % from three in his senior year and 38.7 % career before a February ACL tear ended his college play.
Team Fit and Official Outlook
The Wizards’ core includes Trae Young, Anthony Davis and wings Kyshawn George and Will Riley; Dybantsa’s size and scoring could give Washington a primary wing. Utah’s backcourt features Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler, and Peterson’s long-range shooting would add a floor-spacer. The Jazz will have no second-round pick. The Wizards are “on the clock” (NBC Sports Bay Area). Jazz owner Ryan Smith noted interest in keeping Dybantsa, yet the lottery slot makes Peterson a strong alternative. Wizards scouts cite Dybantsa’s “physicality and athletic tools” as two-way upside; Jazz staff stress Peterson’s “shot creation and elite long-range shooting.”
Concerns and Divergent Views
Scouts note Dybantsa’s defense is “not nearly as impactful as his measurements suggest.” Peterson’s health is a red flag; his “cramps and hamstring issue” limited his season and analysts warn his field-goal percentage could be a liability. Saunders’ ACL tear limits his projected NBA minutes, casting him as a shooting specialist rather than a regular rotation player. The assessments split: Dybantsa praised for two-way upside but flagged for defense; Peterson lauded for scoring yet questioned for durability; Saunders’ shooting praised while his post-injury role is debated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ What Woo said: “Dybantsa is a strong fit for Washington on paper, even with the Wizards’ collection of younger wings, with his physicality and athletic tools giving him major two-way upside.” — Woo
- “Dybantsa could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators.” — O’Connor
- “Darryn Peterson has all the tools at the guard spot to turn into an All-NBA level player. He scores the ball effortlessly and can toggle on and off the ball thanks to his size and shooting. The cramping issues at Kansas have dampened the excitement a bit for some, but the track record and glimpses are more than enough to keep him in Tier 1.” — Fletcher
- “The Washington Wizards officially are on the clock.” — NBC Sports Bay Area
Upcoming Milestones
The combine and pre-draft interviews are set for the week of June 15, offering medical updates on Peterson and Saunders. The draft will take place June 23-24, after which teams will negotiate rookie contracts and finalize rosters.
