25.5 Points Per Game, Zero Workouts: The Wizards' #1 Pick Is the Craziest Story in the NBA Right Now

Alright, Seattle, listen up! The NBA Draft is literally upon us, kicking off Tuesday night in New York, and if you thought the top of the draft board was a slam dunk, think again. The Washington Wizards are holding the golden ticket, the No. 1 overall pick, and what they do with it is pure, unadulterated drama. Barring some wild trade, they're on the clock first, and the word on the street is it's a two-man race at the top, but man, are there some twists.

Dybantsa's Confidence and Peterson's Red Flags

First up, you've got BYU star AJ Dybantsa. This dude is 6-foot-9, and he absolutely lit up college ball, leading the entire nation in scoring with a ridiculous 25.5 points per game in his one season. He's got an advanced offensive game, maturity beyond his years, and seems ready to make a huge impact from day one. He visited both the Wizards and the Utah Jazz, who pick second, but get this: he didn't work out for either team! He straight up told reporters, "They take me to the facility, take me to dinner, talk. I don't gotta work out. They know what I can do." Talk about confidence, right? Utah probably knows him well too, since he played right down I-15 in Provo. Then there's Kansas standout Darryn Peterson. He's 6-foot-5 and a potential better player in the long run, but his one college season was just a minefield of concerns. He averaged 20.2 points, which is solid, but he missed 11 of the Jayhawks' 35 games and left others early because of apparent injuries, including cramping. Durability and reliability are huge question marks, especially when you think about how much longer an NBA season is. Peterson says he did "everything I could to be

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out there," and faced adversity for the "first time... on the court ever in my life," something he knows he "can handle." He visited with the Wizards, but get this: he declined to visit the Jazz or any other team. His chances at No. 1 might have dipped, too, with the Wizards retaining veteran point guard Trae Young on a new four-year deal. It's a real head-scratcher for Washington, who had the No. 1 pick in 2001 (Kwame Brown) and 2010 (John Wall, a five-time All-Star), and they're definitely hoping for another Wall-like pick.

Boozer Family Ties and Seattle's Own

Now, don't sleep on Duke's Cameron Boozer. This forward averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds last season, and both the Wizards and Jazz have apparently done deep dives on him. Here's where it gets wild for Utah: Cameron's dad, Carlos Boozer, was a star for them and now works in the Jazz front office evaluating draft prospects! Could Utah be eyeing him at No. 2 if Dybantsa goes first? Carlos himself said Cameron is "so excited" and "not nervous at all," ready for this dream to be realized. Beyond the top three, North Carolina's Caleb Wilson is expected to go fourth, then it's a guard-fest for the Clippers at No. 5. But here's the best part for us, the Emerald City faithful: our very own **Washington's Hannes Steinbach** is projected to be in the mix for a top-15 pick! How cool is that? We love seeing our local talent get that national shine! The draft officially kicks off Tuesday, and you know we'll be glued to every pick. It's going to be fascinating to see how these top teams navigate the wild personalities and potential, especially the Wizards with such a pivotal choice. Let's get loud for Hannes, and maybe, just maybe, one of these top guys turns into the next big thing in the league!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.