On the latest Bleav in Wizards podcast, I went through each of the early favorites to end up at the top of the lottery when the 2026 NBA Draft rolls around. The Wizards seem destined for a top-5 pick so it seemed like a worthwhile exercise to put the names-to-know on your radar.
Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, BYU wing AJ Dybantsa, and Duke forward Cameron Boozer are the early favorites to compete for the top draft pick. However, another freshman, Baylor guard Tounde Yessoufou, is my sleeper choice to crash their party. I love his potential as a two-way scoring guard and defensive stopper.
The other players covered include: Mikel Brown, Nate Ament, Koa Peat, Tyran Stokes, Alijah Arenas, Jayden Quaintance, Isaiah Evans, Chris Cenac, Caleb Wilson, Karter Knox, Kam Williams, and more!