Washington Wizards Hold No. 1 Pick in 2026 Draft as Denver Nuggets Target Anthony Davis, Dejounte Murray in High-Risk Overhaul

The NBA’s future is taking shape, and the Washington Wizards hold the keys to the first round. NBC Sports’ 2026 NBA Draft Big Board, released Tuesday, places BYU’s AJ Dybantsa at the top of the class, with the Wizards—fresh off a 12th-place finish in the East—positioned to select first for the second consecutive year. Dybantsa, a 6’9” forward with elite athleticism and a refined skill set, has drawn comparisons to a young Marvin Bagley III, though scouts are intrigued by his ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson round out the top four, with the latter two hampered by injuries that raise questions about their readiness for October.

The Wizards’ draft capital is a focal point, but the league’s biggest drama this week centers on the Denver Nuggets. Fresh off a third-straight playoff exit, Denver is exploring aggressive moves to reload, per a Sports Illustrated report. The most eye-popping target? Anthony Davis, who has yet to play a game for the Wizards after a 20-game cameo with Dallas last season. The 10-time All-Star is owed $58.5 million this season, with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, making any deal a financial gamble. Nuggets GM Calvin Booth would reportedly need to package Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Zeke Nnaji to pull it off—a move that would drastically reshape Denver’s roster but carry no guarantee Davis stays healthy.

If Davis is too risky, the Nuggets are also circling Dejounte Murray of the Pelicans and Ja Morant of the Grizzlies. Murray, fresh off an Achilles injury, and Morant, who’s played just 79 games over the past two seasons due to off-court turbulence, both offer elite playmaking but come with injury and durability red flags. The report suggests Denver would only pursue Morant in exchange for Jamal Murray and significant draft assets, a proposition that would swap one high-stakes guard for another.

While the draft and trade rumors dominate headlines, the broader league is bracing for a summer of chaos. The Wizards’ decision on Dybantsa could set the tone for a generational rebuild, while the Nuggets’ boldness—or restraint—will signal whether they’re all-in on a title chase or pivoting toward a youth movement. With June 23’s draft looming and free agency around the corner, the NBA’s next chapter is already being written, one gamble at a time.