NBA Draft Shakeup: Washington’s Uncertain No. 1 Pick
As the NBA Draft quickly approaches, the Washington Wizards are deliberating over their first overall pick, torn between AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.
Video Transcript
Guys, NBA draft, closer than you think.
A lot closer than you think.
It's on Tuesday.
And what's funny is I'm not entirely sure Washington know who they will select at first overall.
The odds are holding strong on AJ Dabanja.
Darren Peterson is seen as the only other guy with a shot.
The Boozer number is way, way, way back.
Where are you at right now, Coach, on the first overall pick battle?
Or maybe I should even ask you, honestly, JY, you Pick the one you feel stronger about.
What should Washington do, right?
What do you think Washington will do?
I'm, I'm interested in whichever one you're more, you know, would, invested in, if you will.
You know, t-t-to me, when I look at the situation, what Washington should do, is I think they should take AJ Dabanja.
I just think he, I just think he checks more boxes.
I think he's There's no questions about the, the injury concerns.
his ability to score off the bounce, I think he would be tremendous, in regards to that three-headed monster up front, with AD and Sar and himself.
I mean, it's 6'9", seven-foot, seven-foot.
That, that does, that's an extremely scary front line.
I also think that Dabanja's a much better defender than people give him credit for.
What Washington should do is literally, make people feel like they're gonna take Dabanja and then pull a pivot and then trade the pick to Utah because Utah really wants Dabanja.
I mean, they really want Dabanja.
And that's why, I, that, that's why I think the whole Darren Peterson not working out for anybody else besides the Wizards is, like, almost like, I don't know if that's, like, a cat and mouse game to force because maybe Peterson doesn't wanna go to Utah.
Then that, that now creates the question of, now Utah, do they don't know who they're gonna pick because if, if Dabanja goes one, maybe they go Boozer.
And then it comes to the whole thing of the whole Walker Kessler thing.
Walker Kessler, rejecting a contract that would've made him one of the top 10, paid centers in the NBA.
Walker, how much money do you think you're worth?
I mean, I mean, let's be honest.
You Do you think you deserve, like, cat money?
Do you think you deserve, like- I'm wondering if he doesn't wanna be in Utah Joker money?
I think that's it.
And wanting- I think that's it.
And, and to me, when you look at that top of the draft and you look at Utah, like, Utah is such a maddening situation because it's like, okay, let's go through this.
If Utah decides that they could keep Kessler, keep Markkanen, keep Jaren Jackson Jr., then you just take Darren Peterson, put him with Kiante George, and it's your starting lineup.
But every day to Utah you get something different.
Walker Kessler doesn't wanna be there.
You know, does, do they wanna trade Markkanen, right?
It, it's always something with Danny Ainge where he's trying to shift to another move.
So Washington can really play this to their advantage.
I would take Dabanja because I think it's kind of the goatsy Olivia Miles thing.
You just take the more short thing when it's that close.
Mm-hmm.
But I could see them trying to pivot, take Peterson, but instead of taking him one, trade him and make Utah take Dabanja one.
So to what you're getting at, my expectations as we sit here right now, and I am not betting this yet, okay?
I wanna be very clear.
I, I try and be patient with betting drafts.
This is just how This is my gut feeling.
Washington are trying to get Utah to come up, and Utah are going to call their bluff, and Washington are going to select Darren Peterson.
And then Utah will be able to sit at two and get AJ just like they hoped.
That's how I feel right now.
And again, I know people will be like, "Well then why aren't you betting Darren at three to one?"
Because I, I'd rather bet, just call it I'd rather bet two units on Darren to go first at minus 110 when I think it should be minus 300, than half a unit on Darren at three to one when I think it could be even money.
That's how I feel, and it's just a confidence in, in the return.
So I'm leaving it alone.
That's how I feel.
But interestingly enough, and I know that, you know, g- not massively disagree because these guys are all good, but I, I still think Cam Boozer has the case to go first overall.
Sometimes history tells us not to overthink a guy.
List of freshmen to win the Wooden Award: Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, Cooper Flagg, Cam Boozer.
That's Hall of Famer, Hall of Famer, injury ruined his career, future Hall of Famer, Cam Boozer.
That's what that list is, guys.
And not, like, sneaking into the Hall of Fame.
Kevin Durant's one of the 20 greatest players ever.
Anthony Davis was one of the top 75 best players ever.
And Cooper Flagg looks like he's going to be a perennial MVP candidate.
And honestly, I'm still not out on Zion.
I'm not.
Get this guy to the right situation and I'll believe.
I'm telling you, get him out of New Orleans, please.
