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By Anne Erickson
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As the warm months wind down, it's time to start looking at the new slate of NBA rosters and which players could surprise this season.
The Washington Wizards have spent years searching for the player who can finally change the direction of the franchise. They might have found him with AJ Dybantsa.
Heading into the 2026-27 season, Dybantsa is the Wizards' x-factor.
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Taking him No. 1 overall was the kind of decision that will be debated for years, but it's easy to understand why Washington made the move. The Wizards needed a player who could completely change the way their offense looks, and Dybantsa has the type of scoring ability that can do exactly that.
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Washington ranked near the bottom of the league offensively last season, and that has been a familiar problem during the rebuild. The team has been looking for a young star who can become the face of the franchise, not just another promising piece.
Dybantsa totally brings that and more. The BYU forward was dominant in college, showing the ability to score from different areas of the floor and create offense in ways that usually stand out in elite prospects. He won't have everything figured out immediately, because nobody does at 19 years old, but the talent is impossible to ignore.
Now comes the tricky part: building around him. Who can they do it?
The Wizards have been searching for stability since the days of John Wall and Bradley Beal, and they can't afford another long wait for the next great era. Dybantsa's development has to be the priority, even with veterans around him.
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Washington also added center Felix Okpara with the No. 46 pick, giving the team another young player to develop. But this season will be about one name. Dybantsa.
The pressure that comes with being the No. 1 pick is real, especially for a franchise desperate for a turnaround. But the Wizards didn't select him because they thought he'd simply help them improve. They picked him because they believe he can be the future.
If Dybantsa adjusts quickly to the NBA and starts showing why he was considered the top prospect, Washington could finally have the star it has been waiting for.
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