A.J. Dybantsa feels like a sure thing as he enters the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6’9 wing has loads of scoring upside with a rare combination of length, explosion, and flexibility that allows him to put constant pressure on the rim as a driver, or flow into mid-range pull-ups that are difficult to contest for any defender. While Dybantsa isn’t the No. 1 prospect on our board, he still feels like the most likely player to be chosen with the first pick after the lottery determines the draft order on Sunday.

Dybantsa feels like the best shot-creator in this draft class. He’s so hard to contain off the dribble with a quick first-step, the bend to turn the corner, and the ability to stop on a dime to rise into a shot. His playmaking was better than originally advertised during his freshman season at BYU with a 22.1 assist percentage. While he’s not really a defensive playmaker, it will be hard for teams to attack Dybantsa on the ball given his big frame and long arms.

Dybantsa would be a good fit for any team in the lottery, but four spots stand out over the rest.

Dybantsa grew up in suburban Boston, but he’s spent the last two years in Utah after playing for Utah Prep as a high school senior and then starring at BYU this past season. Jazz governor Ryan Smith was reportedly footing part of his NIL bill for the Cougars, and the Jazz would like nothing more than for its rebuild to be capped off by adding Dybantsa to its young core. The basketball fit here would be really good. The Jazz already have Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey in place, and Dybantsa should end up as the best shot-creator of the bunch. Head coach Will Hardy has done an excellent job developing Markkanen as a fellow big wing, and he would likely create an environment for the BYU freshman to thrive. Why is Utah only No. 4? Well, the Jazz tanked shamelessly this year, and they don’t really deserve the lottery luck. I’d also like to see Dybantsa at a place where he doesn’t have to immediately share the ball with multiple other potential All-Stars. Utah is a good landing spot for A.J., but not the best.

The Grizzlies blew up their core by trading Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane in the last 12 months, and a Ja Morant deal is probably next. At least Memphis sold high on its best pieces, stocking one of the league’s sharpest front offices in the draft with a surplus of future first-round picks. The Grizzlies already have a strong foundation in place for their next generation with Zach Edey and Cedric Coward, and landing a shot-creator as skilled as Dybantsa would take their rebuild to the next level. I like that Dybantsa could immediately step into a starring role in Memphis, and the team would still be flushed with future assets to continue building a great team around him. Memphis owns swap rights with the Magic in 2029, Orlando’s first-round pick outright in 2030, and swap rights with Washington or Phoenix in 2030. I think Coward is a perfect wing to pair Dybantsa with right off the bat, and it would also give the Grizzlies a lot of flexibility in the backcourt as they decide on how to build the team after Morant is traded. I trust the Grizzlies’ front office more than most when it comes to the draft, and that’s when they don’t get any good luck. If they move up in the draft again, look out.

I put the Sacramento Kings at No. 1 on my list of teams that deserve lottery luck, and I didn’t even consider placing the Wizards in the top-4 after some of their tanking shenanigans this year. With that said, it’s hard to think Sacramento is a good landing spot for any player from their perspective given all the dysfunction around the franchise, plus the league needs more stars in the East. Dybantsa to Washington would immediately make the Wizards a pretty interesting team next year. Suddenly Anthony Davis could be sticking around for the next couple years, Trae Young wouldn’t have to handle the entirety of the creation burden himself, and Alex Sarr could grow into more of an opportunistic scorer while focusing most of his energy on defense. The Wizards haven’t had a true franchise player since John Wall, and they haven’t had a 50-win season since 1978-79. This fanbase has been through a lot, and it would be fun to see a potential future superstar in D.C. to add some more excitement in the East. I can’t condone the Wizards’ tanking, but Dybantsa in Washington would be good for everyone involved.

Jordi Fernandez is the best in the game when it comes to getting the most out of talented wings. The Brooklyn Nets head coach coaxed a career-year out of Cameron Johnson, then did the same thing the next year with Michael Porter Jr. after acquiring him from Denver. Fernandez feels like the ideal head coach for Dybantsa in the NBA, and going to Brooklyn would also give him a long leash to learn how to lead a franchise while they build the team around him. The Nets might have the worst roster in the NBA going into next season (it’s either them, Sacramento, or Chicago). They have tons of cap space this summer, and owe a first-round swap to Houston in the 2027 draft, so there’s no incentive to be bad even before we get to the new lottery reform changes. I also like the idea of Brooklyn adding Dybantsa because it would put more talent in the East after Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama both landed in the West following 25 years of Western Conference superiority. Dybantsa in Brooklyn would be something of a slow burn, but that’s okay. It’s a perfect spot for him to grow.