BYU’s NCAA tournament run ended early, with the West’s No. 6 seed knocked off by No. 11 Texas on Thursday. However, forward AJ Dybantsa did little to hurt his draft stock in the process, putting up 35 of his team’s 71 points in the losing effort.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), Dybantsa may have entered this week as the frontrunner to be the No. 1 overall pick in June due to some concerns related to Kansas guard Darryn Peterson‘s health over the course of his freshman year with the Jayhawks and skepticism about whether Cameron Boozer‘s “athletic profile” will limit his ceiling at the NBA level.
Fischer clarifies that no one expects any sort of draft-night fall for Peterson or Boozer, who have widely been considered top-three prospects alongside Dybantsa for months. In fact, he says some rival teams believe Boozer would be the Pacers‘ top choice if they got the No. 1 pick due to his potential fit with their current personnel.
However, Fischer also suggests that there’s been momentum toward UNC’s Caleb Wilson joining that top tier of prospects, despite the fact that hand and thumb injuries prematurely ended the forward’s season. Wilson has drawn comparisons to players like Chris Bosh and Evan Mobley, and there’s no sense that his thumb surgery will impact his standing as a top-five lock, Fischer adds.
“I don’t think anyone is taking Wilson No. 1 overall,” one NBA general manager said. “But I think every team is going to have him above one of those other three guys.”
Here’s more from Fischer on the 2026 NBA draft:
- One Eastern Conference scout recently predicted that there might be “an entire lottery of freshmen” this June, according to Fischer, who adds that the draft class is considered especially heavy on backcourt talent. Some scouts view it as the strongest group of guards since 2018, when Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander entered the league, while one executive compared it to a 2008 class that was headlined by Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, Fischer writes.
- Illustrating the depth of the 2026 draft, Fischer notes that one veteran scout suggested that whichever team lands the No. 1 overall pick should seriously consider the idea of trading down to maximize the value of that selection. “There’s just too much opportunity to still get an All-Star caliber player and another future asset,” the scout said. According to Fischer, multiple executives have also expressed that there could be lottery-caliber prospects available in the 20s and a number of NBA-ready players available in the second round. “This might be a draft where more guys are getting guaranteed (NBA contracts) in the second round,” a Western Conference scout speculated.
- While the lottery will consist mostly of college freshmen, there are several “plug-and-play” upperclassmen who will appeal to teams later in the first round. Fischer identifies Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, Florida forward Thomas Haugh, Michigan center Aday Mara, Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz, and Texas wing Dailyn Swain as juniors and seniors frequently mentioned as intriguing targets in that range.
- Fischer also singles out Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner, Purdue guard Braden Smith, and Santa Clara forward Allen Graves as players who are “generating intrigue” among NBA evaluators, observing that Tanner and Graves in particular are analytics darlings.
An interesting question going forward. What will OKC do with their 2 picks in the 1st round, currently in the middle of the draft.
They had three before the McCain trade with Philly right? Rich get richer I guess, but it just shows how good Sam Presti is at GM’ing compared to his peers. Just give him GM of the decade already! They just can’t draft two FRP with the talented deep roster they already have imo, but they can draft one stash/high upside prospect and then flip the other one, probably on draft day for max return; IDK if they’d trade for a win now player or future assets but that could also depend on if they repeat as champs this year in my opinion; what a luxury problem; health is all OKC fans have to worry about now with Presti. Let’s hope for the good of the league that this guy’s skills rub off on the rest of the NBA teams or that his talent tree reaches other corners of the league instead of nepo hires like Ainge and MJD Jr!
Yes, there’s that and also the fact Kawhi Leonard demanded Paul George.
I think Danny StrAinge securing 10 for one in the Rudy Gobert trade was more of a heist than anything Presti has accomplished.
Sam was handed seven for one in Paul George, but Danny saw blood and took advantage of Minnesota thinking they were “one guy away” from a ring.
@Gary..
Totally great point man! Being lucky (aka right place, right time) is always a part of any ‘winning formula’ in sports, if for no other reasons than just health right? I should’ve clarified Ainge Jr, because Danny Ainge Sr. is a very respected executive with lots of deep connections throughout the league; but Ainge Jr still looks like a nepo hire to me. I understand he’s worked with his dad for many years, but time will tell if that translates for the Jazz..this season has been a tank job for the ages, so that’s what shapes my opinion rn lol
Austin Ainge is textbook nepo hire !!
MDJ is a nepo hire?
What does Mike Dunleavy Senior have to do with the Golden State Warriors?
What has Mike Dunleavy Senior accomplished to give him any weight or influence into Who would give his son a shot?
The answer is nothing and nothing.
Mike Junior was hired by the Warriors as an assistant GM and served five years learning the business. It’s his own résumé as a former Warrior that perhaps got his foot in the door in Golden State.
The Rich get richer is not a phrase that applies to OKC.
The rich get richer scenario would be if they turn one hotel resort on the beach into two hotel resorts on the beach. That’s not what happened. They turned one hotel resort on the beach into seven vacant lots near the airport.
Then OKC put the WORK into drafting the proper players, developing these guys year after year, and coaching them as a cohesive unit towards success.
Not the rich get richer. The smart took an asset and turned it into seven assets through hard work.
If you don’t understand how the phrase ‘the rich get richer’ applies to OKC you’re just being obtuse about your own dynasty collapsing before your very eyes..please calm down friend😂
OK if I missed the proper application, I apologize. Thanks for pointing it out.
But I’m definitely not obtuse concerning the collapse of the Warriors. I can see it every other night on TV !!
No worries, and I apologize for throwing shade towards MDJ, and that you have to watch his handiwork nightly:(…. I’ve just always wondered if MDJ would’ve even been highly recruited out of HS or drafted without his dad being who he was, so I’ve kinda seen his whole career as him being elevated because of his dad. And that’s probably an unfair assessment on my part of his career and draft class, which were both definitely injury riddled. Going back to that draft class though, 2002, how did carlos boozer slip to the second round while his teammates were so highly rated? GMs ain’t much better now than they ever were I guess!
It’s guaranteed money they don’t need to spend. Or they can move Caruso and IHart and clear money. IHart is a FA. Don’t forget they also have Sorber and Topic coming back next year. I would trade for Giannis.
This kid Dybansta is something else. Don’t let anyone fool you he is absolutely far and away, head and shoulders above everyone else and will be picked number one if he decides to enter the draft.
I guess there’s a slight chance he returns to school for some odd reason which you have to give the kid credit for choosing that route if he decides to.
It probably will depend on who is picking to see who goes first. Dybantsa is raw. And is not as ready as Boozer or Peterson. Pacers probably take Peterson #1. I just pray they get #5 pick. Kings could take any of three they have the time to wait. Imo I would take Boozer and move Sabonis. Nets go with Peterson or Dybantsa. They also have the time. Wizards definitely take Dybantsa. Jazz have a strong front line. Peterson makes them a playoff team. Even with limited mins. Imo Boozer is the most ready player. Peterson is close too. Has the injury concerns. Dybantsa has that potential. But will need time. Can’t rush talent. Any one of three could go first. This lottery is loaded with starter talent. First rd has plenty of talent. So there could be a Curry (7th pick)in later picks. Plenty of guards in this draft. So finding a big will be major for a team.
If the Jazz get anywhere near Dybantsa they will take and/or trade assets to get him.
He has played in Utah and would be a superstar that is happy to stay there forever. Not to mention the Ryan Smith connection.
OK you git a point. I didn’t think of that. Went blank.
Basketball wise they have Markkannen and Bailey. Just Peterson makes more sense.
The same Dybantsa that led the ncaa in scoring? You’re better than this!
AJ is the real deal and will be impactful from day one
With Bailey and Markkanen lol. I definitely take Peterson. But he makes a good point. BYU player. They can trade Markkannen at least try.
Bailey isnt that good, easily expendable if you can get AJ
Bulls get Blazers pick if its out of top 14.
Knicks get Wiz pick it its out of top 8.
Clippers get Pacers pick if its out of top 4.
It could happen ????
AJ is 1
Caleb should probably be 2 but the injuries are a concern
Cam Boozer is great but I’m a bit skeptical if he will be as dominant against nba strength and length
Darryn Peterson has the highest bust likelihood imo but if he pans out he would be really good. Him and Wilson are the riskiest picks in the top 4.
Caleb is not better than Boozer. Boozer is the most ready pick. I wouldn’t be surprised he goes 1. I like Peterson a lot. But there is a lot of noise out there about him. I am sure they will chk it all out. On talent alone I take Peterson, Boozer, AJ.
Boozer’s floor is higher but Caleb’s ceiling is higher.
If you arent afraid of taking a risk, taking Wilson could pay off big time.
Imo AJ is currently better than Boozer and has more potential, to me he is the clear cut number 1 guy no debate.
I like AJ don’t get me wrong. As an NBA team. I am drafting for team. AJ will take longest imo. It’s why I take other two. The talent isn’t such a big difference. They all could be stars.
You see Peterson lol. He is a big guard with big game. He is a serious talent. You can see him thinking out there. His instincts are big time. I can definitely see him going first.