Forgive me for the Brian Windhorst-esque two-fingers-in-the-air impression I’m currently performing as I lean back in my office chair, but I just have to ask: What is going on in Washington?
Yes, while the rest of the NBA world has its eyes on the NBA Finals and the New York Knicks’ violent uprising against Victor Wembanyama’s coronation as supreme ruler of the basketball universe, I’ve been staring at the rumors and reports coming out about the NBA Draft.
Can you blame me? Finally, for once in my
24 years of life, I’m witnessing something good happen to my beloved Utah Jazz. They have the number-two pick in a loaded draft class, and could very likely come away with a potential All-Star, All-NBA, or (please forgive my jinx) MVP candidate in AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson — whichever the Wizards don’t pick up at the top of the order.
You can only take one, Washington, which means the Jazz get the other. Those are the rules.
But with the number-one pick, the Wizards have undeniable power. The right to shape the draft however they see fit. The freedom to pick up whatever prospect they believe gives them the best chance to compete for a championship. The liberty to mold their future without restraint.
But the second pick is basically just as good, provided the Jazz don’t improvise. Stick to the script, and for the love of all that is good and true, don’t pick Caleb Wilson.
But Washington’s control has begotten uncertainty, as every new report seems to only twirl the narrative one dizzying spin further. First, they insisted that they had no need of a “savior” in the draft, and therefore felt no natural pressure to pick a potential star like Dybantsa or Peterson. Then, Cameron Boozer shot up the order, as the analytics experts preached his gospel from every edge of the NBA map. Now, the Wizards are left entirely uncertain about what they’ll do with the top pick, considering any of the upper-crust of stars or even trading down in the order for more assets.
I’m sure this is all posturing from a franchise unfamiliar with their current position, but from a strategic standpoint, none of this makes any sense to me.
If you want to increase the asking price of an asset, won’t you get more by declaring what you want to do with it? Make a statement about how much you love AJ Dybantsa, publicly declare how badly you want Darryn Peterson, and see the teams that want them even more approach with an overpay.
If I were to sell you a pen, it would be a bad idea to begin by saying “wow I didn’t even really like this pen”. If you want to trade down, or create panic in the spots below you, it would likewise be strange to open with how little you value your position.
Washington’s antics are baffling, but the Jazz are too smart to flinch and give up their advantage now.
Looking at this objectively, the Utah Jazz are major winners whether they wind up with Dybantsa or Peterson. Stick to the script, don’t get clever, and bring home a star. I believe in Utah’s front office to make the reasonable choice this draft cycle, and I won’t let Washington’s confusing strategy interrupt that trust.
Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.
