If the Washington Wizards end up with one of the first three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, they will almost certainly walk away with one of Darryn Peterson, the do-it-all freshman guard from Kansas, AJ
Dybantsa, the elite scoring freshman wing from BYU, or Cameron Boozer, the skilled, versatile and physically dominant freshman forward from Duke. While Wizards fans do not want to imagine a world in which they fall outside the top three and miss out on one of these supposed “can’t-miss” prospects, there is a very real chance the ping pong balls once again do not bounce the Wizards’ way.
Here are the Wizards’ lottery odds if they end the regular season with the worst record in the NBA, which they are on pace to do: 1: 14.0%, 2: 13.4%, 3: 12.7%, 4: 12.0%, 5: 47.9%.
While he is a step down from the Peterson, Dybantsa Boozer trio, one very intriguing player who would almost certainly be available at the four or five slot is Arizona freshman forward Koa Peat.
Koa Peat, 6’8” freshman forward from Arizona
Koa Peat went into this season as a somewhat polarizing draft prospect. The 6’8”, 235 pound Peat’s physical tools and finishing ability are undeniable, but there were, and still are legitimate concerns about his outside shooting. While he has not displayed a consistent three pointer yet this season, he has arguably been the best player on an Arizona team that has wins over Florida, UCLA and UConn and is looking like a legitimate national championship contender.
Through five games, Peat is averaging 16.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 28.4 minutes per game while shooting 53.7% from the field. In his first game of the season against Florida, the reigning national champs, Peat scored 30 points against what many consider to be the best frontcourt in the country and put Arizona on his back in a 93-87 victory. That performance alone changed the way talent evaluators view Peat’s NBA future.
What is most impressive about Peat’s game is that even as a freshman at the beginning of his collegiate career he is able to consistently score against the best competition in ways beyond just overpowering players physically. He has an especially effective turnaround jumper he uses about 10 to 15 feet from the hoop. Because his opponents have to respect that turnaround so much, Peat is able to use his advanced post moves and footwork to get easy baskets when a defender over-commits trying to stop his turnarounds.
While the three point shot is not really a part of Peat’s game, there is no reason to believe that is something that can not be developed. He is an elite mid-range scorer and is shooting 71.9% from the free throw line at a high volume. That is a clear indication that his shooting form is not broken, and that he should be able to extend his range. Even if he does not end up being the type of guy who makes multiple threes a game, Peat should be able to develop into at least a somewhat respectable three point shooter.
On the defensive end, Peat is strong enough to hold his own against centers and quick enough to stay on the perimeter against wings and guards. His defensive counting stats will likely never wow anyone, but he has already shown that he is an asset on that end of the floor. Peat should have no problems as an NBA defender.
A high-ceiling NBA comparison for Peat would be Orlando Magic All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. If everything goes right, like Banchero, Peat has the ability to be a high-volume scorer at the forward position and contribute to winning basketball.
Peat is at his best with the ball in his hands, but he has shown at Arizona that he can play alongside other scorers, often deferring to the Wildcats’ leading scorer and point guard Jaden Bradley. That is very promising towards his NBA future. College stars who are the sole focal point of their offenses often have a difficult time transitioning to the NBA where they have to learn a new role and share the court with other supremely talented players.
Imagining a potential fit for Peat on the Wizards is easy. He would slide right in at the four and act as a perfect frontcourt complement to Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr. Especially with the way Sarr has improved his three point shooting, Peat would be able to fill the more traditional role of a center on offense while still being able to guard smaller players on the defensive end. Arizona is one of the weaker three point shooting teams in the country right now, and Peat has still been able to get his buckets. Putting him on a team like the Wizards where there would be four shooters around him could unlock another level to his game.
Recent mock drafts have Peat in the 5-8 range. I am a bit higher on Peat than others, and believe that if he continues to impress on an elite Arizona team then his stock will continue to rise. He is firmly in the mix as one of the top players in the tier below the Peterson-Dybantsa-Boozer trio. Looking back to the 2023 NBA Draft, Peat would have been considered for the first overall pick.
Peat would not be “Plan A” for the Wizards. Or “Plan B.” Or even “Plan C.” But this is as deep of a draft class the NBA has seen. There is still loads of talent after the first three picks. Peat would be a perfect fit alongside this young Wizards core and is showing through five games the impact he can have.
