The biggest 2026 NBA Draft storyline for the Washington Wizards has understandably been about who they will take with their own first round pick. The Wizards currently have the worst record in the NBA and are on track to have a 14% chance at the first overall pick and a 40.1% chance at getting a top-three pick.
But, the Wizards have another first round pick. Last February, they acquired the least favorable first round selection of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets
from the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Reggie Jackson in exchange for Jared Butler and four second round picks. With the Thunder once again on track to have the best record in the NBA, it looks like it will end up coming at the end of the first round.
Every year, there are always a few gems available where it looks like the Wizards will be picking. From the 2025 Draft, Danny Wolf, the No. 27 pick, has been looking great after being called up from the G-League for the Brooklyn Nets. Hugo Gonzalez, the No. 28 pick, has been playing meaningful minutes for the fourth-place Boston Celtics. Sion James, the No. 33 pick, and Ryan Kalkbrenner, the No. 34 pick, have both been starting for the Charlotte Hornets.
Here a few of my favorite under-the-radar players the Wizards could be targeting with that likely late first round selection:
Dash Daniels, 6’5” Guard from Australia
Dash Daniels has a lot of similarities to his brother, 2025 Most Improved Player and All-Defensive First Teamer, Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels. Like Dyson, Dash has great position size, should be able to play the two or the three in the NBA and is already showing signs of being an elite defender. Playing a limited role for second-place Melbourne United in Australia’s NBL as a part of the Next Stars program that has produced players like Alex Sarr, Josh Giddey and Lamelo Ball, Daniels is averaging 5.8 points and shooting a promising 36.0% from three, albeit on relatively low volume. During an NBA preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Daniels played 27 minutes and had 11 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Daniels will turn 18 on Thursday. He projects to be one of the youngest players in the 2026 NBA Draft. Most mock drafts have him as a late first round/early second round pick. A player at his age with legitimate professional experience and elite three-and-D potential would be perfect for a Wizards team looking to transition out of a rebuild. His offensive game is still raw, but no player in this range is without flaws. Daniels would be a very solid selection.
Tahaad Pettiford, 6’1” Sophomore Guard from Auburn
Many were surprised when Tahaad Pettiford withdrew from last year’s NBA Draft after attending the combine. Last year as Auburn’s sixth man, Pettiford averaged 11.6 points and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 42.1% from the field and 36.6% from three. This season, in a much larger, starting role, his scoring numbers have gone up, but his efficiency has gone down. As Auburn’s starting point guard, Pettiford is averaging 16.1 points and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 38.7% from the field and 32.9% from three.
At 6’1”, 170 pounds, Pettiford just does not have the physical tools necessary to defend at a high level in the NBA. But, that does not mean he can not be an effective player. Despite his size, the left-handed Pettiford has shown no issues in creating his own shot and scoring at will against SEC defenses. He could thrive as a microwave scorer off the bench, the same role he had last season for Auburn. Some easy NBA comparisons for Pettiford include Lou Williams, Payton Pritchard, Jeff Teague and Brandon Jennings.
Magoon Gwath, 7’0” Sophomore Forward from San Diego State
Magoon Gwath earned a bit of NBA draft buzz after a standout freshman season with San Diego State last year where he averaged 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and a Mountain West-leading 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 37.8% from three. He was also Mountain West freshman of the Year and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. Gwath underwent offseason knee surgery and missed the first two games of the season, and has looked a bit inconsistent this season in his return but has still shown some very promising flashes.
Most mock drafts I have found do not feature Gwath. I am definitely higher on him than most. When I watch him, I see a little bit of Chet Holmgren (this may be a stretch, I know). At San Diego State, Gwath primarily plays alongside another big and has become an elite weak-side shot blocker, similarly to how Holmgren operates with the Thunder next to Isaiah Hartenstein. He would fit perfectly in that role on the Wizards alongside Alex Sarr, and the two of them would form a truly elite defensive pairing. Yes, Gwath is raw. Yes, Gwath needs to put on more strength. Yes, there is a chance he ends up like Bol Bol and is out of the league in a few years. But, at just 20 years old, Gwath still has a lot of time to develop and his combination of shot blocking and three point shooting can not be ignored. The Wizards timeline gives them the ability to take risks on high-upside players, and there are few with as much upside as Gwath.
K.J. Lewis, 6’4” Junior Guard from Georgetown
Local college basketball fans should be very aware of K.J. Lewis, the Arizona transfer who has been the best player on a surprisingly competitive Georgetown team. After playing mostly as a reserve for his first two collegiate seasons with Arizona, Lewis has shown that he can handle a much larger role. An elite defender and rebounder at the guard position, Lewis is averaging 15.6 points, 3.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game for the Hoyas. The biggest knock on Lewis is his shooting. While he has improved, this season he is shooting 30.0% from three on 3.0 attempts per game, a bit lower than most pro-ready two guards.
If Lewis is able to improve his shooting numbers, he should be able to turn himself into a legitimate first round prospect. But if not, he could still be worth a shot late in the first round or early in the second. His defensive and rebounding instincts can not be taught and should translate seamlessly to the NBA. Georgetown is a fun team, and could make a run in a relatively weak Big East this season. It would be well worth a visit to Capital One Arena to see Lewis and the Hoyas.
