The Washington Wizards are reportedly exploring a trade to acquire a second pick in the late lottery, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
The Wizards already hold the No. 1 overall pick after winning the 2026 lottery, where our intel indicates they are expected to select AJ Dybantsa. Adding a second selection in the back half of the lottery would let them pair that cornerstone with another high-upside prospect on a cost-controlled rookie deal.
Should they pull it off, the Wizards would become just the fourth team in NBA history to hold the No. 1 overall pick along with an additional lottery selection in the same draft.
Only three times in NBA history has a team held the No. 1 overall pick alongside another lottery selection in the same draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers accomplished this twice, keeping both players each time: Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson (No. 4) in 2011, and Brad Daugherty and Ron Harper (No. 8) in 1986. The Orlando Magic drafted Shaquille O’Neal first in 1992 but traded their No. 9 pick on draft night.
Some names that the Wizards could target include Morez Johnson, Cameron Carr, and Aday Mara: all of whom are contenders to go in the late lottery range.
Stockpiling lottery picks fits the blueprint Washington has followed since tearing down its roster, prioritizing draft capital and player development over short-term wins. A late-lottery pick would also give the front office flexibility, either to draft a prospect who slides or to package assets in a larger move. We have these prospects ranked on our 10-Tier, Top 60 Big Board.
It remains to be seen what Washington would surrender to move into that range, and trade talks of this nature often shift quickly in the days before the draft. The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is Tuesday, June 23.
