UTAH — The closer we get to the 2026 NBA Draft, the harder it becomes to ignore the possibility that the Utah Jazz trade up for AJ Dybantsa especially after landing the second overall pick. Utah finally experienced lottery luck for once, moving up with their own selection for the first time in franchise history, but even that might not stop them from becoming aggressive. Teams don’t stumble into relationships this deep with a generational prospect and then suddenly become passive observers when draft night arrives.
Will The Jazz Trade Up For AJ Dybantsa At The Explosive 2026 NBA Draft?
Make no mistake, the Jazz have real ties to Dybantsa. Before he even committed to BYU, Jazz owner Ryan Smith was vocal about wanting him in Provo. Smith has heavily invested in BYU athletics over the years and made it clear he was willing to help however possible during Dybantsa’s recruitment. College basketball recruiting in 2026 barely resembles the old world anyway.
“If they need my help, I’m going to help them,” Smith told ESPN months before Dybantsa committed to the Cougars. “I owe everything to BYU and I’m not going to say no. And they know that.”
Now, the same player Smith helped bring to BYU could become the centerpiece of Utah’s future. Dybantsa has maintained close ties with the organization throughout his time there. He trained on Utah’s practice court before the 2025-26 season. That’s not normal access for a prospect. Front offices spend years trying to manufacture comfort levels with stars. Utah built one before Dybantsa even entered the league.
Why Utah Has The Assets To Make A Serious Move
Washington Wizards president Michael Winger already admitted publicly that this is “not a savior moment” and suggested the Wizards would consider trading down if they believe multiple prospects sit in the same tier. That kind of statement is basically an invite for the Jazz to come to the negotiation table.
The cleanest framework would involve the No. 2 pick, a couple of future swaps and Ace Bailey. It’s almost forgotten now because the news cycle devours itself every six hours, but Bailey reportedly preferred landing in Washington before last year’s draft. Bailey’s camp avoided workouts with several interested teams in hopes of steering him toward the Wizards. Utah drafted him anyway at No. 5, betting on upside over circumstance.
That could matter now. Bailey remains an immensely talented prospect with star upside, and if Washington still likes him, Utah suddenly has a legitimate centerpiece to dangle in negotiations. The Wizards could leave the 2026 NBA draft with a premium young talent in Darryn Peterson at two while gaining another high-ceiling prospect in Bailey.
The second framework might be as interesting. Instead of Bailey, Utah could offer the No. 2 pick, a couple of swaps, an unprotected first-round pick and Brice Sensabaugh. Quietly, Sensabaugh has become one of the more intriguing young scorers on Utah’s roster.
Why Brice Sensabaugh Could Appeal To Washington
At first glance, Sensabaugh’s career 38% shooting from three already stands out. But those numbers become even more impressive when you remember how rough his rookie season circumstances were. A knee injury caused him to miss Summer League and part of preseason before his first year, likely contributing to his early struggles when he shot just 29.6% from behind the arc. Since then, he has looked far more comfortable and increasingly dangerous as a movement shooter.
There are moments where Sensabaugh catches fire and suddenly every jumper looks like it was launched into the air with cheat codes enabled. Utah fans have already started seeing flashes of a genuine flamethrower off the bench. In a league obsessed with spacing, that matters.
And it especially matters for Washington. The Wizards were hovering around the bottom-10 in both attempted and made 3s last season, something that became painfully obvious anytime games slowed down in the halfcourt. Adding a young elite-level shooting prospect alongside the No. 2 pick and future draft compensation is not a terrible consolation prize if the front office believes there isn’t a massive gap between Dybantsa and the rest of the top tier.
Still, this entire conversation keeps circling back to one thing: Utah’s relationship with Dybantsa feels unusually strong for a team that hasn’t even drafted him yet. Between Smith’s involvement at BYU, Dybantsa’s continued comfort around the organization and Jazz CEO Danny Ainge’s well-earned reputation for bold moves, it’s difficult to imagine the Jazz quietly sitting at No. 2 and hoping things magically break their way.
The 2026 NBA Draft could ultimately come down to one question: how much would the Jazz trade up for Dybantsa if Washington gives them the opportunity?
