With the Las Vegas Summer League starting up, the Washington Wizards will send their two rookies from the recent 2026 NBA Draft to participate. They will be sending the first overall pick, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, and the 46th overall pick, Tennessee big man Felix Okpara. Both players possess immense talent, which can be harnessed to help bring the Wizards back to contention in the future. However, they do have questions they must address as they begin their NBA journeys. Let’s explore one question for each Wizards rookie as they participate in Summer League in Las Vegas.
2026 NBA Summer League: 1 Question For Each Wizards Rookie
AJ Dybantsa
Question: Will Dybantsa Show More Attention To Detail On Defense?
Unquestionably, Dybantsa is one of the best prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he can be the piece who can bring Washington to a newer, brighter era. He is arguably the best pure scoring prospect in the entire draft, excelling as a slasher and mid-range scorer. His combination of size, length, and athleticism makes Dybantsa an incredibly difficult player to defend. Not only can Dybantsa score at a high level, but he has seen improvement as a playmaker. He has gotten better at leveraging his scoring to create opportunities for his teammates. Furthermore, his court vision and passing skills have also seen development.
Beyond the offensive end, Dybantsa is a strong rebounder who has shown potential on the defensive end. His intersection of athleticism and physical attributes lends itself well to Dybantsa becoming an impactful defender. He is capable of guarding multiple positions and switching on the perimeter.
The Wizards got a tremendous franchise cornerstone in Dybantsa, but he is not perfect. He will need to answer major questions surrounding his game. Specifically, one big question for Dybantsa is whether he can show more care and attention to detail on defense. During his lone season at BYU, Dybantsa showed mixed results as a defender despite his physical gifts. He wasn’t the most active as a defensive playmaker, and Dybantsa can lose focus at times on defense. He was solid defending on the ball, but he did struggle with staying engaged.
To be fair, Dybantsa shouldered the majority of the offense for BYU, which is where he put the majority of his energy and effort. Now, playing for Washington’s Summer League team, he will get the benefit of playing next to offensive talents like Tre Johnson and Will Riley. With better offensive help, Dybantsa’s defense will be a point to watch for.
Felix Okpara
Question: Can Okpara Show Something Worthwhile On The Offensive End?
While Okpara isn’t the same level of talent as Dybantsa, he is still a prospect who can be an impactful player for Washington’s future. During his time in college, especially at Tennessee, Okpara has proven himself to be a true talent on the defensive end as a center. His blend of size and athleticism makes him a dynamic defensive force who can both protect the rim and switch out onto the perimeter. While Okpara isn’t known for his offense, he does operate well as a roll man, screener, and lob threat.
Okpara may not play much in his first year, considering the fact that Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, and Deandre Ayton sit in front of him in the pecking order. Plus, he is only on a two-way contract. However, he has the potential to be a long-term piece in the frontcourt for Washington.
For Okpara, his big question going into Summer League is whether he can show anything worthwhile on the offensive end. Beyond his skill set as a rim runner, Okpara does not provide much else offensively. Even in that role, he does have his warts, as he can have moments where he struggles to hang onto the ball. With better ball-handlers and spacing on the Wizards’ Summer League team, it will be interesting to see if Okpara can show something more offensively.
Featured Image: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
