2026 Draft Day Thread

[J-Ves]

:lol: (may have to click on the Tweet to see the funny part)

Read on Twitter

Can you describe the funny part I don’t have a twitter and I hate its owner

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

It's sad when people make arguments for their position and it makes it more likely that I'll take the opposite side. But entertaining nonetheless.

Sent from my Pixel 10 Pro XL using Tapatalk

Whatever, whatever. What is that even supposed to mean? You get mad when someone disagrees so want to make sure you disagree? Good game.

[payitforward]

Back to Bub: one notable fact is that he leads all players out of the '24 draft in minutes played. Only Castle is even within 20% minutes-wise. I wonder, as a matter of fact, whether any 19-year-old rookie has ever played 2458 minutes.

Wait, I found one -- he played 2606 minutes, & his rookie numbers were no better than Bub's overall, maybe a little worse. His TS% was lower, he got fewer rebounds, he had more assists but also more turnovers. His name was John Wall.

Sorry. This means nothing to me, other than I guess it speaks to Bub's durability.

Bub did not earn those minutes. He just avoided injury while playing for a team that didn't care at all about winning and was only worried about developing young talent. Bub had an on/off differential of -7.9 his rookie year and -8.6 his second year. He made one of the worst teams in the league that much worse when he was on the floor.

Indeed, his +/- over his first two entire seasons was a total net of -1544. I don't know how to look it up, but my guess is that it's an NBA record for the worst total +/- in a player's first two seasons of all time. It's probably a record by a significant margin. (He led the league in total negative on/off in both of his two seasons. 200 points worse then the next worst guy last year, and 150 points worse than the next worse guy this year.) I'm not saying that the team's dismal performance was all his fault, or even that he shares more than 20% of the blame, but the point is, he didn't earn his minutes. The team was historically bad when he was on the floor. So pointing out his high total minutes played doesn't impress me... at all.

I think this is why some people on this board are lower on Bub than you, PIF. You just look at his box score numbers, and you innately value his production in context of the wins' produced formula, and in that context, he is mediocre to be sure, but not awful. I look at his box score numbers but also the massively negative effect he has on the team when he is on the floor and I can't help but be critical. Tre Johnson, despite his similarly lackluster box score numbers, does not make the team worse when he is on the floor and actually had one of the better on/off differentials on the team until the last month of games when his on/off collapsed because he was playing while less than fully healthy.

All that said, on/off numbers are noisy and I don't want to totally write him off just because of two years of horrific on/off numbers. I hope he can turn it around this year. He seems like a really likeable guy and a hard worker. And I am impressed at his improvement in shooting. But if those terrible on/off numbers persist, I'm going to have to conclude that he is somehow sabotaging the team's performance in ways that aren't showing up in the box score - either his defense or the offensive plays he is not making.

As you point out on/off numbers are noisy -- & there's no real way to account for the noise.

That said, no way am I claiming Bub has been "good." He hasn't! Nor was Tre "good" as a rookie. Every one of these kids has to improve significantly for us to become a good team.

As to the criticism of Bub, my main point is that, b/c of the Deni-related context, he gets an excess of critique over other guys. I'm sure you recognize the truth of that statement.

Overall, right now, I think the stance we should all take is incredibly positive -- extremely good things are happening for our favorite franchise! Truth be told, all my frustration w/ critiques here derives from that core fact. I'm not trying to be on the other side of arguments; I'm just trying to appreciate the unpredictably positive turn things have taken since the '22-23 season ended.

[doclinkin]

Ha! I just closed 400 tabs of info related to the draft. Guess that means the new era truly begins now. Looking forward to the next next.

[tontoz]

:lol: (may have to click on the Tweet to see the funny part)

Can you describe the funny part I don’t have a twitter and I hate its owner

The picture at the bottom that you can't see is Risacher with the caption "I am also from France".

[tontoz]

On the Zach Lowe podcast Givony says that the Wizards told Peterson several days before the draft that he wasn't going to be their pick.

[anselmheifer76]

On the Zach Lowe podcast Givony says that the Wizards told Peterson several days before the draft that he wasn't going to be their pick.

We seem like a classy organization at this point.

[DCZards]

On the Zach Lowe podcast Givony says that the Wizards told Peterson several days before the draft that he wasn't going to be their pick.

That’s consistent with what the Zards FO has said about locking in on AJ a couple of weeks ago.

[J-Ves]

On the Zach Lowe podcast Givony says that the Wizards told Peterson several days before the draft that he wasn't going to be their pick.

We seem like a classy organization at this point.

That adds up because DP went from wanting nothing to do with the Jazz to being completely on board with them seemingly overnight. That was probably when the Wiz told him and his agent

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

But, if you critique this FO, duck your head should be the motto.

Why?

They traded five draft picks for a 33-year-old, injury-prone player who has publicly expressed skepticism about being here and needs a new contract.

They signed 28-year-old Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million extension just five months after he was traded for expiring contracts.

They traded away one of the best young players in franchise history for Bub Carrington and what projects to be a mid-first-round pick in 2029.

They hired Brian Keefe and have kept him. Is anyone around the league talking about Keefe as one of the NBA’s brightest new head coaches?

Yes, they’re intentionally rebuilding. But since this front office took over, the Wizards are 50–196.

Everyone agrees the previous roster needed to be torn down. That doesn’t automatically mean this rebuild has been executed at an elite level.

So why does this front office get the benefit of the doubt on every single decision? And why are people trying to police other opinions on a fan message board forum

We tanked over two years FOR THIS????

If we finish at 45 wins, I do not see this team ascending. Welcome back up to mediocrity.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

But, AJ Dybansta will throw down exciting dunks.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Ha! I just closed 400 tabs of info related to the draft. Guess that means the new era truly begins now. Looking forward to the next next.

I saved a life the other day. A man was having a heart attack.
Assisted a stage IV cancer friend when EMS was incredibly moronic. (Helped a friend as a mean first response guy tripped out)
A good friend, the same AM, needed assistance walking after surgeries. He's hospitalized with fever and low oxygen, (dude smokes a lot)
Last week I helped two non-ambulatory guys, one was laying in his urine for hours. Stench almighty OMG.. Got one lifted and sitting up and helped him get dressed
Talked to neurodivergent nephew who thought police were about to arrest, possibly 86 him,

So, i've been a little distracted.

I know the Wizards drafted AJ. I know nothing about Okpara. I read they traded Nelson.

Cynical CCJKEN says that's a GUARANTEE that Nelson will stick in the league and will become a good player. Jared Alllen, Paul Millsap, something good.

[anselmheifer76]

But, if you critique this FO, duck your head should be the motto.

Why?

They traded five draft picks for a 33-year-old, injury-prone player who has publicly expressed skepticism about being here and needs a new contract.

They signed 28-year-old Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million extension just five months after he was traded for expiring contracts.

They traded away one of the best young players in franchise history for Bub Carrington and what projects to be a mid-first-round pick in 2029.

They hired Brian Keefe and have kept him. Is anyone around the league talking about Keefe as one of the NBA’s brightest new head coaches?

Yes, they’re intentionally rebuilding. But since this front office took over, the Wizards are 50–196.

Everyone agrees the previous roster needed to be torn down. That doesn’t automatically mean this rebuild has been executed at an elite level.

So why does this front office get the benefit of the doubt on every single decision? And why are people trying to police other opinions on a fan message board forum

We tanked over two years FOR THIS????

If we finish at 45 wins, I do not see this team ascending. Welcome back up to mediocrity.

We tanked for the chance at the number one overall pick. And we got the number one overall pick. And Alex Sarr that number two. Is it that you don’t like AJ?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Agreed.

I tend to agree too.

I find it interesting how the "consensus" of most experts was that AJ should be the #1 pick, but now that the picks were made, I'm hearing all the experts talk more about Utah getting the best player in the draft, not us.

I personally feel like the Wizards played it too safe. I also get the sense that AJ is kind of a prima donna. Hope I'm wrong on both accounts.

Balls!

1. No one knows who the best player will be out of this or any draft. What a simple world it would be if you could know that in advance. It's not just DP who has a chance to be better than AJ. So do both Boozer & Wilson -- & probably someone much further down the draft, for that matter.

That's true every year, hence true this year as well. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Caleb Wilson become a superstar -- would you have picked him at #1?

It wouldn't have been "wrong" to pick DP #1. It wouldn't have been "wrong" to pick Cam Boozer at #1 either. Or, really, Caleb as well. But, you only get to pick one guy.

2. No one ever doubted DP's talent. Like it or not, agree or not, other factors were involved in his going at #2 not #1.

3. AJ Dybantsa's first presser for the Wizards was absolutely great, & he did not come off as a prima donna in any sense. He came off as a very nice young guy, eager for the future, wanting to please.

4. You pick things to critique about AJ but find nothing to critique about DP? :) Thing is... there's something to criticize in anybody.

Correct. No one knows.

I just think Acuff Jr. will be a beast, like Isaih Thomas and Chris Paul good.
I do think Caleb Wilson is going to be a shorter Garnett and definitely better than AJ Dybantsa.
I think Cameron Boozer should be a favorite for ROTY, if not the favorite.
Kingston Fleming is going to be an instant playoff star. The Wizards won't be as good as the Hawks this season.

I feel like several teams had better drafts than the Wizards, who had a B or B- draft.

Giving up Nelson will also sting.

[closg00]

Draft Grades
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-draft-2026-team-grades/

[Tyrone Messby]

I wasn’t involved much in the draft night discussion but did anyone connect the dots night of when the warriors went Yaxel?

[nate33]

I wasn’t involved much in the draft night discussion but did anyone connect the dots night of when the warriors went Yaxel?

I think they simply had Yaxel as the guy who could help them the most on their short time horizon. If they already had a trade in mind with the Wizards, they would have done so then.

[dobrojim]

But, if you critique this FO, duck your head should be the motto.

Why?

They traded five draft picks for a 33-year-old, injury-prone player who has publicly expressed skepticism about being here and needs a new contract.

They signed 28-year-old Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million extension just five months after he was traded for expiring contracts.

They traded away one of the best young players in franchise history for Bub Carrington and what projects to be a mid-first-round pick in 2029.

They hired Brian Keefe and have kept him. Is anyone around the league talking about Keefe as one of the NBA’s brightest new head coaches?

Yes, they’re intentionally rebuilding. But since this front office took over, the Wizards are 50–196.

Everyone agrees the previous roster needed to be torn down. That doesn’t automatically mean this rebuild has been executed at an elite level.

So why does this front office get the benefit of the doubt on every single decision? And why are people trying to police other opinions on a fan message board forum

We tanked over two years FOR THIS????

If we finish at 45 wins, I do not see this team ascending. Welcome back up to mediocrity.

I can understand impatience. But outside of Trae and AD, we're going to be playing players that were the
youngest team in history last season. I expect they will be better, probably by a lot. But they are coming off
a 17 win season, if they won 30-34 more games, that would be the 4th best improvement in history.

Last year the worst reg season record for a playoff team was 43 wins. We'd have to win 26 more games.
I think of this when I want to temper my expectations. We'd still have a large core of players 23 and under.

Younger players often get better simply by maturity and experience.

[9 and 20]

Why?

They traded five draft picks for a 33-year-old, injury-prone player who has publicly expressed skepticism about being here and needs a new contract.

They signed 28-year-old Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million extension just five months after he was traded for expiring contracts.

They traded away one of the best young players in franchise history for Bub Carrington and what projects to be a mid-first-round pick in 2029.

They hired Brian Keefe and have kept him. Is anyone around the league talking about Keefe as one of the NBA’s brightest new head coaches?

Yes, they’re intentionally rebuilding. But since this front office took over, the Wizards are 50–196.

Everyone agrees the previous roster needed to be torn down. That doesn’t automatically mean this rebuild has been executed at an elite level.

So why does this front office get the benefit of the doubt on every single decision? And why are people trying to police other opinions on a fan message board forum

We tanked over two years FOR THIS????

If we finish at 45 wins, I do not see this team ascending. Welcome back up to mediocrity.

I can understand impatience. But outside of Trae and AD, we're going to be playing players that were the
youngest team in history last season. I expect they will be better, probably by a lot. But they are coming off
a 17 win season, if they won 30-34 more games, that would be the 4th best improvement in history.

Last year the worst reg season record for a playoff team was 43 wins. We'd have to win 26 more games.
I think of this when I want to temper my expectations. We'd still have a large core of players 23 and under.

Younger players often get better simply by maturity and experience.

Agreed. Some of these takes are missing the forest for the trees to me. They have a really good collection of young and improving players. Maybe the best in the league after the Spurs. Has ever move to get here been perfect? No, and no team was built perfectly. But to declare this rebuild some sort of disaster seems so over the top that it's ridiculous.