At this moment, 6-foot-10 BYU small forward AJ Dybantsa is the consensus No. 1 prospect in what has been billed as a very good 2026 NBA Draft class. And there are a number of teams who, understandably, are interested in adding the potential superstar to their roster. The Chicago Bulls are reportedly among those teams.
The Washington Wizards currently own the No. 1 selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. And they’re reportedly open to at least engaging in conversations about moving out of the selection — if someone wants to back up the truck to move up to the top spot to presumably get Dybantsa.
There is another layer of underlying context to these trade rumors that needs to keep in mind. Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith has been linked to Dybantsa going all the way back to his college recruitment. This is from an ESPN story on Smith’s involvement in BYU athletics and Dybantsa back in 2024:
Dybantsa’s representatives and Smith said the billionaire had no financial role in the blockbuster deal even though he met with the principals.
Either way, his fingerprints show up in the Dybantsa deal, along with many other recent big developments in Utah sports.
The Utah Jazz own the No. 2 pick in the draft, and clearly would love to keep Dybantsa “home” where he played his college hoops. So any hope of getting the player would require a move up to No. 1 overall.
Sources inform Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints that the Bulls, owners the No. 4 pick, have been talking to Washington “since the start of the draft combine” weeks ago. A number of other teams, including Atlanta and, yes, Utah, have also reportedly spoken to Washington about the top pick.
BYU small forward AJ Dybantsa. Chris Jones-Imagn ImagesWho Would the Bulls Target at No. 1?
For a 19-year-old, Dybantsa is a remarkably poised scorer. He’s especially adept at slashing into the lane from basically anywhere. Dybantsa has an insane two-way upside, and his acumen as a full-court scorer is impressive, too.
Nahhh Aj Dybantsa just went crazy for 43 points and 6 rebounds it’s getting out of hand ? @marchmadnessmbb pic.twitter.com/Os1kgHvKu9
— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) January 25, 2026Expectations now are that, if Chicago stays at No. 4, the Bulls would select North Carolina power forward/center Caleb Wilson. Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Duke power forward Cameron Boozer are the other anticipated top selections.
Peterson and Wilson, if anything, are the wild-card, high-ceiling picks. Dybantsa and Boozer are “safer” bets in terms of their respective floors being perceived as higher.
League pundits generally believe there is some drop-off outside of the top four picks. Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, and Houston point guard Kingston Flemings are generally seen as the next block of prospects.
Siegel, for one, appears to relish the concept of Peterson leapfrogging Dybantsa (or the Wizards trading down with Utah) and thriving alongside incumbent Washington All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis, plus young big man Alex Sarr and second-year shooting guard Tre Johnson.
Darryn Peterson 28 points vs CBU with some elite buckets pic.twitter.com/4dJoVhR2Wt
— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) March 21, 2026Peterson was likely set to be the top pick heading into the 2025-26 NCAA season. But a pesky creatine dosage issue may have knocked him off the top spot. His comportment in college felt, frankly, a little Ben Simmons-esque.
But the man is an enticing playmaker and shot-taker, and in theory could be a multi-time All-Star if he keeps his head on straight.
© Craig Strobeck-Imagn ImagesBut… Should the Bulls Trade Up?
The million dollar question is: does new Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham believe Dybantsa is a transcendent prospect who could immediately elevate the entire franchise?
If the Bulls believe that is indeed the case, they’ll need to out-bid the other interested parties if Washington ultimately decides to move out of the top spot. And that’s where things get tricky.
This Chicago club needs help absolutely everywhere. And Graham will have the relative luxury of starting his tenure running the Bulls’ front office with four opportunities to add said help in this draft. In addition to the No. 4 overall pick, the Bulls own the Portland Trail Blazers’ first-rounder (No. 15) and the Nos. 38 and 56 picks in the second round.
On the current roster, young guns Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, Noa Essengue and maybe Leonard Miller feel like the only probable (short-term, at least) keepers. It remains to be seen whether or not free agents Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Zach Collins (please no), Nick Richards, or Guerschon Yabusele will be interested in sticking around. Free agent forward Mouhamadou Gueye, a late-season mercy signing, is likely gone.
Vets under contract like forward Patrick Williams, point guard Tre Jones, power forward Jalen Smith, shooting guard Isaac Okoro and point guard Rob Dillingham may be trapped in Chicago for now, but everyone not named Patrick Williams could hold at least some appeal on the trade market if Graham feels like getting frisky.
All this is to say the Chicago Bulls should be in the asset accrual business right now, and should not burn future draft capital to move up a few slots this year — unless they’re sure that Dybantsa is that much more impactful than Peterson, Boozer or Wilson. This Chicago squad will likely be bad for a while, and needs to take as many swings at young talent as possible.
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