Rich Paul backs the Wizards: “They’ll be the surprise team”
With AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis leading the way, the Wizards could become a major force in the Eastern Conference. According to Rich Paul, they have what it takes to make a deep playoff run
While media attention in the Eastern Conference remains focused on the defending champion New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers’ aggressive offseason moves (headlined by their pursuit of LeBron James following the Jaylen Brown trade), the Washington Wizards are emerging as a legitimate dark horse heading into the 2026-27 season.
The franchise’s newfound credibility received a major endorsement from NBA agent Rich Paul, who appeared on the Mind the Game podcast (hosted by his client LeBron James alongside Steve Nash) and identified Washington as the team no one should overlook in the East – a level of praise the nation’s capital hasn’t heard in years.
The surprise team in the East, if they can keep this group together, will be the Washington Wizards. Remember these words: sleeper team. I’m not saying they’re going to the Finals, I’m just saying they’ll be the team nobody wants to play
Rich Paul
Long viewed as one of the league’s least attractive destinations because of questionable front-office decisions and years of mediocrity, Washington began changing course after trading Bradley Beal in 2023, a move that cleared its salary cap and reset the franchise.
The trades for Young and Davis
The organization’s transformation accelerated in February 2026 with the acquisition of Trae Young, who was brought in via trade to mentor the team’s young core. The 27-year-old point guard is coming off a solid 2025-26 campaign, averaging 17.9 points and 8.0 assists while shooting 45.8% from the field.
The frontcourt was further strengthened with the arrival of Anthony Davis, another Klutch Sports client represented by Rich Paul. Although recurring injury issues kept Davis from making his debut with the Wizards, he remains one of the league’s elite interior forces, as reflected by the 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks he averaged across 20 appearances last season.
But AJ Dybantsa is the franchise cornerstone
The Wizards’ greatest long-term upside, however, lies in their young core. All eyes are on rookie AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, who is coming off a dominant college season at BYU where he averaged 25.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Alongside him, seven-foot French center Alexandre Sarr – the No. 2 overall pick in 2024 – continues to develop after improving from 13.0 points per game as a rookie to 16.3 points during the 2025-26 season. Combined with the expected growth of Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George, Washington now features a blend of elite veterans and promising young talent capable of shifting the balance of power in the postseason, leaving behind the afterthought status that has long defined the franchise.