Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington has openly stated the team's poor performance last season was by design to land the first overall pick. In a recent interview, Carrington admitted players were "held back" to secure BYU forward AJ Dybantsa in the 2026 NBA Draft. The NBA is not expected to discipline Carrington or the Wizards for these comments, which directly address the league's previous tanking issues. This revelation comes after a season where the Wizards finished 17-65.
Carrington was blunt in his assessment during a local media appearance. "We just haven't been told yet to go be the best version of yourself," the guard explained. He continued, saying the team had "in a way, been held back just because we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That's no secret." Carrington emphasized a shift in mentality for the upcoming campaign, declaring everyone is now "shackles-free" and instructed to win. His quotes provide a rare, player-level confirmation of strategic losing, a practice the NBA's new lottery rules aim to stop.
The league introduced stricter anti-tanking measures in May 2026. These changes expanded the lottery and added penalties for finishing with a bottom-three record. Teams that end up in the bottom three now receive only two lottery balls, while those with the fourth- through tenth-worst records get three. A team also cannot land the first overall pick in consecutive years. Carrington's admission validates the league's concern and the need for these reformed rules.
The strategy, while controversial, ultimately succeeded. Washington's league-worst 17-65 record gave them a 14% chance at the top pick, which they won. This allowed them to select the highly-touted Dybantsa. He joins a promising young core featuring Carrington, Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, and Bilal Coulibaly. Veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis are also expected to be fully healthy after joining the team midseason last year.
This creates a completely new dynamic for the 2026-27 season. The directive from the organization has fundamentally changed. "Finally being unlocked," Carrington said. "We're being told to win.... Don't hold back. Literally go be the best you can be now." Their focus shifts to integrating talent and competing, with the season opener set for October 21 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Washington has not made the playoffs since 2021 and hasn't won a series since 2017. The acquisition of Dybantsa represents the culmination of a multi-year rebuild. The front office has assembled significant assets, and the coaching staff must now mold them into a cohesive unit. The pressure to show tangible progress will be immediate, especially with established stars like Young and Davis on the roster.
Turning that defensive effort around is the first major task. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page. The Wizards believe the era of restraint is over, and the time to compete has finally arrived.
