Bub Carrington suggests Wizards prioritized AJ Dybantsa over winning

Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington has made comments suggesting the team intentionally limited its competitive efforts last season to secure a high draft pick. In an interview with WUSA9, Carrington stated that players were previously held back, noting, “We’ve all, in a way, been held back just because... we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa.”

Carrington described the current environment as being “shackles-free,” implying that the team is no longer prioritizing draft positioning over winning. This follows a season where the Wizards finished with a 17-65 record. The organization's management of player minutes and health, including the careful management of Trae Young and Anthony Davis, had previously drawn scrutiny regarding potential “tanking.”

Following the acquisition of players like Young and Davis, Carrington expressed optimism that the roster is now positioned to become a playoff contender.