The Philadelphia 76ers were able to land VJ Edgecombe in the draft largely because their poor record last season allowed them to keep a top-six protected first-round pick in 2025.
The Washington Wizards now find themselves in a somewhat similar situation, as their 2026 first-round pick is owed to New York unless it lands within the top eight.
However, as David Aldridge of The Athletic points out, that outcome no longer feels guaranteed.
Washington opened the season with a rough 1–15 start, which made holding onto that pick seem almost certain.
Since then, though, the team has shown noticeable improvement, going 4–4 over its last eight games.
That stretch has highlighted encouraging development from the Wizards’ young core, offering optimism for the franchise’s long-term direction.
At the same time, that progress comes with a potential downside. If the team continues to stabilize and win more consistently, it could jeopardize their chances of keeping the protected 2026 first-rounder.
In that sense, the Wizards now find themselves balancing growth and competitiveness with the long-term value of draft positioning.
Eastern Notes: Edgecombe, Wizards, Hall, Williams, Cavs https://t.co/a0wzuaY4wh pic.twitter.com/Sk9PPQl2Cy
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 31, 2025
