Wizards move up in 2nd round to select Okpara after making Dybantsa the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft
Washington added a 6-foot-10 rim protector after trading up for the No. 46 pick, one night after taking AJ Dybantsa first overall.
- The Washington Wizards acquired the 46th overall pick on Wednesday to select Tennessee forward Felix Okpara, a day after drafting BYU forward AJ Dybantsa in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
- Seeking to bolster their roster with a defensive rim protector, the Wizards targeted Okpara after his standout career at Tennessee, adding the 6-foot-11 center to a team lacking star power.
- During his 143 games for Ohio State and Tennessee, Okpara recorded career-high field goal percentage at 59.7% and averaged a career-high 2.6 offensive rebounds last season.
- The Orlando Magic selected Okpara with the 46th pick before trading his draft rights to Washington, making him the third Tennessee player drafted this year alongside Nate Ament and Kobi Gillespie.
- While Okpara's offensive game remains underdeveloped, the athletic lob threat profiles as a consistent starter due to his defensive prowess; he arrives in the NBA after leaving his family in Lagos, Nigeria, as a teenager.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Associated Press News
Wizards move up in 2nd round to select Okpara after making Dybantsa the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft
The Washington Wizards moved up in the second round to draft Tennessee forward Felix Okpara one night after making BYU forward AJ Dybantsa the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
The Washington Wizards Add Intriguing Defensive Big Man In Second Round Of The 2026 NBA Draft - Last Word On Basketball
Tennessee forward Felix Okpara (34) tries to score while guarded by Michigan center Aday Mara (15) during a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026. | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Benjamin Yu, Editor The Washington Wizards have made exceptional draft selections in recent years. Players like Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson were scouted and projected highly, while others like Kyshawn George and Will Riley could b…
Breaking News: Wizards Trade Up to Draft Tennessee Big Man Felix Okpara
BREAKING NEWSWIZARDS ACQUIRE FELIX OKPARA IN DRAFT-DAY TRADE BREAKING NEWSWIZARDS ACQUIRE FELIX OKPARA IN DRAFT-DAY TRADE The Washington Wizards have acquired the rights to Felix Okpara after trading their No. 51 and No. 60 selections to move up to No. 46 overall, where the Orlando Magic initially made the selection. Washington immediately acquired his rights in a draft-night trade. After selecting AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick and rep…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
