The Washington WizardsTeam·Washington Wizards, Indiana PacersTeam·Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn NetsTeam·Brooklyn Nets sit atop the 2026 NBA draftCompetition·2026 NBA Draft's pre-lottery order, each with a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick after tiebreakers resolved on April 20. This lineup, drawn from the inverse regular-season records of the 14 lottery teams, sets the stage for the May 10 lottery in Chicago, where picks 1-4 will be determined before slots 5-14 lock in based on finish.
For rebuilding franchises, the stakes could not be higher. The Wizards, Pacers, and Nets—described in recent reports as locked in prolonged losing streaks, with the trio combining for 39 straight defeats entering the week—now eye a draft class brimming with transformative talent. Early entry deadline looms tomorrow, April 24, building anticipation for the June 23-24 event in Brooklyn.
The full first-round pre-lottery order reads as follows: 1. Washington WizardsTeam·Washington Wizards (14%), 2. Indiana PacersTeam·Indiana Pacers (14%), 3. Brooklyn NetsTeam·Brooklyn Nets (14%), 4. Utah JazzTeam·Utah Jazz (11.5%), 5. Sacramento KingsTeam·Sacramento Kings (11.5%), 6. Memphis GrizzliesTeam·Memphis Grizzlies (8.0%), 7. Atlanta HawksTeam·Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans; 6.8%), 8. Dallas MavericksTeam·Dallas Mavericks (6.7%), 9. Chicago BullsTeam·Chicago Bulls (4.5%), 10. Milwaukee BucksTeam·Milwaukee Bucks (3%), 11. Golden State WarriorsTeam·Golden State Warriors (2%), 12. Oklahoma City ThunderTeam·Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA ClippersTeam·LA Clippers; 1.5%), 13. Miami HeatTeam·Miami Heat (1%), 14. Charlotte HornetsTeam·Charlotte Hornets (0.5%). Picks 15-30 follow the inverse order of playoff teams' records, factoring in trades such as Chicago's selection from Portland at No. 15 and Dallas's from Oklahoma City at No. 30.
Traded picks ripple through the order, complicating strategies for contenders and lottery hopefuls alike. Atlanta's pick from New Orleans at No. 7 underscores how past deals continue to influence front-office planning, while Oklahoma City's acquisition from the Clippers at No. 12 positions the Thunder favorably despite their playoff status.
The second round offers similar intrigue, starting with the New York KnicksTeam·New York Knicks' pick from Washington at No. 31, followed by Memphis via Indiana at 32, and Brooklyn at 33. San Antonio appears thrice (35 via Utah, 42 via Portland, 44 via Miami), highlighting the Spurs' aggressive asset accumulation. Sacramento doubles up at 34 and 45 (via Charlotte), while Brooklyn adds No. 43 from the Clippers. The round closes with the Wizards' pick from Oklahoma City at No. 60.
| Round | Pick | Team (Notes) | |-------|------|--------------| | 1 | 1-3 | Washington WizardsTeam·Washington Wizards, Indiana PacersTeam·Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn NetsTeam·Brooklyn Nets (14% No. 1 odds each) | | 1 | 4-5 | Utah JazzTeam·Utah Jazz, Sacramento KingsTeam·Sacramento Kings (11.5%) | | 2 | 31 | New York KnicksTeam·New York Knicks (via WSH) | | 2 | 33 | Brooklyn NetsTeam·Brooklyn Nets | | 2 | 44 | San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs (via MIA) |
With playoffs underway as of April 22, these 14 non-playoff teams pivot to offseason mode. The Wizards (16-55 record per reports), Pacers (15-56), and Nets (17-54) anchor a brutal bottom, their extended skids fueling debate over tanking's role in modern roster-building. History offers mixed lessons: Washington's 2009-10 tank netted John Wall and four playoff runs, yet consistent bottom-feeders like mid-2010s Cleveland and Philadelphia's 'Process' era remind that lottery luck remains fickle.
The lottery's ping-pong balls will introduce volatility—only the top three hold equal 14% shots at No. 1, with odds dropping sharply thereafter. For teams like the Jazz, Kings, and Grizzlies, climbing from 11.5% or 8% demands perfect bounces. Contenders holding lower picks, via trades, balance playoff pushes with future flexibility.
This order crystallizes a season of resets, positioning the league's have-nots for potential hauls from a draft stocked with high-upside prospects. As early entrants declare and mock drafts intensify, the May 10 draw looms as the first pivotal moment of the NBA offseason.
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