Full Breakdown
2026 NBA Draft Lottery: Results, Stakes and Fallout
5/11/2026, 6:04:03 AM
Lottery Results – Who Picked What
On Sunday, May 10, 2026, the NBA held its draft lottery at Navy Pier in Chicago. The Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 overall pick, followed by the Utah Jazz (No. 2), Memphis Grizzlies (No. 3) and Chicago Bulls (No. 4). The Los Angeles Clippers received the No. 5 selection as a condition of a prior trade with the Indiana Pacers. The Brooklyn Nets picked No. 6, the Sacramento Kings landed at No. 7, and the remaining top-14 order continued with Atlanta Hawks (8), Dallas Mavericks (9), Milwaukee Bucks (10), Golden State Warriors (11) and Oklahoma City Thunder (12).
Background & Context – Lottery Mechanics and Recent Changes
The 2026 lottery was the eighth and likely final year of the current 14-team format, in which the three worst teams each held a 14 % chance of the top pick. The NBA has announced forthcoming reforms intended to curb tanking, with the Board of Governors set to vote on a new system in the weeks after the lottery.
Data & Statistics – Records, Odds and Picks
- Washington Wizards: 17-65 record (worst in the league), 14 % chance at No. 1.
- Sacramento Kings: 22-60 record (tied for fifth-worst), 11.5 % chance at No. 1, 25.5 % chance at No. 7 (the slot they received).
- Indiana Pacers: 19-63 record (second-worst), 52.1 % chance of a top-four pick, but a 47.9 % chance the pick would fall to 5-6 and convey to the Clippers.
Impact on Teams – Immediate Consequences
- Wizards – The franchise, which added All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis during the season, now holds the right to select a top prospect from a deep class that includes BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson.
- Kings – With the No. 7 pick, Sacramento retains a chance to add a high-upside player such as guard Kingston Flemings, forward Darius Acuff Jr. or guard Keaton Wagler, though fans expressed disappointment at missing a top-four slot.
- Pacers – The No. 5 pick transferred to the Clippers, leaving Indiana without a first-round selection in the 2026 draft. The team retains center Ivica Zubac, acquired in February, and expects point guard Tyrese Haliburton to return from an Achilles injury.
Official Statements & Responses
- Kevin Pritchard, Pacers President of Basketball Operations, posted on X: “I’m really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.” He added that the franchise “deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year.”
- The Wizards were represented at the lottery by former No. 1 pick John Wall, underscoring the organization’s historic moment.
Criticism & Opposition – Fan and Media Reaction
- A Sacramento Kings fan on the team’s subreddit wrote, “Scott Perry has no right to sit there looking disappointed,” reflecting frustration over the franchise’s perceived mismanagement.
- Another Kings supporter lamented, “Sure, a higher pick would be good, but I’ll always remember the day we beat the Nets when they were playing their janitors,” highlighting the fanbase’s skepticism toward the team’s recent performance.
- Several commentators and social-media users criticized the Pacers’ February trade, arguing that surrendering a top-five pick for a 29-year-old center was “reckless” given the depth of the draft class.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ slightly on the Kings’ exact odds for the No. 7 slot (25.5 % vs. 25.5 % in multiple reports) and on the precise wording of the Pacers’ pick protection (some describe it as “top-four protected,” others as “protected 5-9”). No additional details about the Clippers’ intended use of the acquired pick have been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck. But please remember - this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient,” — Kevin Pritchard, Pacers President of Basketball Operations
- “Standing here is kind of crazy,” — AJ Dybantsa, BYU forward, on the lottery stage
- “Scott Perry has no right to sit there looking disappointed,” — Kings fan, Sacramento Kings subreddit
- “Sure, a higher pick would be good, but I'll always remember the day we beat the Nets when they were playing their janitors.” — Kings fan, Sacramento Kings subreddit
What’s Next – Draft and Off-Season Outlook
The 2026 NBA Draft will be held June 23-24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Wizards will enter the draft with the No. 1 selection, the Kings will select at No. 7, and the Clippers will pick at No. 5. Indiana will focus on integrating Zubac and preparing for Haliburton’s return, while Sacramento’s front office, led by GM Scott Perry, will evaluate the available talent to determine the best fit for a roster that still carries veteran contracts.
