Washington Wizards Secure No. 1 Pick in 2026 NBA Draft Lottery

The road to the 2026 NBA Draft officially began on Sunday, May 10, with the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery delivering a definitive result for a franchise in desperate need of a cornerstone. In a drawing held at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, the Washington Wizards won the right to select first ending a drought that stretches back to 2010 when they selected John Wall.

The Wizards entered the lottery with a 14.0% chance at the top spot—tied for the best odds in the league—after finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a league-worst 17-65 record. For a front office looking to ignite a total rebuild, the lottery balls fell exactly where they hoped.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Results: Top 14 Order

While Washington takes the headlines, the lottery produced several surprising jumps and a complex trade resolution that significantly altered the landscape for two other franchises. The Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies both defied the odds to climb into the top four, while the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings slid down.

Below is the official order of selection for the lottery-affected picks:

The ‘Zubac Pick’ Drama: Clippers Win, Pacers Lose

One of the most intricate storylines of the evening involved the trade between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Indiana Pacers. In February, the Clippers acquired a uniquely protected draft pick from Indiana as part of the Ivica Zubac trade. The terms were specific: the pick was top-four protected, meaning if it landed in positions 1 through 4, it would remain with Indiana. However, if it landed between 5 and 9, it would transfer to the Clippers.

In a stroke of mathematical luck for Los Angeles, the pick landed exactly at No. 5. This represents the absolute best-case scenario for the Clippers, who secure a high-lottery asset. Conversely, it is a bitter pill for the Pacers. Despite finishing 19-63 (largely due to the absence of Tyrese Haliburton) and holding a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick, Indiana walked away from the lottery without a selection in the top 14.

For those unfamiliar with how these protections work, it’s essentially a hedge. The Pacers wanted to ensure they didn’t give away a potential franchise-altering talent (Picks 1-4), but by landing at 5, they triggered the transfer clause to the Clippers.

Prospect Watch: Who Goes No. 1?

With the No. 1 pick secured, the Wizards now turn their attention to the talent pool. While the official draft is weeks away, early projections from analysts like Adam Finkelstein point toward BYU’s AJ Dybantsa as the likely choice for the top spot. Dybantsa has emerged as a generational wing prospect, possessing the size and scoring versatility that modern NBA offenses crave.

The Wizards’ decision will be scrutinized heavily. Since the era of John Wall, Washington has struggled to find a definitive identity. Drafting a player of Dybantsa’s caliber provides a rare opportunity to build a brand and a roster around a single, elite talent.

Explainer: How the NBA Draft Lottery Works

To the casual observer, the lottery can seem like a black box. However, the NBA utilizes a weighted system designed to discourage “tanking” (intentionally losing games) while still giving the worst teams the best chance at improvement.

• The Top Four: The lottery drawings specifically determine the first four picks. Teams with the worst records have the highest percentage chance of their envelope being drawn.
• Picks 5 through 14: Once the top four are decided, the remaining “lottery teams” are slotted into positions 5 through 14 based on the reverse order of their 2025-26 regular-season records.
• The Rest of the Draft: Picks 15 through 30 in the first round, and the entire second round (31-60), are determined strictly by the reverse order of the regular-season standings.

This year, we saw the volatility of the system in action. The Chicago Bulls entered with only a 3% chance of landing a top-four pick, yet they managed to leapfrog several teams to land at No. 4. Similarly, the Memphis Grizzlies converted a 9% chance into a top-three selection.

The Road to Draft Night: Key Dates

The lottery is just the first domino to fall. The league now enters a period of intense scouting and physical evaluations in Chicago. Here is the timeline for the remainder of the 2026 draft process:

• May 10-17: The AWS NBA Draft Combine takes place in Chicago, where prospects undergo medical screenings, athletic testing, and scrimmages.
• June 13: The deadline for “Early Entry” players to withdraw from the draft and return to college or their professional clubs (5 p.m. ET).
• June: The 2026 NBA Draft (Official date to be confirmed by the league).

For the Washington Wizards, the next few weeks will involve an exhaustive deep dive into the medicals and psychological profiles of the top prospects. For the LA Clippers, the focus shifts to how they can best utilize the No. 5 pick to complement their existing championship window.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery has set the stage for a fascinating June. Whether Washington lands a franchise savior or the Clippers find a missing piece, the ripples of Sunday’s drawing will be felt across the league for years to come.

What do you think of the lottery results? Should the Wizards take AJ Dybantsa, or is there another prospect they should target? Let us know in the comments below.