With the 2025-26 NBA regular season officially in the books and the play-in tournament concluded, the league’s attention has shifted toward the future. While the playoffs dominate the headlines, the 14 teams on the outside looking in are focused on May 10, the date of the highly anticipated draft lottery. The 2026 NBA Draft order is now tentatively set, establishing the foundation for what many scouts consider a historically deep class featuring generational prospects like AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer.
The Race for the Number One Pick: Top Lottery Odds
The battle for the bottom of the standings was fierce this season, resulting in a three-way tie for the best odds at the number one overall pick. The Washington Wizards (17-65), Indiana Pacers (19-63), and Brooklyn Nets (20-62) each finished with the league's worst records, securing a 14% chance at the top selection and a 52.1% chance of landing in the top four.
For the Pacers, the stakes could not be higher. Their first-round selection is top-four protected; if the lottery balls fall unfavorably and the pick drops to the fifth or sixth spot, it will be conveyed to the LA Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade. This makes the May 10 drawing a franchise-altering event for Indiana, as they look to pair a high-end rookie with star guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Key Tiebreakers and the 2026 NBA Draft Order Landscape
While the top three spots are locked in terms of odds, several other positions in the 2026 NBA Draft order remain subject to random tiebreaker drawings. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings both finished with 22-60 records, meaning they will share identical 11.5% odds for the top pick. A drawing in late April will determine which team holds the default fourth and fifth positions.
A similar situation exists further down the lottery. The Atlanta Hawks (via the New Orleans Pelicans) and the Dallas Mavericks are currently knotted at 26-56. These ties are crucial because they establish the "floor" for how far a team can fall on lottery night. For example, if Utah wins its tiebreaker against Sacramento, their pick cannot fall lower than eighth overall, ensuring it stays with the Jazz rather than conveying to the Oklahoma City Thunder (who own the pick if it falls outside the top eight).
Official Pre-Lottery First Round Order (1-30)
Below is the current standing of the first round before the lottery results are finalized:
- 1. Washington Wizards (14.0% No. 1 Odds)
- 2. Indiana Pacers (14.0% No. 1 Odds - Top-4 Protected)
- 3. Brooklyn Nets (14.0% No. 1 Odds)
- 4. Utah Jazz (11.5% No. 1 Odds - Tied)
- 5. Sacramento Kings (11.5% No. 1 Odds - Tied)
- 6. Memphis Grizzlies (9.0% No. 1 Odds)
- 7. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans) (6.8% No. 1 Odds - Tied)
- 8. Dallas Mavericks (6.8% No. 1 Odds - Tied)
- 9. Chicago Bulls (4.5% No. 1 Odds)
- 10. Atlanta Hawks (via Bucks) (3.0% No. 1 Odds)
- 11. Golden State Warriors (2.0% No. 1 Odds)
- 12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) (1.5% No. 1 Odds)
- 13. Miami Heat (1.0% No. 1 Odds)
- 14. Charlotte Hornets (0.5% No. 1 Odds)
The non-lottery portion of the first round is also largely set based on regular-season records and play-in results. Notable movements include the Chicago Bulls receiving the 15th overall pick from the Portland Trail Blazers, as Portland’s playoff berth triggered the end of the pick's top-14 protection. The Oklahoma City Thunder also secured the Philadelphia 76ers' pick at 18th overall after Philly advanced past the play-in tournament.
Second Round Implications and Traded Picks
The second round of the 2026 draft continues to showcase the impact of previous blockbuster trades. The New York Knicks hold the 31st overall pick (via Washington), while the San Antonio Spurs continue to stockpile assets, holding multiple second-round selections including picks from Utah and Miami.
It is important to note that the NBA Draft tiebreakers are reversed for the second round. If a team wins a tiebreaker to pick higher in the first round (among non-lottery teams), they will pick lower in that same slot in the second round. This ensures a level of parity across the two-day event, which is scheduled for June 23 and 24, 2026, in New York City.
Sources & Original Reporting
