Wizards Win No.1 Pick, Jazz Secure No.2 Position
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CHICAGO. The Washington Wizards won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Sunday, securing the No. 1 overall pick after finishing the season 17-65; the Utah Jazz drew the No. 2 slot, Memphis No. 3 and the Chicago Bulls moved to No. 4 in the televised lottery held in Chicago ahead of the June 23–24 draft. The lottery result triggers immediate roster and asset consequences: the Clippers will receive a top-four protected pick previously traded by Indiana for Ivica Zubac because the Pacers fell to No. 5, and Brooklyn will select No. 6. Teams, front offices and draft analysts now focus on prospects AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson in advance of the June draft.
Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- 2022: Utah began its current rebuild and made multiple lottery selections in subsequent years.
- 2025-26 regular season: Teams finished with records that determined lottery odds (Wizards 17-65, Jazz 22-60, Nets 20-62).
- Lottery day (Sunday): NBA held televised Draft Lottery in Chicago to determine top picks.
- Post-lottery: Wizards received No.1, Jazz No.2, Memphis No.3, Bulls No.4, Pacers fell to No.5, Nets No.6.
- June 23–24, 2026: NBA Draft scheduled at Barclays Center in Brooklyn; teams prepare selections and trades.
Why This Matters to You
The NBA Draft Lottery results shake up the league. If you're a fan of the Wizards, Jazz, or Bulls, your team's future just got brighter. Keep an eye on prospects AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson. They could be the next big stars on your team.
The Bottom Line
The NBA Draft Lottery is a game-changer. It can turn a struggling team into a contender overnight. So, mark your calendars for the June 23–24 draft. And remember, in basketball, as in life, luck can change in an instant. Worth forwarding if you know someone who loves a good underdog story.
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The Washington Wizards benefited most by winning the No. 1 overall pick and securing priority access to the projected top prospect AJ Dybantsa, while the Los Angeles Clippers benefited from Indiana’s slide because a top-four protected pick previously traded to them will transfer.
The Brooklyn Nets suffered a setback by falling to the No. 6 pick despite having joint-best odds, missing access to projected top-tier prospects; the Indiana Pacers lost positional control of their traded pick when they fell to No. 5.
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