The 42nd edition of the NBA's draft lottery brought unexpected fortune to the long-suffering Washington Wizards, who secured the top pick despite having the league's worst record at 17-65. After falling four spots in last year's lottery, the Wizards finally caught a break, setting the stage for a pivotal offseason.
Wizards' Stroke of Luck
Washington, which had the best odds (14%) along with Indiana and Brooklyn, will now choose from a stacked crop of prospects. Leading candidates include BYU scoring wing AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke big man Cameron Boozer, and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson. The Wizards' future suddenly looks brighter after trading for and sitting former stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young.
Pacers' Painful Fall
Indiana suffered the worst outcome, dropping to fifth. The Pacers needed a top-four pick to retain their selection but will now send it to the Los Angeles Clippers. General manager Kevin Pritchard publicly apologized on social media, writing, "I'm really sorry to all our fans. I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year." The Pacers had traded for center Ivica Zubac in February, hoping to keep the pick, but instead the Clippers landed a high selection.
Nets Drop Again
Brooklyn, with the third-best odds, fell to sixth for the second straight year. The Nets, who had more wins than only Washington and Indiana, missed out on a top prospect, adding to their rebuilding challenges.
Lottery Winners and Losers
The top five teams—Washington, Utah, Memphis, Chicago, and the Clippers—all have reason to celebrate. Utah would love to land Dybantsa, who played at nearby BYU, but the Wizards could intervene. Memphis jumped from sixth to third and can find a replacement for Ja Morant. Chicago, which recently fired its front office and saw coach Billy Donovan leave, made the biggest leap from ninth to fourth.
The Clippers were double winners, as their own pick stayed at 12th. With Kawhi Leonard's future uncertain, Darius Garland will get a new running mate.
Raptors' Silver Lining
The Toronto Raptors emerge as winners because Indiana, a potential Eastern Conference threat if Tyrese Haliburton returns healthy, won't add a top prospect. Division rival Brooklyn also missed out, and Atlanta didn't receive a top-four pick from New Orleans (the Pelicans stayed at eighth). Additionally, four of the first seven picks go to Western Conference teams, further strengthening the already dominant West.
Toronto will pick 19th after selecting Collin Murray-Boyles at ninth last year. A painful what-if: the pick the Clippers got from Indiana (fourth overall) was originally Toronto's from the Pascal Siakam trade. The Raptors dealt it to New Orleans for Brandon Ingram, but the Pelicans sent it back to Indiana during the 2025 Finals, just before Haliburton tore his Achilles. Hindsight is cruel, but no one could have predicted the collapse.
Full Lottery Order
- Washington
- Utah
- Memphis
- Chicago
- LA Clippers (via Indiana)
- Brooklyn
- Sacramento
- Atlanta (via New Orleans)
- Dallas
- Milwaukee
- Golden State
- Oklahoma City (via LA Clippers)
- Miami
- Charlotte
Other losers include Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Dallas, and Sacramento. The Thunder, despite not getting a top-four pick from the Clippers, still hold the 12th pick from the Paul George trade. The final tally of that deal: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the pick that became Jalen Williams, big man Thomas Sorber, this 12th pick, and more. Not bad for a trade that seemed risky at the time.
