The 42nd NBA Draft Lottery gave us exactly what the league wanted: drama, heartbreak, conspiracy theories, fanbases screaming at the TV and a whole new wave of hope for teams that badly needed it. Held at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, the lottery determined the first 14 picks of the 2026 NBA Draft, with the top four picks decided by the actual lottery drawing and picks No. 5 through No. 14 falling in reverse order from there.
At its core, the draft lottery exists so the NBA’s non-playoff teams can have a shot at franchise-changing talent without the whole thing being as simple as “lose the most games, get the best player.” Of course, that has never fully stopped teams from leaning into the tank, and this year was a perfect example. After a season where several teams were clearly chasing lottery luck, Washington came out on top with the No. 1 pick, Utah landed at No. 2, Memphis grabbed No. 3, Chicago jumped into the top four, and the Clippers somehow walked away with No. 5 via Indiana.
That Indiana part is what really had people talking. The Pacers’ pick was only top-four protected, so when it landed fifth, it conveyed to the Clippers and left Indiana with nothing to show for all that losing. Pacers president Kevin Pritchard apologized to fans after the gamble backfired, especially since Indiana had strong odds to stay in the top four but still fell just far enough to lose the pick. Meanwhile, the Clippers had to breathe like they just dodged a bill collector, because keeping that pick changes their whole offseason outlook.
Brooklyn’s lottery luck continued to be nasty work, too. The Nets entered with one of the best chances at No. 1 and still slid to No. 6, which is brutal in a draft where the top tier feels especially valuable. On the flip side, Chicago surprisingly jumped into the top four, Washington and Utah both landed premium picks to add to promising rosters already mixed with veterans and young talent, and Oklahoma City continued its “rich get richer” era by landing at No. 12 while still looking like one of the scariest teams in basketball. Golden State and Miami still came away with lottery picks, but neither got the push up the board that could have made their offseason paths easier.
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So now the fun really starts. The lottery set the order, but the real question is which picks actually make sense once you factor in talent, team direction, fit and what each franchise needs next. With the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls and Clippers sitting in the top five, here is how the board should fall.
1. Washington Wizards — AJ Dybantsa
This feels like the moment Washington has been waiting for years. AJ Dybantsa gives the Wizards the kind of wing talent they have not had in a long time: a big, skilled, smooth-scoring forward who can get to his spots, punish defenders in the midrange, finish through contact and create tough buckets when the offense breaks down. He led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game as a freshman at BYU, and that type of production, paired with his tools, makes him feel like the cleanest No. 1 choice on the board.
The best part for Washington is that Dybantsa would not have to walk in and save the whole franchise by himself from Day 1. With Anthony Davis and Trae Young already in place, he can be brought along as a future centerpiece while still getting real reps next to proven stars. Then, whenever that veteran era runs its course, he still has Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Will Riley as part of the young core growing with him. You can want more consistent defensive energy from Dybantsa, but the frame and athletic gifts are there. If the hunger matches the talent, Washington finally has the type of wing-sized bucket-getter that can shift the whole franchise.
2. Utah Jazz — Darryn Peterson
Could this have gone any better for Utah outside of landing No. 1? Probably not. There are already rumors and speculation about whether the Jazz could try to move up for Dybantsa, especially with his BYU connection, but if they stay at No. 2, Darryn Peterson is not some consolation prize you complain about. He is a high-level shot creator who plays with pace, polish and confidence, and he fits beautifully with a Jazz team that suddenly has a real mix of young upside and win-now talent.
Peterson can slide next to Keyonte George, who had a breakout season, while giving Utah another guard who can score off the bounce, create for others and keep defenses honest. When you add that to Ace Bailey’s flashes, Walker Kessler’s presence, Isaiah Collier’s downhill game, Brice Sensabaugh’s scoring ability, and a frontcourt built around Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Jazz start looking really dangerous really fast. The concerns are fair — Peterson’s availability and mentality were questioned after he missed time and had moments at Kansas that raised eyebrows — but the upside is too loud to ignore. With his 6-foot-11 wingspan and already polished offensive package, he could become a problem in passing lanes and a nightmare as a scorer if everything clicks.
3. Memphis Grizzlies — Cam Boozer
Cam Boozer makes too much sense for Memphis because he feels like the safest player in the top five while still having real star-level upside. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, he already looks like he belongs in an NBA rotation, and his game is way more polished than a lot of young bigs entering the league. He can score in the post, hit jumpers from the midrange, stretch out to three, rebound, pass and play with a motor that makes coaches trust him early. There. This is a reason he was the AP Player of the Year after averaging 22.5 points and 10.1 rebounds at Duke.
For Memphis, that matters because this franchise feels like it is entering a new stage, whether it wants to admit it or not. Ja Morant is still there for now, but the roster is already leaning younger with Zach Edey, GG Jackson, Jaylen Wells, Cedric Coward and others. Boozer gives the Grizzlies a smart, physical, winning player they can build with no matter what happens next. The questions about vertical athleticism and where he fits defensively in the NBA are real, but those feel more like things to work through than reasons to pass. For a team that needs stability, toughness and a real foundation piece, Boozer is the grown-man pick.
4. Chicago Bulls — Caleb Wilson
If Caleb Wilson did not miss the end of the season with an injury, there is a real chance we would be talking about him even higher than this. The North Carolina forward is explosive, aggressive and built for the modern NBA. He attacks the rim like he is trying to hurt somebody’s feelings, runs the floor hard, hunts down blocks, and brings the kind of energy Chicago fans have been begging to see, attached to a real long-term plan.
The jumper is the swing skill, but that is the part you live with because so much of the rest looks natural. Wilson’s mechanics are not broken; he just needs the shot to become consistent enough for defenses to respect it. Chicago is in a weird place with a roster full of guards and no clear direction, which is exactly why this pick feels like the first real step into a new era. Pairing Wilson with Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey gives the Bulls a bigger, more athletic and more versatile young group to build around. For a fanbase that has been starving for something fresh, Wilson would at least give them a reason to believe the front office finally picked a lane.
5. Los Angeles Clippers — Keaton Wagler
The Clippers should still be sending thank you cards after walking away with this pick. The Ivica Zubac trade with Indiana already brought back younger talent, including Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin, but landing the No. 5 pick, since Indiana fell out of the top four, gives Los Angeles another major piece for a retool that suddenly feels a lot more interesting. For a team trying to get younger without completely bottoming out, Keaton Wagler is the cleanest fit.
Wagler is a silky shooter, a confident scorer and the type of offensive player who can help right away without needing everything to run through him. He dropped a career-high 46 points for Illinois against Purdue as a freshman, shooting 13-for-17 from the field and 9-for-11 from three, so the shot-making is not some theory. He also showed in the NCAA Tournament and throughout the season that he is not scared of the moment, which matters for a Clippers team still trying to compete with Kawhi Leonard in the picture. Next to a true point guard like Garland, Wagler could thrive as a floor-spacer, secondary creator and instant-offense option. The Clippers could go a few different directions here, but if they want someone whose game should translate quickly, Wagler is the move.
