The first pick in the NBA Draft lottery, which will take place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center next month, will go to the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards had a 14 percent chance of winning the first pick going into the lottery, despite having the poorest record in the NBA.
In the meantime, a number of clubs advanced in the lottery, including the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls, who will select third and fourth, respectively, and the Utah Jazz, who received the second choice.
Several top prospects, like as BYU swingman AJ Dybantsa, Kansas combo guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke power big Cameron Boozer—the son of former NBA forward Carlos—will be selected in the draft next month.
“One of these teams is going to be home,” Dybantsa said to reporters in New York on Sunday, as reported by The Associated Press. “Standing here is kind of crazy.”
The Wizards enter the 2026–27 season with former All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis, who were both acquired in trades during the 2025–26 season, in addition to the first selection in the NBA Draft next month.
The Washington Wizards, who have the worst record in the league, now have the first pick in the NBA Draft lottery, which will take place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center next month.
With the first pick, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa is thought to be a possibility for the Wizards.
The Indiana Pacers, who had a 14 percent chance to choose first overall and will now give up the fifth overall pick in the draft next month due to a conditional February trade for center Ivica Zubac, suffered more on Sunday than any other team. According to the agreement, if the Pacers’ first-round selection fell between picks No. 5 and No. 9, it would pass to the Clippers.
The Brooklyn Nets, who had a 14% probability of selecting first, also received some negative news on Sunday: they were selected sixth.
The Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, and Charlotte Hornets all received selections No. 8 through No. 14, respectively, while the Sacramento Kings will select at No. 7.
Next month, Cameron Boozer, the son of former NBA player Carlos, is anticipated to get high.
During the 2025–26 Kansas season, Darryn Peterson suffered with cramps.
After several clubs, including the Wizards, were accused of restricting their rosters in an attempt to obtain this year’s top overall pick, the NBA intends to enact anti-tanking regulations in 2027.
Since the squad was coached by Scott Brooks in 2021, Washington has not made it to the postseason. Following that season, Brooks was sacked, and Wes Unseld’s son and namesake took his place. In 2024, Brian Keefe took his place.
Despite a 43-160 record, Keefe is anticipated to stay on the Wizards sidelines for the upcoming campaign.
John Wall, the retired point guard selected by the Wizards the previous time the franchise won the lottery, represented the organization on Sunday.
Washington also had the first pick in 1961 and 1962, adding Walt Bellamy and Bill McGill, respectively, and in 2001, when they made the disastrous choice to select Kwame Brown.
