The Washington Wizards won the NBA draft lottery on Sunday, securing the No. 1 overall pick with a 14% chance. The Wizards, who finished the 2025-26 season with a league-worst 17-65 record, will now have the opportunity to select the top prospect in the upcoming draft. AJ Dybantsa, a scoring machine from BYU who led the nation with 25.5 points per game, is widely considered the favorite for the No. 1 pick. Other top prospects include Cameron Boozer (Duke), Darryn Peterson (Kansas), and Caleb Wilson (North Carolina).
The draft lottery results also impacted other teams, with the Brooklyn Nets sliding to the No. 6 pick despite having the best odds alongside Washington and Indiana. The Los Angeles Clippers secured the No. 5 pick via a trade with the Indiana Pacers, while Utah, Memphis, and Chicago will pick Nos. 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The draft is scheduled for June 23 in New York.
The Wizards' success in the lottery comes after a season of strategic tanking, which may be the last under the current system as the NBA considers changes to address concerns about tanking. The team has already bolstered its core with Anthony Davis and Trae Young, acquired in recent trades, setting the stage for a potential rebuild. Meanwhile, the Nets, despite their dismal record, will have to settle for a lower pick but can still benefit from the draft's depth, with prospects like Yaxel Lendeborg and Karim Lopez available.
The draft lottery outcome has sparked discussions about the NBA's draft system, with some advocating for reforms to discourage tanking. Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors has previously suggested that the play-in tournament is not working and has floated ideas for potential fixes. The league is expected to review the draft lottery system in the coming years to ensure fairness and competitiveness.