The 2026 NBA Draft picture is starting to take shape, but we’re not fully there yet.
On Monday, April, the NBA held its draft tiebreakers, giving us a clearer look at where teams stand heading into the big event. That said, the final order won’t be locked in until the draft lottery on May 10, which will determine who grabs the coveted No. 1 pick.
🔥 What We Know So Far
- Most of the 60 draft slots are now roughly set
- Lottery teams still have shifting positions based on odds
- Some picks depend on trade conditions and lottery outcomes
Each lottery team’s odds for landing the top overall pick are already assigned—and a few teams are sitting in a strong position to make a big jump.
🏀 First-Round Snapshot (Pre-Lottery)
At the top, three teams are tied with the best shot at No. 1:
- Washington Wizards — 14.0%
- Indiana Pacers — 14.0%
- Brooklyn Nets — 14.0%
Right behind them:
- Utah Jazz — 11.5%
- Sacramento Kings — 11.5%
- Memphis Grizzlies — 9.0%
👀 Picks With Extra Drama
Some selections come with conditions that could shake things up:
- The Los Angeles Clippers will only keep their pick if it lands outside the top four
- The Atlanta Hawks get the better pick between two options
- The Milwaukee Bucks end up with the less favorable pick in their deal
Lower in the lottery, teams like the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Miami Heat still have slim—but real—shots at jumping up.
🔁 Second Round Twist
Here’s where things get interesting:
👉 For teams with the same regular-season record, their second-round order is simply the reverse of their first-round position.
And yes—even if one team made the playoffs and the other didn’t, this rule still applies.
⚠️ A Few Picks Could Shift
Some second-round picks aren’t locked yet and will move depending on lottery results. For example:
- A Kings vs. Jazz lottery outcome could shift picks in the mid-30s
- The Mavericks’ position could impact multiple selections nearby
📅 What’s Next?
Everything leads up to one key date:
➡️ May 10 — NBA Draft Lottery
That’s when:
- The exact draft order gets finalized
- We find out who lands the No. 1 overall pick
- Trade conditions and pick swaps become official
💡 Bottom Line
The current order gives us a strong preview, but nothing is truly set yet. With lottery odds, pick protections, and trade clauses in play, expect a few surprises before draft night.
Login