CHICAGO — The Pacers were the biggest losers of the NBA draft lottery; They entered with the second-best odds at the No. 1 pick and left without a first-round draft pick.

Indiana fell to No. 5 at the NBA draft lottery Sunday, automatically losing its pick to the Clippers in the process. 

On Feb. 5, the Pacers acquired center Ivica Zubac from the Clippers in exchange for a package that included a 2026 first-round pick and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick. With the Pacers holding the league’s second-worst record, the team ensured the pick would have a top-four protection, meaning Indiana would keep the pick if it landed in the top four.

The Pacers finished the season with the second-worst record, giving them a 52.1% chance of landing in the top four. But the Ping-Pong balls did not fall their way Sunday as the top four picks went to the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, respectively. 

The loss of the pick led Pacers president Kevin Pritchard to publicly apologize to the team’s fans.

“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote on X/Twitter. “I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.”

Pritchard added, however, that the team made the trade for the purpose of acquiring a high-caliber center. Indiana lost Myles Turner in free agency last year, and Zubac is essentially his replacement.

“But please remember – this team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year. We have always been resilient,” Pritchard wrote.

Pritchard told reporters after the draft lottery that he “felt a little pressure” during the trade deadline to make the trade to be able to strengthen his roster. He also said he couldn’t protect the pick beyond four.

“That was the vig for us to get [Zubac],” Pritchard said.

The Pacers are coming off a NBA Finals appearance in 2025 in which they were one win away from taking home the title. But the Thunder took home the title in Game 7 after star point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in the first quarter.

With Haliburton out for the entire 2025–26 season and Turner moving to Milwaukee, Indiana fell to the bottom of the standings. Haliburton is expected to return next season.

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The top half of the 2026 NBA Draft order is set, with the Washington Wizards landing the No. 1 overall pick. Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery finalized the top four selections and locked in the full top-14 order.

The Wizards were followed by the following teams to round out the top four picks in the 2026 NBA Draft:

• Utah Jazz (No. 2)
• Memphis Grizzlies (No. 3)
• Chicago Bulls (No. 4)

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The 2026 NBA Draft will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, beginning June 23. With the top four picks now determined, here is a mock draft for the opening selections of the NBA Draft Lottery:

1. Wizards select AJ Dybantsa, Forward, BYU

BYU star AJ Dybantsa enters the draft as the unanimous top prospect. He led college basketball in scoring with 25.5 points per game while shooting 51% from the field. He also broke Danny Ainge’s nearly 50-year-old freshman scoring record at BYU.

Dybantsa combines explosive athleticism with strong ball-handling ability and consistent production. He projects as the franchise cornerstone Washington can build around for years to come. Many evaluators also view him as one of the safest prospects in recent draft history because of his high floor.

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2. Jazz select Darryn Peterson, Guard, Kansas

Darryn Peterson averaged 20.2 points per game while shooting 43% from the field, but his impact extended far beyond scoring. He also established himself as one of the top defenders in college basketball, showcasing the versatility that helped elevate him into the upper tier of draft prospects.

At one point, Peterson appeared to be a legitimate challenger for the No. 1 overall spot. Injuries slowed that momentum, but there is little doubt he possesses the type of all-around game NBA teams covet.

Could Peterson and Dybantsa develop into the defining draft rivalry of the next decade?

3. Grizzlies select Cameron Boozer, Forward, Duke

Cameron Boozer ranked ninth in college basketball in scoring at 22.5 points per game while also averaging 10.2 rebounds, placing him among the nation’s top rebounders. He added four assists per game and shot 55% from the field, highlighting his polished and well-rounded offensive game.

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His NBA pedigree adds another layer of intrigue, as he is the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer. Even with his production, Cameron Boozer still has room to develop, which makes his long-term ceiling even more appealing.

4. Bulls select Aday Mara, Center, Michigan

The first surprise of the draft could come at No. 4, where the Bulls address their need for a true center by selecting 7-foot-3 Aday Mara. After transferring to Michigan, Mara flashed the potential that once made him one of the most highly regarded international prospects in college basketball.

Mara emerged as one of the nation’s top big men during Michigan’s run to a national championship appearance. With his size, skill set, and continued development, there is reason to believe his best basketball still lies ahead. Could he become the long-term answer in Chicago?

CHICAGO — The Wizards won the NBA tank war—and were rewarded with the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Washington will pick No. 1 in the 2026 NBA draft after finishing with a league-worst 17–65 this year. The Wizards had a 14% chance of winning the lottery, tied with the Pacers and Nets for the best odds at winning the draft. 

The Jazz, who had the fifth-best odds, won the No. 2 pick. The Grizzlies will pick No. 3 after having the sixth-best odds, while the Bulls jumped to No. 4 after having the ninth-best odds.

Indiana and Brooklyn both fell outside the top four.

The Pacers traded a top-four protected pick in this draft to the Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac. Because Indiana fell to No. 5, Los Angeles will be the pick. The Nets will select No. 6

The 2026 NBA rookie class has been touted as one of the best classes in recent years, particularly because of an impressive top three: BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke big man Cameron Boozer. In recent weeks, UNC forward Caleb Wilson has started to work his way into the mix, turning a prized trio into a coveted foursome.

After several years of blatant tanking, the NBA has been exploring changes to the lottery rules as early as next season. Late last month, ESPN reported that the NBA proposed a “3–2–1 lottery” system that would expand the lottery to 16 teams (from 14) at a board of governors meeting.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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