2026 NBA draft order: Pre-lottery picks for first, second rounds - ESPN
Where does the NBA draft order stand ahead of next month's lottery? We have you covered.
www.espn.comThe latest NBA Draft Lottery news is that the pre-lottery order and odds are now set after the league broke several ties among teams with identical records on April 20, 2026. The lottery itself is scheduled for May 10, 2026, with the first round of the draft on June 23 and the second round on June 24.[8][10]
What changed
The biggest recent development is that the NBA resolved six record ties through random drawings, locking in the lottery field and its odds. The league’s announcement also confirmed that the draft lottery will determine the top 14 picks, as usual.[10][8]
Key teams and odds
The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets each have the best chance at the No. 1 pick at 14%. The Utah Jazz beat the Sacramento Kings in a tiebreaker for the No. 4 slot, while the New Orleans Pelicans moved ahead of the Dallas Mavericks for No. 7. The Mavericks now have the 8th-best odds and a 6.7% chance at No. 1.[1][2][3][6][8]
Other notable updates
There’s also fresh draft-related movement among prospects, including Thomas Haugh returning to Florida, which may affect the lottery-pick conversation around the class. Overall, the main story right now is that the lottery field is set and teams are positioning themselves for the May 10 drawing.[7][8][10]