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2026 NBA Mock Draft Lottery with Eastern Conference Team Winning No. 1 Pick
The number of NBA teams with plenty riding on the upcoming draft lottery is not a small one.
The Indiana Pacers just happen to have more at stake than most.
For starters, they don't plan on being in this position for long. With a healthy Tyrese Haliburton back piloting the offense and Ivica Zubac now manning the middle, this 2025 Finalist could rejoin the championship chase as soon as next season. This could be—and should be—the last time they're picking this high for quite a while.
That's assuming, of course, they actually keep the pick. It's theirs if it lands within the top four, but otherwise it'll head to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the cost to acquire Zubac.
So, yeah, it'll be a tense, sweaty Sunday until the Pacers learn their lottery fate. In the hypothetical world of this mock, though, there's no such sweating required. Tankathon's lottery simulator has spoken, and Indiana is on the clock.
*Here are the teams that have won the No. 1 pick in our simulations so far:
1. Indiana Pacers: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
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While Haliburton's Achilles injury forced the Pacers to take a gap year, winning this lottery's jackpot could set them up for the ultimate recovery. Indy already boasts elite combos in the backcourt (Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard) and up front (Zubac and Pascal Siakam), so adding a potential star big-wing like Dybantsa could fast-track this team into title contention.
The Pacers, who finished the 2024-25 season a single win short of a championship, could have the East runs through us potential if Dybantsa hits the ground sprinting and maxes out his development. His three-level scoring and dynamic play-finishing could shine alongside a table-setter like Haliburton. Dybantsa's defensive growing pains would be easier to manage with the protection afforded by Indy's post players.
This uptempo, movement-based style should help bring out Dybantsa's best. He'll immediately become must-watch in transition. His creation skills would dramatically increase the Pacers' potency in the half-court. While it's hard to say any rookie can single-handedly impact the championship chase, this rookie joining this recent Finalist just might be the exception.
2. Brooklyn Nets: Darryn Peterson, SG, Kansas
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If the Nets, who are eager to turn things around, want an immediate culture-changer, they could consider a decorated winner like Cameron Boozer. If they want an athletic play-finisher to complement the playmakers they stockpiled at last year's draft, they could give Caleb Wilson a long look.
All of that said, their most glaring issue is a talent deficiency. No one offers more hope for correcting that problem than Peterson. Granted, he'll need encouraging medical reports to solidify this selection after his strange stop-and-go season with the Jayhawks, but if Brooklyn likes what it sees on that front, this might be a no-brainer.
He should be a top-shelf shotmaker right away. His high school film suggests his creation and explosion should be special traits, too. Tack on his willingness to defend, his ability to play both on and off the ball and his clear potential as a consistent advantage-creator. It's just hard to find any major concerns—again, assuming those availability issues are behind him.
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
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Memphis is an overdue Ja Morant trade away from a top-to-bottom reset. Boozer, a supremely polished prospect with do-everything versatility on offense, could be the perfect player to star in this club's next chapter. Especially since the Grizzlies should have the time and flexibility to construct their roster in ways that help mask his few limitations.
Let's start with the positives, though, because there are plenty to talk about. He is a paint-to-perimeter scoring threat who can finish plays, create his own looks and find open teammates. He inhales rebounds, sets solid screens and can dislodge defenders with either force or finesse.
As for the question marks, they're almost all centered on the defensive end and revolve around his physical tools: less than ideal length and vertical pop for a paint protector, maybe not quick enough laterally to defend on the perimeter. It could take a while to find the best-fitting defensive role for him, but the Grizzlies should be willing to wait and will soak up a lot of across-the-board production while they do.
4. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr., PG/SG, Arkansas
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Eyebrows likely raise any time the first four picks deviate from the typical prospects (the three already mocked, plus Wilson), but there are reasons to think the Kings might lean this direction. No, they aren't all tied to this franchise's history as beat-of-their-own-drum eyebrow-raisers.
Sacramento is desperate for star power, needs a new offensive leader and lacks a long-term solution at point guard. Acuff potentially checks off all of those boxes. He was as impressive as anyone in college basketball this season, posting huge scoring numbers with elite efficiency and piling up assists while keeping his turnover count low.
His archetype isn't especially en vogue right now—the league is largely moving away from smaller, score-first guards with defensive concerns—but his talent level could help him break the mold. Plus, he's probably too good a passer even to wear that label. His leadership qualities are hard to quantify, but could be invaluable for a team in such clear need of an organizational reset.
5. Washington Wizards: Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina
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The sting of Washington sliding back to No. 5 would be eased quite a bit by Wilson still being on the board. He's almost always mocked within the first four picks. Executives reportedly "increasingly believe Wilson could be the second player taken in June's draft," per Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor.
So, the value alone looks awesome here. The fit looks good from a lot of angles. A frontcourt combo of Wilson and Alex Sarr would be among the most athletic and versatile in the league. But the Wizards wouldn't have to force-feed Wilson minutes if he's not ready, since they have Anthony Davis around. (For now, at least.)
Long-term, it's possible Wilson would eventually emerge as the best prospect in Washington. A lot will depend on his development as a shooter, but he's already a rim-wrecker, a max-effort hustler and a multi-positional defender. If he can harness a jumper and up the frequency of his flashes as an open-floor ball-handler, he could be a two-way star.
6. Utah Jazz: Keaton Wagler, PG/SG, Illinois
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While this is too early in the draft to consider team needs, it's hard not to notice how much easier Wagler should fit this team than the other lead guards in this range. With his size (6'6"), long-range shooting and advanced feel, he should be much easier to deploy in an off-ball role alongside breakout lead guard Keyonte George.
Wagler, whose stock spiked more than anyone's this season, could be that exact kind of upside-rich prospect who helps the Jazz emerge as at least a viable playoff participant next season. His profile reads drastically different from their last lottery pick Ace Bailey—a toolsy swingman who needed skills to catch up to his raw talent—but the long-term wager could be the same.
Wagler faces real physical challenges due to a lack of strength and explosion, but if his skills and feel overcome them, he could be a star. He reads the game like a high-end quarterback and launches like a high-end marksman, which should allow him to operate as anything from a focal-point floor general to a support spacer and connective passer.
7. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP): Mikel Brown Jr., PG/SG, Louisville
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While the Hawks had hit their natural breaking point with Trae Young, that doesn't mean they're totally set without the shotmaking and creativity he once provided. Half-court creation isn't exactly a herculean strength of Jalen Johnson. The perimeter scoring punch looks pretty forgettable now and might be further weakened if CJ McCollum doesn't return from unrestricted free agency.
Atlanta has real incentive to bet big on Brown, because if he even approaches his ceiling, he could be the offensive difference-maker who eventually helps this club make that tricky leap from a good team to a great one.
To be clear, Brown is nowhere near that level now. Ambitious shot selection and decision-making wrecked his consistency this season, although a nagging back injury played a part in that, too. When he has it rolling, though, he looks like a star lead guard with hard-to-handle pull-up threes, a deep bag of finishing tracks and rapid-read passes to open teammates. As ESPN's Jeremy Woo noted, some scouts see Brown as having "the highest" ceiling among this mid-lottery guard group with Acuff, Wagler and Kingston Flemings.
8. Dallas Mavericks: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
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Flemings' on-court organizational skills, elite burst and willingness to defend could all sway the Mavericks into thinking they have a legitimate long-term building block to slot alongside Cooper Flagg.
Flemings might be the fastest prospect in this class. He might also be the most NBA-ready lead guard in this tier, as his handle, mid-range touch and decision-making should all be day-one assets. That might matter more to the Mavericks, since they have no incentive to lose next season (they won't control their own first-round pick again until 2031) and might actively try to win if they keep Kyrie Irving around.
The question with Flemings likely revolves around his long-term ceiling. The development of his distance shooting will help settle that. But Dallas might have enough talent not to need more than a support piece for the foreseeable future.
9. Chicago Bulls: Labaron Philon Jr., PG/SG, Alabama
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The Bulls have one of the least convincing collections of long-term keepers among all of the rebuilders. There might not be a single self-sufficient scorer within that group.
Adding Philon here would help ease that concern. Even if he's more of an undersized scorer than a traditional point guard, that's fine. In fact, it might make it easy for him to slot alongside Josh Giddey, a pass-first player with limited scoring punch.
Philon's ignitable shooting should help him thrive in an off-ball role, but Chicago would want to give him plenty of on-ball reps, too. He is shifty with the basketball while being a scoring threat on the move.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, SF, Tennessee
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The Bucks hope to have clarity with Giannis Antetokounmpo before making this pick. It may not actually alter the approach, though, assuming Milwaukee keeps the pick and doesn't dangle it for more immediate assistance.
This roster is just so strapped for young, ascending talent that a big swing on a prospect like Ament makes a ton of sense. Even if he didn't blow the basketball world away during his one season with the Volunteers, he did display the same size-skill blend that initially had him so highly ranked in this draft class.
He is a 6'10" forward who can create off the dribble, shoot from all over and find open teammates. That's just always going to be a wildly intriguing profile, even if there are some lingering questions about his ability to separate with strength and explosion limitations.
11. Golden State Warriors: Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona
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If these projections hold during the actual talent grab, the Warriors might set the record for the quickest pick submission in draft history. Burries would be a dream get in this slot: overloaded with win-now qualities to support Stephen Curry and the veteran core right now, quietly brimming with long-term potential to help with (or even lead) the next chapter.
His game is all substance over style. He finds scoring chances within the offensive flow, consistently plays with maximum effort and already shows the kind of physicality he'll need to hang at this level. He could step into an off-ball role immediately and potentially step into a primary role down the line if his handle and creativity keep improving.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC): Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan
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The Thunder cover just about every archetype with their roster, which is arguably the Association's best and deepest. They don't, however, have a forward like Lendeborg, who pairs do-everything versatility with serious physical gifts as an athletic 6'9", 240-pounder with a 7'4" wingspan.
With his 24th birthday arriving in September, he's probably closer to his ceiling than most, but Oklahoma City can afford to sacrifice some long-term upside for immediate impact. That's especially true if the looming pay raises for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren convince the front office to start making money-motivated sacrifices this summer.
13. Miami Heat: Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
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The Heat weren't particularly punchy on the perimeter this season. They figure to be even less potent next time around. The payroll probably can't accommodate both a new deal for Norman Powell and an extension for Tyler Herro, so they might have to move forward without one of their primary scoring guards.
Carr's bag isn't deep enough to fully replace that production, but he is a fiery shooter with enough bounce to finish straight drives to the basket with powerful dunks. That specific shooting-explosiveness combo should really impress on the pre-draft workout circuit, perhaps locking him into the lottery.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, C, Washington
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The Hornets may have squeezed more than expected out of the Moussa Diabaté-Ryan Kalkbrenner duo at center, but they might already have questions over how much juice is left. That's especially true on the offensive end, where Charlotte could use an interior scoring threat to pull some heat away from its perimeter stars.
Steinbach could be awesome in that exact role. He has great hands, soft shooting touch, impressive footwork and advanced feel. Those skills are just about everything he'll need to pile up points on the interior right away.
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR): Aday Mara, C, Michigan
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The Bulls are so early into their rebuild that they don't have to force a team need into their consideration. That said, if the draft board breaks right, you'd think they'd prefer to find a long-term interior anchor.
Well, this mock helped make that happen with Mara and his unique skill set still sitting on the board. ESPN's Jeremy Woo called Mara "the most gifted center in the draft, both skill- and size-wise," highlighting the 7'3" center's paint protection, play finishing and keen eye for passing.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHO): Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
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While doubling up on frontcourt players feels like a less-than-ideal use of draft capital, Memphis should be chasing talent wherever it can find it. After going the "safe" route with Cameron Boozer, the Grizzlies can afford to gamble on Cenac here.
If he winds up anywhere near his full potential, hindsight evaluators will put him on the short list of draft heists. He has the size, length and hops to man the middle. He possesses the mobility for the wing and a blend of shooting and finishing that could make him a high-end screen partner.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Jayden Quaintance, PF/C, Kentucky
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Unless the Thunder really feel like pinching pennies, they probably won't have floor time for two freshmen next season. So, they could make a long-term play with Quaintance, giving him all the time he needs to heal up the knee injury that prematurely ended his rookie season and kept his sophomore campaign from ever getting started.
Before that bout with the injury bug, he looked like a drool-worthy anchor for the modern game. His length and explosion puts a barricade around the basket. His mobility and movement help him smother smaller players on switches. His offensive bag is more of a lob-finishing coin purse right now, but OKC has enough time to try fleshing out his flashes of driving and close-range shotmaking.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL): Karim Lopez, PF, New Zealand Breakers
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With the Hornets holding a pair of top-20 picks, they almost have to spend at least one of them on a power forward. Especially if Lopez, a lottery pick on a lot of mocks, lasts this long.
The (recently turned) 19-year-old pairs an NBA-ready build with the kind of movement instincts and finishing touch to easily transition into a support role. He's a couple of developmental wins away from being a three-and-D wing who can handle and make gear-turning passes.
19. Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
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The Raptors have pumped a ton of money into this core, yet it still looks woefully short on shotmakers and perimeter creators. They unfortunately don't have a lot of resources to correct this imbalance, but this draft pick could help.
Anderson makes good enough decisions to orchestrate a half-court offense. His shotmaking would give Scottie Barnes more breathing room. Toronto, in turn, could provide the kind of length and defensive disruption needed to cover Anderson's limitations on that end.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
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Could Peat's limitations as a shooter convince the Spurs to go a different direction here? Possibly, but San Antonio could see those same limitations as the only reason it has access to a prospect who was expected to be a lottery lock before this season started. Opportunity could be knocking with a bargain proposition to add to this already loaded core.
Even if Peat is never much of a shooter or creator, he supplies pretty much everything else. He has mastered those "winning plays" that coaches always rave about with great hustle, elite competitiveness, relentless physicality and do-almost-everything versatility.
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
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Getting away from Orlando's defense has helped revive Detroit's offense, but it still reads as being notably short on shotmaking and creation. Stirtz would help tackle both areas.
He has great feel and sound instincts, plus a dialed-in stroke from distance and enough handles to get where he needs to go. The Pistons wouldn't get a lot of upside out of this pick (he'll turn 23 before his NBA debut), but they should get someone who fits as both a primary offensive initiator and an off-ball spacer.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Dailyn Swain, SF, Texas
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The Sixers are well-stocked in the backcourt and committed to Joel Embiid at center, so the wing spot should hold their attention when they search for roster additions. Swain could be a solid get—or much better than that if he can add accuracy and volume to his outside shot.
He has all of the requisite size and length to hold court on the NBA wing. His individual creativity and finishing really shined this season. He also projects as a defensive playmaker with at least some versatility in on-ball assignments.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Amari Allen, SF/PF, Alabama
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After taking a sizable swing with Mikel Brown Jr. earlier in this mock, the Hawks could opt to play it safer here with Allen.
He doesn't really have a standout skill, but he should be capable in most areas and better in a few. He works hard on defense and on the glass. He's shown enough shooting and finishing to trust that he'll convert scoring chances generated by others.
24. New York Knicks: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
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An analytical darling, Graves posted the fifth-highest box plus/minus in the country this season. He also hit those high marks while serving in a reserve role at a mid-major, so they probably shouldn't be taken at face value.
That said, he was a per-minute machine when he played and an efficient producer at that (51.2 percent overall, 41.3 percent from three), so he clearly has an intriguing skill set. While he isn't much of a run-jump athlete, he's big enough (6'9", 225 lbs) to trust his ability to meet physical challenges.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan
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The Lakers need defense. They'd love to land it in the form of someone who could toggle between the frontcourt spots and convert the offensive opportunities spoonfed by their stars. Johnson should be up for that.
He certainly isn't huge (6'9", 250 lbs), but he should be bulky and bouncy enough to handle at least spot duties as a small-ball big. He also might mash some of the smaller forwards in this league. His defensive versatility is special. His physicality, soft hands and finishing should all help him become an impact screen-setter.
26. Denver Nuggets: Isaiah Evans, SF, Duke
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The Nuggets struggled with quite a bit during their first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but a lack of consistency from their supporting scorers and shotmakers ranked highly on the list. Evans could help address those itches.
He's a pure enough shooter to operate in a specialist role right away, but his growth as a ball-handler and finisher suggests he could handle more on-ball responsibilities down the line.
27. Boston Celtics: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
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The Celtics prefer filling the floor with shooting threats. Their offense can be especially hard to handle when they deploy a stretch big. But they might need new candidates for the role, since Nikola Vučević is a free agent. Luka Garza hasn't proven capable of handling a consistent rotation role.
Veesar, a 7-footer who just buried 42.6 percent of his perimeter shots, could be a suitable stand-in. He might be a lot more than that, since he has shown good agility, smart passing and enough bounce to make plays above the rim on both ends.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford
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Assuming the draft board offers a realistic candidate, the Timberwolves would love to turn this pick into a capable point guard. Free agency could poach away any (or all) of Mike Conley (also a retirement candidate), Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland. Plus, Donte DiVincenzo faces a lengthy recovery process after tearing his Achilles.
If Okorie is still on the board, the Wolves' wish would be granted. He might be more of a scorer than a pass-first point guard, but with his burst and pull-up potency, it makes sense why he's so comfortable calling his own number. Plus, there's always a chance his playmaking could perk up with better scorers around him than he had at Stanford.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS): Meleek Thomas, PG/SG, Arkansas
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The Cavaliers could use more scoring options beyond their core four. Thomas could thrive as an off-the-bench fireballer.
He is an ignitable shotmaker who doesn't lack confidence. He also competes defensively, so he could offer better two-way balance than your typical spark-plug scorer.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Tounde Yessoufou, SG/SF, Baylor
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If Dallas is aiming for maximum competitiveness next season, it could seek out a safer option than Yessoufou. But with this franchise orbiting around Cooper Flagg, shouldn't long-term potential be the ultimate aim?
Yessoufou, who pairs elite explosion with insatiable energy, noticeably lacks polish, but his ceiling intrigues. Virtually all of his game needs buffing, but he could look awfully interesting by the time he finishes developing.
