NBA Fans React to Draft Lottery Results as Wizards Get No. 1, Pacers Lose Pick from Zubac Trade

The 2026 NBA draft lottery turned into a celebratory moment for the Washington Wizards, as they won the No. 1 pick and right to pick from a star-studded group of prospects that includes AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson.

On the other hand, the Indiana Pacers' calculated risk of trading a top-four protected pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac in February didn't pan out as they hoped after falling to No. 5 in Sunday's lottery reveal.

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton reacted to the result on social media.

Here's how fans and analysts reacted to the Pacers' lottery outcome:

While there is a somber tone around the Pacers' discussion, the vibe for the Wizards with the No. 1 pick is all smiles and celebration:

The Wizards, Pacers and Brooklyn Nets entered the lottery tied for the best odds to win the top pick. Indiana and Brooklyn both dropped three spots, with the Nets landing at No. 6.

Washington, on the other hand, becomes the first team to finish with the league's worst record to win the lottery since the Phoenix Suns in 2018.

It also sets the Wizards up for a very interesting roster going into next season, with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and whomever they select with the No. 1 pick.

Young does have a $49 million player option to decide on, though the expectation is he will sign an extension with the Wizards this summer.

The Wizards have won fewer than 20 games in each of the past three seasons. They suddenly find themselves as an intriguing potential playoff contender if Young and Davis can stay healthy, and their incoming rookie makes a quick impression.

Even though the lottery didn't work out the way Indiana was hoping, there are still reasons to be excited about the team's outlook for the 2026-27 season.

For starters, Haliburton returning will immediately make the Pacers formidable. They are also looking at a nucleus with Haliburton, Zubac, Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard.

This season was always supposed to be a gap year for the Pacers because of Haliburton's injury. They added one of the league's top centers to their roster and are set up to win big in an unsettled Eastern Conference next season.