We’re in the middle of the NBA playoffs, but the most important day in May for basketball might come off the court on Sunday.
That is when we will find out who will win the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, and which lucky team will get the top pick in what is considered one of the best freshman classes in college basketball history.
While the winner is important, getting top three is almost equally as important, as a trio of freshmen — AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Cameron Boozer (Duke), and Darryn Peterson (Kansas) — are all seen as golden prospects.
14 teams could end up with the No. 1 pick. Here are the five teams, in my opinion, who deserve the most luck on their side.
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Please just give it to the Wizards. They’ve been bad for so long that we are now looking back at Gilbert Arenas like he’s Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers. Washington is trying to get better, and a player like Dybantsa or Peterson could turn the franchise around.
Sacramento Kings
While the front office doesn’t deserve the top pick, the fans do. Sacramento is a great basketball city, and maybe if they get the first overall, they can stop thinking about how Luka Doncic would look in their uniform.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have only a 0.5% chance of getting the first pick, but it’d feel right if they did pull off the miracle. One of the most fun teams in the league would add another top prospect to a roster that might finally create something good for professional basketball in North Carolina.
The NBA is better when the Chicago Bulls are relevant. And to be honest, they haven’t been relevant since Derrick Rose’s injury in 2012. Give Chicago some hope.
Atlanta Hawks
Rounding out my top five, I’ll end with the Hawks. While I don’t think Atlanta truly needs the first pick with how well they’re building, them getting No. 1 overall would be more dunking on the New Orleans Pelicans, who traded this pick to the Hawks last draft.
If the Hawks get anywhere near the top three, the Pelicans should fire Joe Dumars on principle by the end of the night.
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