{"id":706305,"date":"2026-04-09T02:54:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T02:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/706305\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T02:54:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T02:54:19","slug":"wizards-latest-loss-gives-them-a-top-pick-in-2026-nba-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/706305\/","title":{"rendered":"Wizards’ Latest Loss Gives Them A Top Pick in 2026 NBA Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Washington Wizards have officially secured a bottom-three record this season. That puts them in a prime position to chase the number one overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft<\/a>. After their loss to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday<\/a>, Washington cannot fall outside of the top five picks. In turn, this will give them a future star on draft night.<\/p>\n

Why was it so important to finish as one of the bottom three teams in the league? What are Washington\u2019s current chances at each pick? Most importantly, who do experts believe the Wizards will take?<\/p>\n

Wizards\u2019 Latest Loss Gives Them A Top Pick in 2026 NBA Draft<\/p>\n

Washington has just three games left in the regular season. With that, the Wizards have nearly won the great tank race of 2026 with a record of 17-62. Washington holds a one game advantage over the Indiana Pacers for the last spot in the standings. While the losses look bad, Washington\u2019s development should scare a lot of teams. They\u2019ve proven to be a deep team, and with a projected top-five pick, they will add another major contributor in just a few months.<\/p>\n

To understand just how monumental this is for Washington, it\u2019s important to know why the Wizards needed to tank so aggressively.<\/p>\n

New York-Sized Miracle<\/p>\n

Washington retaining their pick is nothing short of a miracle. While many expected them to finish low, they have now separated themselves at the bottom of the standings. In mid-January, Washington, Indiana, and the New Orleans Pelicans were all at 10 wins. Just a little further ahead, the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets were at 12 wins, while the Utah Jazz had 14. The race was tight, but the Wizards were determined to keep their pick.<\/p>\n

If Washington were to finish fourth-worst or better, the Wizards ran a crucial risk: losing their pick to the New York Knicks. The pick is top-eight protected, and with Washington securing a bottom-three record, they now only lose their 2026 and 2027 second-round picks.<\/p>\n

The Wizards have clinched a bottom-four record, which means they will keep their top-8 protected pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n

Washington will send 2026 and 2027 second-round picks to the New York Knicks as the final element of the John Wall-Russell Westbrook trade. pic.twitter.com\/XOWZKbBb4m<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) April 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

With all the losses, it\u2019s hard to see the bigger picture. However, the Wizards have one of the deepest teams in the league. Considering the injuries<\/a> Washington endured this season, they have opened up ample opportunities for the bench to grow their games. With that, Will Riley<\/a> has produced at an outstanding level<\/a>, while Jamir Watkins<\/a> has been impressive, and others like Bilal Coulibaly<\/a> and Sharife Cooper<\/a> have made notable strides in their games.<\/p>\n

The miracle is keeping the lottery pick, but the bonus is watching the roster grow with each passing game. Now, the Wizards have a chance to add a serious prospect to their depth next season, and fans should be ecstatic.<\/p>\n

Washington\u2019s Draft Odds<\/p>\n

With a bottom-three record in hand, the Wizards will now attempt to hold the league\u2019s worst ratio to secure the best odds in the draft. Their pick can no longer fall outside of the top seven, but the worse they do, the better their chances are for a higher selection.<\/p>\n

According to Tankathon<\/a>, the Wizards and Pacers hold identical odds for each of the first four overall picks. With 14% at first, 13.4% at second, 12.7% at third, and 12% at fourth, the Wizards are primed for a potential star in the draft. However, the team currently holds a 47.9% chance at the fifth pick. It would still give them a star, but their choices would become limited.<\/p>\n

Wizards Mock Projections<\/p>\n

The Wizards\u2019 current picks in mock drafts have been within the top three. This gives them an incredibly bright prospect with superstar upside. AJ Dybantsa<\/a> has been heavily projected to be heading to D.C. However, he\u2019s not the only one. Washington has also been mocked to take either Cameron Boozer<\/a> or Darryn Peterson<\/a> with their top selection.<\/p>\n

One of the Wizards\u2019 main problems is a lack of consistent scoring off the bench. With that in mind, drafting Dybantsa would be a more than perfect fit. The BYU freshman absolutely dominated the competition this year with averages of 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 35 games this season. His efficiency was outstanding as well. He shot 51% from the field on 17.3 shots per game and 33.1% from three. The Wizards are currently 22nd in field goal percentage, while also being bottom-six in points per game and dead last in net rating.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/p>\n

Overall, you can\u2019t blame Washington for taking what the league is allowing. Tanking has become a hot topic in online debates. However, there will be changes to the draft lottery system<\/a> that are expected sooner than later.<\/p>\n

General Manager Will Dawkins and the rest of the Wizards\u2019 front office have ensured the tank is over heading into next season. In doing so, they\u2019ve secured multiple young pieces along with a potential superstar in the upcoming draft. Washington has done a masterful job, and Dawkins will soon get the recognition he deserves.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Geoff Burke-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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