NBA’s Bottom 10 Face Pivotal Off-Season Calls on Stars, Front Offices and Draft Position
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The 2025-26 regular season ends April 12, and 10 teams already know they will open the summer inside the draft lottery. Each club carries a different, pressing question that will shape its strategy ahead of the June 24 lottery, July free agency and the trade market.
Brooklyn Nets
Lottery odds: 14% for No. 1 pick
2026 picks: Nos. 3, 33, 43 (via LAC)
The Nets must decide whether to negotiate a four-year, $234 million extension with forward Michael Porter Jr. or explore a trade. Porter, 28 in June, averaged a career-best 24.2 points and shot better than 36% from three before a March 19 hamstring strain. Brooklyn projects $45–55 million in cap space and has no incentive to bottom out because Houston controls a 2027 pick swap.
Chicago Bulls
Lottery odds: 4.5%
2026 picks: Nos. 9, 37 (via NOP), 54 (via DEN) plus Portland’s pick if it lands 15-30
After a deadline flurry that brought in eight second-rounders and young guards Rob Dillingham and Jaden Ivey, executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas says the challenge is “escaping the middle.” Chicago could open up roughly $64 million in room—if Ivey’s cap hold is renounced—and owns a likely top-10 pick, its sixth lottery selection since 2020.
Dallas Mavericks
Lottery odds: 9%
2026 picks: Nos. 6, 47 (via PHX)
Owner Patrick Dumont fired general manager Nico Harrison in November and has been using Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley in interim roles. Whoever gets the permanent post inherits 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, extra selections from February’s Anthony Davis trade, a 2026 lottery pick and flexibility to either retain or move veterans such as Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson.
Indiana Pacers
Lottery odds: 14%
2026 picks: No. 1
Indiana’s immediate concern is lottery luck. A February deal for Ivica Zubac means its first-rounder conveys to the Clippers if it lands between Nos. 5 and 9—a 47.9% chance. Keeping the choice would pair a blue-chip rookie with All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who returns next season from an Achilles tear.
Memphis Grizzlies
Lottery odds: 6%
2026 picks: Nos. 8, 18 (best of ORL or PHX), 31 (via IND)
The franchise continues to weigh a trade involving two-time All-Star Ja Morant. Morant, shut down after a left-elbow UCL strain, has two years and $87 million left on his contract and appeared in only 79 games over three seasons. Memphis signaled a youth movement by sending Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah on Feb. 3.
Milwaukee Bucks
Lottery odds: 0%
2026 picks: No. 10 (less favorable of MIL and NOP)
Controlling owner Wes Edens put it bluntly: Giannis Antetokounmpo will either sign a new deal or be traded before his contract expires. Beginning Oct. 1, the two-time MVP can ink a four-year, $275 million extension—or a three-year, $213.6 million pact if he first picks up his 2026-27 option. Milwaukee, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, owns a probable top-10 pick but does not control another first-rounder until 2031.
New Orleans Pelicans
Lottery odds: 0%
2026 picks: No. 58 (via DET)
Team president Joe Dumars must decide whether interim coach James Borrego keeps the job. Since the All-Star break, New Orleans ranks top-15 in both offensive rating and net rating, and the lineup of Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson is plus-13.3 per 100 possessions. Fourteen players are already under contract for 2026-27, and the club still owns an unprotected 2027 first-rounder from Milwaukee.
Sacramento Kings
Lottery odds: 12.5%
2026 picks: Nos. 4, 34, 44 (via CHA)
General manager Scott Perry says the immediate evaluation is whether to retain first-year coach Doug Christie. The injury-riddled Kings have used 31 different starting units and are 7-15 since Feb. 5, ranking 25th in offense and 27th in defense. They are tracking toward the franchise’s fourth-fewest wins ever.
Utah Jazz
Lottery odds: 10.5%
2026 picks: No. 5
Utah’s cap picture tightened after absorbing Jaren Jackson Jr.’s $49 million salary, making restricted free agent Walker Kessler the off-season focal point. Kessler, sidelined by November shoulder surgery, posted career highs in points (11.1), rebounds (12.2) and assists (1.7) while shooting a league-best 66.3% in 2024-25. With few rival bidders—only Brooklyn, Chicago and the Lakers project significant cap space—the Jazz must determine the center’s price tag.
Washington Wizards
Lottery odds: 14%
2026 picks: No. 2, 52 (via MIN), 60 (via WAS)
The front office has two major contract checkpoints: June 23, the deadline for Trae Young to exercise a $49 million option or enter free agency, and Aug. 6, when Anthony Davis becomes extension-eligible. Young may sign a three-year, $156.9 million extension or preserve flexibility with a shorter deal. Davis, 33, can add four years to his pact, replacing a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. Washington carries seven players on rookie contracts and has no salaries committed beyond 2028-29.
The draft lottery is set for May 10; free agency opens July 1.
Source: ESPN
