How many freshmen will be lottery picks in the 2026 NBA draft? (1:41)Jeremy Woo previews his latest mock draft and looks at the biggest names to watch in the Big 12. (1:41)
Bobby MarksMar 30, 2026, 07:26 AM ETCloseFollow on XMultiple Authors
This season, after roster turnover and injuries to All-Stars Tyrese Haliburton and Giannis Antetokounmpo derailed their chances, Indiana and Milwaukee will join the group of teams that begins the 2026 offseason on April 12.
The next step for the Pacers, Bucks and eight other lottery-bound teams is the arduous process of draft preparation, free agency discussions and trade market evaluation. (Or, in the case of Milwaukee, a franchise-altering decision on Antetokounmpo’s future.)
To get an early start to the offseason, let’s examine the big question facing each bottom-10 team and how it could be addressed this summer. (Note: No. 1 pick odds and 2026 draft picks are based on league standings heading into Monday’s games.)
Porter’s first season in Brooklyn — Denver sent the forward and a 2032 unprotected first-round pick to the Nets for Cameron Johnson this past July — has featured a career-high 24.2 points per game and a fourth straight season of better than 36% 3-point shooting.
And prior to a strained left hamstring suffered March 19, Porter had missed just 14 games since the 2023-24 season, a trend in the right direction after injuries hampered him early in his career.
His impact on the court, durability and age — Porter will turn 28 in June — should warrant discussions on a new contract. He will be eligible to sign a four-year, $234 million deal.
It’s important to note that Brooklyn has no incentive to tank next season, as Houston has the right to swap first-round picks in 2027. Brooklyn will enter free agency with a high lottery pick and could have between $45 million and $55 million in cap room heading into free agency.
Free agents: Ochai Agbaji (restricted), Josh Minott ($2.6 million team option), Day’Ron Sharpe ($6.3 million team option), Ziaire Williams ($6.3 million team option), Jalen Wilson (restricted), EJ Liddell (restricted), Tyson Etienne (restricted), Chaney Johnson (restricted)
No. 1 pick odds: 4.5% 2026 draft picks: Nos. 9, 37 (via NOP), 54 (via DEN); own Portland’s first-round pick if 15-30
Chicago made a league-high seven trades ahead of the deadline that netted eight second-round picks and onetime first-rounders Rob Dillingham and Jaden Ivey.
“We’ve maintained substantial flexibility heading into the offseason,” Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas told reporters after the Feb. 5 trade deadline. “That gives us real options, whether that is free agency, the draft, trades or continuing investment in development.”
The flexibility Karnisovas referred to is the potential $64 million to use in free agency — Ivey’s free agent hold would need to be renounced — and a likely top-10 pick. The Bulls have selected in the lottery five times since Karnisovas took over in 2020 and have not drafted better than 11th in any of them.
Free agents: Zach Collins, Jaden Ivey (restricted), Leonard Miller ($2.4 million team option), Nick Richards, Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, Guerschon Yabusele, Mac McClung (restricted), Yuki Kawamura (restricted), Lachlan Olbrich (restricted)
“Our goal is to return to winning basketball in Dallas and win championships,” Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont wrote in a letter to Mavericks fans after general manager Nico Harrison was fired in November.
The person Dumont selects as Harrison’s replacement will play a pivotal role in determining whether Dallas can return to its winning ways.
Since November, Dumont has had Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley co-running basketball operations on an interim basis. Both helped orchestrate the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Washington in February, which returned five draft picks, including a late first-rounder in this year’s draft.
More importantly, the move extended Dallas’ financial runway to build around 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. Whether Dumont builds from within or adds new faces, the Mavericks’ front office will also inherit a lottery pick in the strong 2026 draft, young players in Max Christie and Dereck Lively II, and financial flexibility starting this offseason.
And, depending on how much the franchise wants to lean on its youth, Dallas has veterans Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson and PJ Washington to either keep or trade.
Free agents: Marvin Bagley III, Khris Middleton, Ryan Nembhard ($2.2 million team option), Dwight Powell, Brandon Williams, Moussa Cisse (restricted)
Their Feb. 5 trade with the LA Clippers filled a hole at center with the addition of 2024-25 All-NBA second-team defender Ivica Zubac and also put the Pacers at risk of not having a lottery pick, despite owning one of the league’s worst records. The Pacers will send the Clippers their first-round pick if it falls between Nos. 5 and 9 — currently a 47.9% chance.
If the Pacers retain their pick, it could propel the franchise back into title contention two seasons after a run to Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. Indiana would have star Tyrese Haliburton back from an Achilles tear and be in position to draft from a pool of players that includes AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Darius Acuff Jr. and Caleb Wilson.
No. 1 pick odds: 6% 2026 draft picks: Nos. 8, 18 (most favorable of Orlando or Phoenix), 31 (via IND)
Morant was shut down for the season last week, two months after he suffered a UCL strain in his left elbow. Throughout his 20 games — he has played just 79 across the past three seasons — Morant recorded the lowest field goal (41%) and 3-point (23.5%) percentages of his career.
After Memphis traded 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah on Feb. 3, Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman said the team is pivoting toward getting younger. How the two years and $87 million remaining on Morant’s contract fit into that pivot remains unanswered.
Free agents: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($21.6 million player option), GG Jackson ($2.4 million team option), Olivier-Maxence Prosper ($2.5 million team option), Ryan Rupert (restricted)
“Giannis is going into the last year [of his contract],” Edens said. “So one of two things will happen: Either he will be extended or he’ll be traded.”
Starting Oct. 1, Antetokounmpo is eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million contract. (If he exercises his $62.8 million option for 2026-27, it would become a three-year, $213.6 million deal.)
But to sign a fourth extension with Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo has to be sold on the franchise’s plans to bolster a roster that will miss its first playoffs since 2016.
The Bucks will likely add a top-10 pick in this year’s draft — because of the Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard trades, the Bucks do not control their own first-round pick until 2031 — and have 12 players from the current roster under contract for 2026-27. Five of those players, including starting guard Kevin Porter Jr., have player options.
An Antetokounmpo trade would require interested teams to weigh multiple factors before creating a package to land the two-time MVP.
How much leverage does Antetokounmpo have in choosing his next team? Would teams be interested in trading a hefty collection of assets — draft picks, young players on controllable contracts and sizable short-term deals — with no guarantee on an extension? Antetokounmpo would be eligible for the same extension he could sign with the Bucks, albeit not until six months after a trade.
Free agents: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Ousmane Dieng (restricted), Gary Harris ($3.8 million player option), Andre Jackson Jr. ($2.4 million team option), Kevin Porter Jr. ($5.4 million player option), Taurean Prince ($3.8 million player team option), Jericho Sims ($2.8 million player option), Gary Trent Jr. ($3.9 million player option), Alex Antetokounmpo (restricted)
Pelicans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars was clear in his vision for the franchise when Borrego replaced Willie Green as coach after the team’s 2-10 start.
“It’s establishing that we are going to be a team that plays hard every night,” Dumars said at the time Green was fired. “That’s still what I’m looking for right now, and I had that conversation with James this morning.”
Dumars has had nearly six months to evaluate Borrego, who has made a strong case, especially since the All-Star break, when New Orleans ranks in the top 15 in both offensive rating and net rating. The lineup of Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson is plus-13.3 points per 100 possessions since Feb. 24.
While the Pelicans will not add a lottery pick to next season’s roster, 14 players from this season’s team are under contract for 2026-27. New Orleans also has a valuable unprotected first-round pick from Milwaukee in 2027.
Free agents: DeAndre Jordan, Kevon Looney ($8 million team option), Karlo Matkovic ($2.3 million team option), Hunter Dickinson (restricted), Trey Alexander (restricted), Josh Oduro (restriced)
When a team with one playoff appearance since 2006 is on pace for the fourth-fewest wins in franchise history, there are multiple big questions.
But considering the draft lottery is not until May 10 and free agency does not begin until seven weeks later, the immediate focus in Sacramento should be evaluating and deciding Christie’s future.
“I’m just expecting him to be my coach until I tell you anything different,” Kings GM Scott Perry told reporters after the trade deadline. “I’m not even thinking along those lines right now. I want to see us get incrementally better each day, and I want to see him continue to improve as a coach.”
The Kings are 7-15 since Feb. 5, ranking 25th in offense and 27th in defense, but Christie’s roster has endured bouts of injuries. Sacramento has used 31 different starting lineups, 13 more than throughout 2024-25.
The Kings lost Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and De’Andre Hunter to season-ending injuries at different points, and no player on the roster has played more than 60 games outside of veterans DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook and Precious Achiuwa and rookies Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud.