2026 NBA Draft Lottery: Betting Markets Shift to AJ Dybantsa Ahead of Sunday Draw
With the lottery scheduled for Sunday, the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets hold the highest probability of securing the top selection, though the Oklahoma City Thunder remains a theoretical possibility.
A significant recalibration of expectations for the 2026 NBA Draft has emerged as CBS Sports analyst Gary Parrish releases a mock draft predicting that BYU wing AJ Dybantsa will be selected first overall by the Washington Wizards. This projection marks a distinct departure from earlier consensus which had heavily favoured Darryn Peterson, a sentiment that has largely evaporated in favour of Dybantsa's statistical profile.
The shift in narrative is driven primarily by betting markets, which have swung decisively toward Dybantsa following an uneven season for Peterson at Kansas. Dybantsa, described as a 6-foot-9 wing, delivered a spectacular campaign at BYU, averaging a national-best 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 51 per cent from the field. Consequently, he is now listed at -450 to be the first pick, significantly surpassing Duke's Cameron Boozer, who sits at +1000.
Despite the clear preference in the betting markets, the actual selection order remains unconfirmed pending the NBA Draft Lottery, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday. The outcome of this draw will determine the final hierarchy of the top 30 picks, a process that Parrish notes will be updated in his mock draft once the results are announced. Until then, the projected order relies on current lottery odds and final team records rather than confirmed reality.
According to the current landscape, the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets hold the best chances to secure the first pick. However, the randomness of the draw introduces a layer of uncertainty, meaning the selection could theoretically go to any of the 14 teams with non-zero odds. This includes the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The possibility of the Oklahoma City Thunder securing the No. 1 pick is noted as a notable anomaly, with Parrish acknowledging that such an outcome would make for an incredible day of sports talk on Monday. While the mock draft currently assigns Dybantsa to the Wizards at No. 1, this arrangement is contingent upon the lottery results and is subject to change once the bouncing ping pong balls in Chicago determine the official order.
As the 2026 draft class has been anticipated as highly loaded for several years due to a strong freshman cohort, the focus now turns to the Sunday draw. Stakeholders and fans alike are advised to circle back after the lottery concludes, as the mock draft will be revised to reflect the proper order set by the draw.
