It would seem like dark days for organizations like Indiana and Dallas.
After all, both entered Thursday sitting firmly in the projected draft lottery with a combined seven wins between them.
Dark days couldn’t be further from the truth, however. Losing for both could lead to winning, and in a big way.
The Pacers currently have the worst record in the Association, fresh off a run in the NBA Finals last season. One small oversight. They will be without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) for the year, lost Myles Turner to Milwaukee in free agency, and have been plagued by other injuries to the likes of Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith.
But how would standout freshman Darryn Peterson or Duke’s Cameron Boozer look in Pacers yellow next season with a healthy Haliburton & Co.?
First to worst, back to first?
Then there’s the Mavericks, contemplating the future of Anthony Davis while All-NBA guard Kyrie Irving is still working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last March. They can try and trade Davis, grab more draft picks, and then use their own pick to partner 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg with an AJ Dybantsa, Nate Ament or Mikel Brown Jr.
In other words, there are several teams set up for not only quick turnarounds because of the loaded 2026 draft class, but sustained dominance.
Hello Bulls, are you paying attention?
It doesn’t end there, either.
Atlanta acquired the unprotected first-round pick from New Orleans in the Derik Queen trade, and that currently sits at No. 3 overall. The same Atlanta team that sits at 11-8 and in the No. 6 spot of the Eastern Conference.
How would Dybantsa or Boozer look in Hawks red, joining a playoff team as a rookie?
The ultimate draft flex that’s currently in play, however? Look no further than the defending NBA Champion Thunder. Not only has lead suit Sam Presti built a juggernaut in the Western Conference that appears ready to try and repeat, off to a 18-1 start, but could break draft day in June.
As it stands right now, the Thunder own the Clippers first-round pick unprotected, as well as first-round picks from Utah and Philadelphia (top four protected). That means No. 8, No. 9 and No. 13 overall for now.
The lottery could shuffle it, so Oklahoma City moves into the top three, and they currently have a 6% chance to hit No. 1.
League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein with a Peterson, Boozer or Dybantsa coming off the bench as rookies? Goodnight!
What could also come into play because of the crowded roster, the Thunder could try and package the picks to move up into the top three and just land one potential star.
Either way, it could be the next great dynasty the league has to endure.
And where does Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas sit in all of this? If the lottery plays out as is, not in the greatest spot. Yes, like the 2025 draft, this one is also loaded at the top and deep throughout.
The Bulls currently sit in the lottery at 9-8, holding down the No. 14 spot. That means “competitive integrity” puts them at a 0.7% to hit No. 1, 0.8% on No. 2, and 0.9% to nab the No. 3 pick. They have a 96.6% chance to stay as is.
Not awful considering that’s the landscape where a Dame Sarr, Chris Cenac Jr., or Jayden Quaintance reside, so there would be a talent upgrade, but not exactly worse to first. More like mediocrity to mediocrity. An all too familiar spot for Karnisovas and the Bulls.