The Wizards Win (Something!) and More Lottery Reactions, Plus the Juggernaut Knicks With Joe House, Tate Frazier, and Chris Vernon

May 10, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Washington Wizards finally won the NBA draft lottery, securing the number one overall pick after a historically bad season in which they went 1-for-24 in their final 25 games. For Joe House, a lifelong Wizards fan who has known Bill Simmons since 1988, the moment was cathartic. "It is of course ridiculous, irrational for a grown ass man with a mortgage to derive such enormous pleasure, joy for something as dumb as where the ping pong balls land," House said. "But let me tell you right now, I apologize to absolutely fucking nobody." The lottery produced an unusually clean result: the three teams with the worst records—Washington, Utah, and Memphis—landed the top three picks, a rarity in an era where the league's flattened odds often reward teams that didn't tank hardest.

The AJ Dybantsa Question and Utah's Dilemma

The consensus top prospect is AJ Dybantsa, a physical 6'9" wing who already looks like a 28-year-old man and has made clear he wants to be the number one pick. But the drama centers on whether Utah, picking second, will try to trade up. The Jazz have invested heavily in Dybantsa for years—through BYU's NIL apparatus and local prep schools—and the prospect's face at the lottery suggested he expected to stay in Utah. When the number two slot popped up, "you could just see it," Tate Frazier said. "He's like, 'Where's Washington? Is that your Philly?'"

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What you'll learn

1 (01:58) **Wizards Win the Lottery! Joe House's Emotional Reaction** - Joe House, a lifelong Wizards fan, reacts to finally getting the number one pick in a loaded draft after decades of futility.
2 (06:41) **The AJ Dybantsa vs. Cooper Flagg Debate** - The crew discusses whether Washington will take AJ Dybantsa number one overall or if a trade could happen.
3 (11:28) **Utah's Draft War Chest and Danny Ainge's History** - Bill breaks down the treasure trove of future picks Utah possesses, making them a prime trade partner to move up.
4 (14:04) **Evaluating the Top Four Prospects: Ceilings and Fits** - A detailed breakdown of the top four prospects: AJ Dybantsa, Cooper Flagg, Cam Boozer, and Caleb Wilson.
5 (18:15) **Washington's Rebuild and the Wizards' Young Core** - The conversation shifts to how AJ Dybantsa fits into the Wizards' existing young core of Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Carlton Carrington.
6 (26:49) **The Pacers' Nightmare: The Zubac Trade Haunts Them** - The hosts react to the Pacers losing their top-4 protected pick to the Clippers after falling to the 5th spot.
7 (30:50) **The Clutter of Guards: Jakucionis, Acuff, and Fears** - A discussion on the tier of guards available from picks 5-12, including Kasparas Jakucionis, Darius Acuff, and Kingston Flemings.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Joe House

Show Notes

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Tate Frazier and Joe House to recap the NBA draft lottery and to preview the possible lottery picks (0:31). Then, Chris Vernon joins to give his thoughts on Memphis’s no. 3 pick and to catch up on the NBA playoffs (53:05).

Host: Bill Simmons

Guests: Joe House, Tate Frazier, and Chris Vernon

Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo

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