Previewing the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery

This episode of the Locked On Hawks podcast previews the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, which takes place on Sunday at 3 PM Eastern Time. Host Brad Roland breaks down the Atlanta Hawks' 40.2% chance to land in the top four, with the most likely picks being eighth (30.18%) or seventh (19.75%). He emphasizes that the Hawks cannot pick fifth or sixth due to the lottery structure, and highlights the significance of their trade with the Pelicans, which gave them a top-10 protected pick and the ability to jump up. Roland praises the trade as an A-plus move regardless of the lottery outcome, noting that even a low pick like 11th would still represent strong value. He also discusses the depth of the 2026 draft, calling it one of the strongest in years, with multiple players at the top tier. The episode includes a mailbag segment addressing fan concerns about the Pelicans trade, Quinn Snyder’s contract extension, and which teams Hawks fans should root for in the lottery. Roland concludes with a strong endorsement of the Hawks' current trajectory and anticipation for the draft process to begin after the lottery.