The race for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft runs all season long. The order is set two ways: a weighted lottery decides the top 14 picks, and the rest of the first round falls in reverse order of regular-season record. This tracker explains how the 2027 order is built, tracks the projection as the 2026-27 season plays out, and flags the traded and forfeited picks worth knowing, including the Los Angeles Clippers penalty handed down in September 2026.
2027 NBA Draft: Quick Facts
- When: late June 2027 (the draft typically runs across two nights)
- Draft lottery: mid-May 2027, which sets the top 14 picks
- Order set by: the lottery (picks 1-14) plus reverse 2026-27 regular-season record (picks 15-30)
- No. 1 pick: won in the lottery; the three worst teams share the best odds at 14.0% each
- Recent news: the Clippers forfeited five future first-round picks (2029-2033) in a September 2026 salary-cap case; their 2027 pick is not affected
How the 2027 NBA Draft Order Works
The 14 teams that miss the 2027 playoffs go into the draft lottery, which decides the top 14 selections. The top four picks are drawn; the remaining lottery teams then slot into picks 5 through 14 in reverse order of record. The three worst teams by record share identical top odds. Picks 15 through 30 go to the 16 playoff teams in reverse order of regular-season record. Traded and protected picks can move selections around the board, but the underlying order is always set by record and the lottery first.
2027 Lottery Odds at No. 1 (by seed)
| Lottery Seed (by record) | Odds at No. 1 |
|---|---|
| 1st (worst) | 14.0% |
| 2nd | 14.0% |
| 3rd | 14.0% |
| 4th | 12.5% |
| 5th | 10.5% |
| 6th | 9.0% |
| 7th | 7.5% |
| 8th | 6.0% |
| 9th | 4.5% |
| 10th | 3.0% |
| 11th | 2.0% |
| 12th | 1.5% |
| 13th | 1.0% |
| 14th | 0.5% |
The 2026 Clippers Penalty and What It Means
On September 2, 2026, the NBA came down hard on the Los Angeles Clippers in a salary-cap circumvention case tied to Kawhi Leonard. The team was fined $30 million, owner Steve Ballmer was suspended for one year from all league and team activities, and the franchise was stripped of five future first-round picks, in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033.
For this tracker, the key detail is timing: the forfeited picks fall in 2029 through 2033, so the Clippers keep their 2027 first-round pick. The penalty reshapes the back half of the decade far more than the 2027 draft, but it is the biggest pick-ownership story in the league right now and worth watching as those years approach.
2027 NBA Draft Order Tracker (Projected)
The full team-by-team order cannot be set until the 2026-27 season plays out and the lottery is held in May 2027. Until then, here is the framework the projection follows. We will fill in teams and flag traded picks as the standings take shape through the season.
| Picks | Who gets them | How they are ordered |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | Lottery teams | Drawn in the May 2027 lottery |
| 5-14 | Remaining lottery teams | Reverse order of 2026-27 record |
| 15-30 | Playoff teams | Reverse order of 2026-27 record; the champion picks 30th |
A reminder as picks change hands: many first-round selections are traded years in advance, often with protections (for example, top-4 protected), so the team that finishes with a given record does not always keep its own pick. We will note confirmed 2027 first-round pick trades here as they matter to the order.
2027 NBA Draft Order FAQ
When and where is the 2027 NBA Draft?
The 2027 NBA Draft is expected in late June 2027, typically across two nights. The draft lottery that sets the top 14 picks is held in mid-May 2027.
Who gets the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft?
The No. 1 pick is won in the lottery, not handed to the worst team automatically. The three teams with the worst 2026-27 records share the best odds at 14.0% each, and any of the 14 lottery teams can jump into the top four.
Do the Clippers lose their 2027 first-round pick?
No. The five first-round picks the Clippers forfeited in the September 2026 penalty are their 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 selections. Their 2027 first-round pick is unaffected.
Is this the official 2027 draft order?
No. The order is a projection until the 2026-27 regular season finishes and the May 2027 lottery is held. This page tracks the projection and updates it as the standings and traded picks come into focus.
More 2026-27 Sports
Keep every key date in one place with our 2026 sports calendar, and check back here as the 2026-27 NBA season sets the 2027 draft order.
