This June, in Manhattan, they had a parade for the winners in the world—later in the month, in Brooklyn, an event for those who lose. But not all losers are alike: the NBA draft lottery uses weighted odds determined by last season’s record, meaning that some teams—the Washington Wizards, the Utah Jazz—have in a sense won, converting their losses during the ’25–26 season into top picks. Other teams—the Memphis Grizzlies, the Chicago Bulls—also won, through luck advancing in the selection order. In a draft class already described as historically talented, these four teams are our lottery champions.…