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

Episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 11, 2026 · 1 h 46 min

Bill Simmons, Joe House, Tate Frazier and Chris Vernon react to the 2026 NBA draft lottery won by the Wizards, preview top picks, and discuss the playoffs.

Summary

Bill Simmons was joined by Joe House and Tate Frazier to react to the 2026 NBA draft lottery, in which the Washington Wizards, owners of the league's worst record, won the No. 1 pick. House, a lifelong Wizards fan, delivered a mock acceptance speech. The group generally agreed that AJ Dybantsa should go first, with Frazier stressing that Dybantsa clearly wanted to be the top pick. They discussed Darryn Peterson's fit with Utah at No. 2, House criticized how Peterson handled his injury-marred college season, and they debated Cameron Boozer versus Caleb Wilson for Memphis at No. 3. Simmons also criticized ESPN's lottery broadcast format.

The panel examined the Indiana Pacers losing their protected pick to the Los Angeles Clippers via the Ivica Zubac trade, which Simmons called an all-time lottery outcome, and weighed the Clippers' options at No. 5, including Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr. and trading back with Sacramento. They considered how the lottery results affected Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation, with Simmons suggesting the Boston Celtics may have become favorites, and reviewed the guard-heavy middle of the lottery.

Chris Vernon then joined to discuss Memphis at No. 3, describing both Boozer and Wilson as fits for the city's identity, and rejected a hypothetical Jalen Williams-for-the-pick trade. The group turned to the playoffs: the New York Knicks' dominant series against Philadelphia, Boston's elimination, Victor Wembanyama's rise and a comparison with Caitlin Clark's reception in the WNBA, and the Cavaliers-Pistons series. Vernon named the Knicks as the best value on title odds and predicted a New York-Detroit conference finals. In closing, Simmons and House favored Wilson's upside while Vernon said he was leaning toward Wilson.

Chapters

  1. 0:31

    Wizards win the lottery

    Simmons introduces Frazier and House, who gives a mock acceptance speech celebrating Washington landing the No. 1 pick.

  2. 4:57

    Dybantsa, Peterson and Utah

    The group discusses AJ Dybantsa as the likely top pick, his Utah ties, and whether Utah might trade up or take Darryn Peterson at No. 2.

  3. 11:56

    Lottery broadcast and top prospects

    Simmons criticizes ESPN's lottery show format and the panel compares Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson.

  4. 18:59

    Danny Ainge and the No. 2 pick

    Simmons and Frazier discuss Danny Ainge's superstar-hunting draft philosophy and Memphis and Chicago's likely choices.

  5. 29:09

    Pacers lose pick to the Clippers

    The panel reacts to Indiana's protected pick conveying to the Clippers via the Zubac trade and debates the Clippers' options at No. 5.

  6. 34:25

    Giannis implications

    The group assesses how the lottery affects Giannis Antetokounmpo trade prospects, suggesting Boston may now be the favorite.

  7. 38:42

    Middle of the lottery and trade ideas

    Discussion of the guard cluster from picks 5 to 15 and hypothetical trades for stars such as Paolo Banchero and Jalen Williams.

  8. 53:25

    Vernon on Memphis at No. 3

    Chris Vernon joins to weigh Boozer versus Wilson for the Grizzlies and recalls Memphis's lottery history.

  9. 1:00:29

    Jalen Williams idea and OKC's future

    Vernon rejects a Jalen Williams trade for the pick and the group discusses the value of rookie contracts and OKC's dynasty potential.

  10. 1:06:32

    Knicks dominance and Celtics exit

    The panel discusses the Knicks' dismantling of Philadelphia, Mike Brown's coaching, and why Boston fell short.

  11. 1:17:20

    Wembanyama and Caitlin Clark

    Simmons and guests discuss Wembanyama's playoff rise, historical championship ages, and how his reception differs from Caitlin Clark's in the WNBA.

  12. 1:28:57

    Cavs-Pistons, title odds and final picks

    The group discusses Cleveland versus Detroit, championship betting odds, and each panelist's Boozer-or-Wilson choice for Memphis.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

  • Joe House

    House suggested Peterson strategically waited weeks after his disappointing season before explaining his health issues.

    “the innovation for Peterson was to wait. He waited enough time for the stink of how his season played out to deliver the excuse six, seven weeks”

    Listen from 8:25 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Tate Frazier

    Frazier argued that AJ Dybantsa should be the No. 1 pick, citing his clear desire to be the top selection.

    “I do think that AJ is number one. I feel comfortable with AJ. He wants to be the number one pick. That's the number one test”

    Listen from 11:56 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons said Dybantsa should go first but that Utah ending up with Darryn Peterson and additional assets would be a good outcome.

    “i think aj should be first but i also feel like if you end up with peterson and more stuff that's a nice place to be”

    Listen from 14:26 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Joe House

    House said Dybantsa has the highest ceiling, while Caleb Wilson remains more of an unknown because injury limited his exposure.

    “The ceiling with him feels like, to me, the highest ceiling. Just acknowledging that Caleb Wilson is more of an unknown quantity because the injury limited”

    Listen from 16:49 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons noted that he believed Utah had never moved up in a lottery in franchise history before this draft.

    “they've never moved up in a lottery i don't think in the history of the franchise until until this draft”

    Listen from 22:13 · Utah Jazz

  • Tate Frazier

    Frazier said the Clippers could easily justify taking Darius Acuff at No. 5 after landing Indiana's pick.

    “you could talk yourself into acuff pretty easily there at number five”

    Listen from 31:37 · Los Angeles Clippers

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons recommended the Clippers consider trading back with Sacramento to No. 7, but said Keaton Wagler should be the pick if they stay at five.

    “but if you're staying at five, I think Wagler has to be the pick”

    Listen from 33:24 · Los Angeles Clippers

  • Tate Frazier

    Frazier expressed his desire to see Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to a contender.

    “I just want Giannis to be saved. I want Giannis to go somewhere”

    Listen from 35:30 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons suggested Atlanta could trade up in the draft if it became enamored with a point guard.

    “Atlanta is another one that I think could trade up if they got excited about a point guard”

    Listen from 46:07 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Chris Vernon

    Vernon argued that the no-nonsense Marc Gasol embodied Memphis's identity, framing how Boozer might appeal to the city.

    “I don't think people would necessarily think Marc Gasol, but Marc Gasol is, like, totally embodied Memphis”

    Listen from 54:25 · Memphis Grizzlies

  • Chris Vernon

    Vernon said Jalen Brunson punished drop coverage so badly that Joel Embiid was effectively unplayable against the Knicks.

    “Bronson is a drop coverage demolisher, right? It was like Embiid. I don't care what his stats were. He was unplayable against them”

    Listen from 1:07:38 · New York Knicks

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons said the Knicks twice humiliated opponents who faced elimination and should have produced maximum effort.

    “A team with, theoretically, their backs against the wall should have a grand slam effort, and they just humiliated them”

    Listen from 1:13:34 · New York Knicks

  • Chris VernonDidn’t happen

    Vernon predicted the Eastern Conference finals would eventually feature New York and Detroit, noting Detroit beat the Knicks during the season.

    “i think it will eventually be new york and detroit and go look at those games this year detroit pump them out”

    Listen from 1:14:54 · 2026 NBA playoffs

  • Chris Vernon

    Vernon said WNBA players resented the attention Caitlin Clark received, while acknowledging they had accomplished a great deal themselves.

    “that that that league resented caitlyn clark they resented the fact that that's all anybody wanted to talk about”

    Listen from 1:23:00

  • Bill SimmonsCame true

    Simmons predicted the Thunder would complete a sweep of the Lakers in the next game.

    “It's going to be really interesting to see who's at that game tomorrow because it's clearly going to be a sweep”

    Listen from 1:26:20 · Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons said Boozer seemed a natural Memphis fit but that Caleb Wilson's upside on tape was hard to pass on.

    “But I think the Wilson upside is I just can't believe the tape with him”

    Listen from 1:35:04 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Chris Vernon

    Vernon described Cameron Boozer as a low-drama, uncontroversial player unlikely to generate off-court problems.

    “80 percent chance you never hear like i don't even know if he's on social media right like he's not a character”

    Listen from 1:35:19 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Chris Vernon

    Vernon identified the Knicks at +750 as the best-value championship bet, contingent on OG Anunoby's health.

    “I think I would say just odds-wise, Knicks. I think it's Knicks, right? Plus 750 is, like, good odds”

    Listen from 1:39:41 · New York Knicks

People

In the conversation

  • Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
  • Joe HouseRinger podcaster and longtime friend of Bill Simmons, known for sports betting talk
  • Tate FrazierThe Ringer's first employee and producer/host on Ringer Tailgate, NBA draft enthusiast
  • Chris VernonRinger podcaster and Memphis Grizzlies fan

Discussed

Topics

More from The Bill Simmons Podcast

From the publisher

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 #ULTRACourtside could get you closer to the game! https://michelobultra.com/courtside MICHELOB ULTRA®️ COURTSIDE ’25 to ’26. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21 plus. Begins on October 1, 2025 and ends on June 30, 2026 Multiple entry periods. See Official Rules at https://michelobultra.com/courtside for free entry, entry deadlines, prizes, and details. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit https://fanduel.com/playwithaplan to learn more about the resources and helplines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Basketball·Sports News