Two weeks into the 2026-27 NBA season, the league's new draft lottery reform has not prevented a cluster of teams from struggling. The 3-2-1 lottery format gives the three worst teams only two lottery balls each, while the seven best non-play-in teams receive three, theoretically incentivizing teams to avoid the bottom three. Yet five teams have just one win, and seven stand out as serious candidates for the relegation zone.
7. Utah Jazz (1-7)
The Jazz's offense has sputtered despite coach Will Hardy now having more talent. No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson is struggling to score, and the team lacks passing and rim protection. Their lone win came by one point over the New Orleans Pelicans. The trade of Walker Kessler left a defensive void, and even with Jusuf Nurkić and Jaren Jackson Jr. expected back, Utah's play-in hopes appear on life support.
6. Phoenix Suns (2-5)
Phoenix's problems are internal. The locker room is reportedly frustrated over the lack of a true point guard, and Jalen Green's inefficient scoring (12 points on 41-22-69 splits) may force a bench role. The Suns have lost their defensive identity, rank last in rebounding, and have few draft assets left after the Miles Bridges trade. Devin Booker's declining efficiency and burst add to concerns.
5. Brooklyn Nets (2-6)
Brooklyn lacks All-Star talent. Julius Randle has been inefficient and turnover-prone, and the defense lacks a reliable rim protector. The Nets owe their first-round pick to the Houston Rockets and are incentivized to avoid a third consecutive top-five pick, which would bar them from picking that high in 2028. They could trade veterans like Michael Porter Jr. at the deadline, potentially worsening their record.
4. Sacramento Kings (1-7)
The Kings are the only team in this group without pick obligations or consecutive high-pick restrictions. They are rebuilding organically but are ill-equipped to win. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. has the second-highest usage rate for a rookie in NBA history, taking difficult shots while veterans like Domantas Sabonis see reduced roles. Sacramento has over $70 million in expiring contracts (Zach LaVine, De'Andre Hunter) to potentially trade for improvement.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (1-7)
Los Angeles has a severe ball-handling deficit, leading the league in turnovers and points allowed off turnovers. Darius Garland's injury history compounds the issue. The Clippers owe their first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder and face swap rights with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2029. Having been stripped of five first-round picks for cap circumvention, they may trade veterans like Brook Lopez, Kris Dunn, and Rui Hachimura for future assets, likely tanking their record further.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (1-7)
Milwaukee is under investigation for the Gary Trent Jr. contract, and Trent has been a DNP-CD in six of eight games. The roster is a jumbled mix after trading the franchise's best player without a premium return. They rank bottom-five on both offense and defense, with Myles Turner averaging single digits. The Bucks won't control their own pick until 2031, and the New Orleans Pelicans hold their 2027 pick.
1. Chicago Bulls (1-7)
Chicago has been the NBA's worst team by net rating, with a nearly five-point gap to the next-worst Kings. They rank bottom-five in paint defense, three-pointers allowed, points off turnovers, and rebounding. Shooting just over 27% from three, the Bulls also face incentive issues: rookie Caleb Wilson was the No. 4 overall pick, and another top-five pick in 2027 would lock them out of the top five in 2028, a year with a stronger draft class. Chicago has both the performance and the motivation to stay at the bottom.
