NBA Overhauls Draft Lottery to Deter Tanking and Expand Field
The NBA approved a 3-2-1 draft lottery system to curb tanking, expanding the lottery to 16 teams, creating a bottom-three relegation zone with reduced odds for the No. 1 pick, flattening odds, and prohibiting back-to-back No. 1 selections. Commissioner powers to punish tanking with fines up to $10 million and potential draft-pick forfeiture or changes to draft position/odds were expanded. The changes will take effect for the 2027 draft and remain through at least 2029.