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NBA Puts Three Anti-Tanking Lottery Plans Before Owners

A May vote will decide changes to how draft odds are set.

Overview

  • The league has presented three draft-lottery reform concepts to the Board of Governors and is circulating edits before a formal vote in May.
  • One option would expand the lottery to 18 teams, covering seeds 7 through 15 in each conference with flattened odds.
  • The NBA has stepped up enforcement this season, fining the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for conduct detrimental to the league.
  • The push follows a season with widespread noncompetitiveness, including ten teams under 30 wins and several eliminated from playoff contention well before the finish.
  • The article argues no rule can fully erase incentives to lose and contends expected expansion to two new franchises could deepen those incentives for rebuilding teams.