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NBA Unveils Three Lottery Overhauls to Curb Tanking Before May Vote

Owners now face a choice that could reset incentives ahead of the 2026 offseason.

Overview

  • League officials presented three draft lottery plans to team owners Wednesday in New York, with a special May vote planned to select a format.
  • One option creates an 18‑team lottery that gives the 10 worst teams equal 8% odds and uses a full drawing for picks 1 through 18.
  • A second plan expands the field to 22 teams and sets odds by each club’s combined two‑year record with a minimum win floor applied each season.
  • A third proposal runs a 5‑by‑5 drawing that equalizes odds for the five worst teams and guarantees those teams do not fall past 10th.
  • Teams will now review the proposals with their front offices before the vote after Adam Silver pledged changes for next season and pointed to recent fines of the Jazz and Pacers as a warning.