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NBA Weighs Sweeping Anti‑Tanking Lottery Overhaul Before May Vote

The plan tests how far the league will go to curb deliberate losing without undermining the draft’s role in helping weak teams.

Overview

  • League officials presented three draft‑lottery concepts Friday and set a special Board of Governors vote for May to decide changes for next season.
  • Proposals include an 18‑team lottery with equal 8% odds for the 10 non‑playoff teams, a 22‑team version using a two‑year record with a win‑floor, and an 18‑team “five‑by‑five” model that gives the five worst teams equal top‑pick odds and protects them from falling below 10th.
  • The NBA is weighing tougher enforcement that could move a team’s draft pick to the end of the round, strip it entirely, or add multi‑million‑dollar fines if the league finds deliberate losing.
  • Players have floated an English Premier League‑style plan that would tie a team’s share of national TV money to its final place in the standings, with about $10 million more per higher finish.
  • Insiders report strong support among some GMs and owners for flattened odds and an 18‑team field, while analysts warn the ideas are confusing and could slow rebuilds; Mark Cuban has pushed a separate fix to shorten games to 40 minutes.