NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday that a sweeping change to the draft lottery—dubbed the “3-2-1” plan—will be formally presented to the Board of Governors at its late-May meeting.
Speaking on Stephen A. Smith’s radio show, Silver explained that the proposal would flatten lottery odds and introduce stiffer penalties for teams perceived to be tanking.
How the “3-2-1” System Works
The plan assigns lottery balls based on regular-season finish:
- Teams with the fourth-worst through 10th-worst records: three balls each
- Bottom three teams: two balls each (“draft relegation”)
- Ninth and 10th play-in seeds in each conference: two balls each
- Losers of the 7-8 play-in games: one ball each
The structure contrasts sharply with the current 1,001-combination model that gives the league’s three worst clubs a significant statistical edge.
Expanded Anti-Tanking Authority
Silver said the league office would gain new tools to deter deliberate losing. “If we see that type of behavior where there’s a sense teams aren’t going all out to win, we can actually take away draft lottery balls [or] change the order of the draft,” he told Smith, adding that forfeiting lottery odds would carry more weight than a monetary fine.
Potential Timeline
If approved, the system would start next season and remain in effect through 2028-29. Silver described it as a three-year pilot that will “sunset” before the next collective bargaining negotiations in 2029.
Backdrop of Recent Tanking Concerns
The proposal follows growing scrutiny of late-season tactics. The Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies and Bulls secured the top four lottery slots after strategic roster decisions in the closing weeks. In February, the NBA fined Utah $500,000 for holding out Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. during fourth quarters of consecutive games.
League insiders widely expect some form of reform to pass, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Source: Hoops Rumors
