NBA Board of Governors Approves Expanded Draft Lottery to Curb Tanking
SLUG: nba-board-of-governors-expands-draft-lottery-curb-tanking
The NBA’s Board of Governors has voted to widen the league’s draft lottery in an effort to reduce incentives for teams to lose games intentionally, according to sources familiar with the decision.
The change, approved during the governors’ latest meeting, will increase the number of clubs participating in the annual lottery. Specific details on the new format, including the exact number of teams involved and how odds will be distributed, were not immediately disclosed.
League officials have wrestled for years with concerns that franchises near the bottom of the standings deliberately improve their draft position by fielding weakened lineups late in the season. Expanding the lottery is designed to make it harder to secure a top pick through strategic losing, thereby encouraging more competitive play throughout the regular schedule.
The updated system is expected to take effect once final logistical elements are settled. No timetable for implementation has been announced.
Source: ESPN
