Adam Silver Says Draft Lottery Overhaul Would Eliminate Tanking Incentive
adam-silver-draft-lottery-overhaul
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league has completed a proposal to revamp the draft lottery and will submit it to the Board of Governors later this month.
Speaking on Stephen A. Smith’s radio program, Silver explained that the plan would establish “flat odds,” reducing the reward for finishing at the bottom of the standings.
How the model works
The framework mirrors the recent “3-2-1” concept. Under that structure, clubs landing between fourth-worst and 10th-worst records would share identical chances at the No. 1 pick, while the league’s three worst teams would see their odds drop below that group.
Silver described it as a form of draft relegation: “If you’re one of the bottom three teams in the league, you’ll actually have worse odds than teams that are four through the playoffs.”
Penalties for deliberate losing
The commissioner added that financial fines alone may not deter tanking. The league could confiscate lottery balls or alter draft order if it believes a team is not competing to win.
Trial period set
If approved, the new system would be implemented for three seasons and then automatically expire, allowing the NBA to study its impact before making permanent changes.
Silver acknowledged that teams will likely seek new ways to exploit any rules in place, but said the league hopes this version will stay ahead of those tactics.
Source: Hoops Wire
