NBA Board of Governors Approves 3-2-1 Draft Lottery Overhaul
nba-board-of-governors-approves-3-2-1-draft-lottery-overhaul
The NBA’s Board of Governors has ratified the “3-2-1” draft lottery plan, a package of anti-tanking measures set to debut with the 2027 draft.
Main points of the new system
• Expanded field: The lottery grows from 14 to 16 teams, and every one of the first 16 selections will be determined by the drawing.
• Odds distribution:
– The three worst clubs each receive two lottery balls, giving them 5.4% odds at the No. 1 pick and the possibility of sliding to No. 12.
– The next seven non-playoff teams (fourth-worst through 10th-worst records) get three balls apiece, equaling 8.1% odds.
– Teams finishing ninth and 10th in each conference collect two balls each.
– Losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in games receive one ball apiece, worth 2.7% odds.
• Pick-trading limits: Franchises may not protect traded selections projected between Nos. 12 and 15.
• Repeat restrictions: A club cannot win the No. 1 pick in consecutive years or secure top-five picks three drafts in a row.
• Second round order: Picks 31–46 will mirror the reverse order of the first 16 selections.
• Sunset clause: The format applies to the 2027, 2028, and 2029 drafts and can be revised or discarded afterward.
• Enforcement: The league office gains wider authority to penalize perceived tanking by cutting lottery odds or altering draft position.
Vote and retroactive impact
The measure passed 29–1, with the Memphis Grizzlies casting the lone dissenting vote. The league confirmed that the top-five-pick restriction will retroactively cover the 2025 and 2026 drafts and will remain attached to a pick even after it is traded. As a result, Utah’s 2027 first-rounder—now held by Memphis—cannot land higher than No. 6 if it would otherwise fall in the top five.
Commissioner Adam Silver had promised “substantial changes” after widespread tanking during the 2025-26 season. The consolidated 3-2-1 proposal, introduced last month after several earlier drafts, is the league’s answer.
Source: Hoops Rumors
