Silver Signals Possible Draft Lottery Revamp to Deter Tanking
slug: silver-signals-possible-draft-lottery-revamp-to-deter-tanking
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league is prepared to reconsider its draft lottery system as part of a broader effort to discourage teams from losing games on purpose.
During his annual news conference at All-Star Weekend, Silver admitted that tanking has become a bigger concern this season. “Everything is on the table,” he told reporters, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Silver questioned whether the current lottery format—covering all 14 clubs that miss the playoffs and giving the worst records the best odds—still serves its intended purpose. “It’s time to take a fresh look at this and see whether that approach is antiquated,” he said.
The commissioner noted that a highly anticipated upcoming draft has increased the temptation for franchises to accumulate losses. While the league recently fined the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers for lineup decisions viewed as undermining competitive balance, Silver said penalties are not a sustainable fix. “I don’t think that’s the way to manage the system long term. It will lead to very unhealthy relationships between us and our teams,” he warned.
No immediate timetable was provided for possible changes, but Silver emphasized that league officials are actively examining “every possible remedy” to protect competitive integrity.
Source: Hoops Wire
