The NBA Board of Governors approved a new draft lottery format designed to combat the league's tanking problem. The vote was 29-1, with the Memphis Grizzlies as the lone dissenter.
Under the so-called '3-2-1' rule, the league expands the lottery field to 16 teams. The three worst teams now have significantly lower odds of winning the top pick, while teams finishing fourth through tenth see their chances improve. In a major shift, the ninth- and tenth-worst teams now have the same 5.4% chance at the number one overall pick as the bottom-feeders.
Additional rules prevent franchises from winning the top pick in consecutive years or landing in the top five in three straight drafts.
Commissioner Adam Silver says the change restores competitive integrity. However, critics argue it simply redirects incentives. The new format rewards calculated mediocrity rather than outright failure. Teams near the play-in bubble now have a reason to drift out of the playoffs for better lottery odds.
The fundamental issue remains: the draft is the most reliable path to a superstar, especially for small-market teams that cannot attract elite free agents. The new rules may slow the race to the bottom, but they just as likely start a race to the middle.