Three-Two-One Draft Lottery System

This proposed NBA Draft reform would change how lottery entries are assigned in an effort to reduce tanking. Under the three-two-one system, teams would receive lottery entries based on where they finish in relation to the playoffs and play-in tournament. Top-six teams in each conference would receive no lottery entries because they are already in the playoffs. Play-in teams and non-playoff teams would receive one, two, or three lottery entries depending on their position, with the worst three teams in the league receiving fewer entries than the teams just above them. Why Create This Rule The goal is to stop teams from trying to finish with the worst record in the league. In the current system, the worst teams are rewarded with the best lottery odds, which creates an incentive to lose games on purpose. By giving the very worst teams fewer lottery entries than some teams above them, the three-two-one system tries to discourage the most obvious form of tanking at the bottom of the standings. The concern is that this system may simply move tanking to a different part of the standings. Teams might decide it is better to finish ninth or tenth than seventh or eighth, or better to lose a play-in game and gain a lottery entry than win and receive none. It may reduce the worst tanking at the bottom, but it could create new incentives for teams in the middle to manipulate their position. A stronger draft reform would discourage losing at every point in the standings while still helping teams that are genuinely struggling.