The NBA Just Unveiled Its Nuclear Option Against Tank Jobs, and the Vote Happens in 30 Days

The NBA is done watching teams tank for draft picks. On May 28, owners are voting on a complete overhaul of the lottery system called the "3-2-1 lottery," and if it passes, the draft as we know it changes forever starting in 2027.

Here's what's coming: the lottery expands from 14 teams to 16. But here's the kicker that actually matters. The three worst teams in the league get fewer lottery balls (two instead of three), plus they're locked into a floor of the No. 12 pick at minimum. You can still tank and still get a high pick, but you're getting penalized hard for it.

How the New System Actually Works

Teams that miss the playoffs or play-in but aren't in the bottom three get three lottery balls each. The 9 and 10 play-in seeds get two balls apiece. Losers of the 7-8 play-in games get one ball. All 16 teams are now in the drawing instead of just 14, which means way more teams have a legitimate shot at moving up.

There are also hard rules now: no team can win the No. 1 pick in back-to-back years. No team can grab three top-five picks in consecutive drafts. Teams also can't protect picks in the 12-to-15 range anymore.

This Has Been Coming for a While

The league office has been grinding through meetings with the Board of Governors, the competition committee, and all 30 general managers over the past few weeks to lock this down. According to ESPN sources, the key framework has majority support from teams already, though minor tweaks could still happen before the May 28 vote.

The proposal also includes a sunset clause. The new system expires after the 2029 draft, which lines up with when the current collective bargaining agreement ends. That gives the league a chance to evaluate how it's working and decide whether to keep it or move to something different.

The NBA also gets expanded disciplinary power under this proposal to crack down on tanking directly, with options to reduce lottery odds or modify draft positions for teams that are obviously throwing games.

This is the biggest draft lottery change in league history. May 28 can't come fast enough.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.