Set to begin 2019!
After witnessing numerous teams purposely put in bids for a better future, the NBA has taken step step in ending tanking. Thursday afternoon, the league’s board of governors officially passed a proposal for the three worst teams to have exact same odds at 14% for the no. 1 overall pick.
Beforehand, a team had a 25% chance to win the lottery, through having more ping balls. While this won’t eliminate teams completely tanking if they’re out of the bottom three, or even those lower-tier franchise looking to keep position – this is at least a step forward in the right direction.
The new change isn’t set to take place until next fall, as teams like the Chicago Bulls will have one more chance of bidding for an automatic first pick in the draft. In related news, Adam Silver is also cracking down on teams resting their best players on nationally televised games.
If a franchise fails to follow that new rule, punishment will result in up to a 100,000 fine. With the NBA season starting two weeks earlier than expected in a few days, the league has shortened back-to-back meetings, and the four games in five-night rule that LeBron James has hated.
Let us know in the comments below if you think this new rule will change anything.
The NBA's Board of Governors passed draft lottery reform today, league sources tell ESPN. New rules will start with 2019 Draft.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 28, 2017
Here is an ESPN graphic on how NBA Draft lottery odds change in 2019 pic.twitter.com/Jk8X7q0J3Z
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 28, 2017