If the board of governors approves Silver’s reform, it could take effect beginning in 2019.
The NBA’s competition committee has recommended commissioner Adam Silver’s NBA Draft Lottery reform to its board of governors for a final vote, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. After the board votes on Sept. 28, the lottery reform — if passed — would scare teams from tanking for better draft picks.
What’s different?
The biggest proposed change in the draft lottery process is the new odds at the No. 1 overall pick. Currently, the NBA’s worst three teams bear 25.5 percent, 19.9 percent, and 15.6 percent odds, respectively, at the No. 1 pick.
But if Silver’s reform is passed, the three worst teams will split 14 percent odds at the top draft pick in 2019 with the following teams dropping “incrementally by a percentage point or two,” according to Wojnarowski.
The punishment for losing the draft lottery is also slightly worse. The worst team has potential to fall to the No. 5 pick, the second-worst can fall to No. 6, and so on and so forth.
What else?
The competition committee also recommended Silver’s proposition to curb player resting during the regular season, according to Wojnarowski. He would have the authority to fine teams for resting multiple players in a single game or healthy players in a national TV game.
What’s next?
The draft lottery reform must be approved by the NBA’s board of governors for a final vote on Sept. 28. If they vote in agreement with Silver’s reform, the proposed draft lottery would become legislation and take effect beginning in 2019.
So while the 2018 NBA Draft is loaded with big names like Michael Porter Jr., Luka Doncic, Marvin Bagley and more, it could be the last time we see teams racing to the bottom.
