Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the league is taking an aggressive approach to addressing NBA tanking, presenting three sweeping draft lottery proposals to its Board of Governors this week in New York.
All three concepts are built around the same core idea: expanding the lottery pool beyond just the league’s worst teams.
That shift alone would fundamentally change how teams approach losing, a direct attempt to curb NBA tanking and discourage franchises from bottoming out for draft position.
The first proposal would include 18 teams in the lottery — the 10 teams that miss the play-in tournament and the eight that qualify for it. By giving play-in teams a shot at lottery positioning, this model reduces the incentive tied to NBA tanking, since even teams on the fringe of playoff contention would still have access to top picks.
Details at ESPN on the NBA’s three concepts to substantially reform the draft lottery to curb tanking ahead of an owners vote in May: https://t.co/oVvGb0XjCb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 27, 2026
More on potential NBA tanking solutions
The second proposal goes even further. According to Charania, 22 teams would be eligible — adding the four teams eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. This version also introduces a two-year record system, similar to the WNBA, to determine lottery odds.
A minimum win threshold would be applied each season, meaning teams couldn’t fully benefit from extreme losing. The goal here is clear: limit prolonged NBA tanking by making it less effective over multiple seasons.
The third concept, known as the “5-by-5” model, keeps the lottery pool at 18 teams but flattens the odds at the bottom. The five worst teams would all have equal chances at the top five picks, with a drawing for each selection.
After that, a second lottery would determine the remaining order. Importantly, this format protects the worst teams from dropping too far — no lower than 10th — while still reducing the upside of outright NBA tanking.
Charania reports these proposals are still being refined, with further discussions expected ahead of a potential vote in May. But the direction is obvious: the NBA is actively trying to eliminate the competitive advantages tied to NBA tanking, and any of these changes would represent a major shift in team-building strategy moving forward.
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When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
The Sacramento Kings will continue their final road trip of the season on Saturday afternoon when they face the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
Sacramento dropped a 133-100 blowout loss to the Hawks on November 12th, as Jalen Johnson poured in 24 points, grabbed 10 boards, and handed out 8 assists in the win.
Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Atlanta Hawks action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 3:00 PM PT on Game Night before a 4:30 pm PT tip-off from downtown Atlanta.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Saturday, March 28th – @ Atlanta Hawks – 4:30 PM PT
Sunday, March 29th @ Brooklyn Nets – 3:00 PM PT
Wednesday, April 1st @ Toronto Raptors – 5:00 PM PT
Friday, April 3rd vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 7:00 PM PT
Sunday, April 5th vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 6:00 PM PT
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