NBA Draft lottery changes are shortsighted, confusing, and create new problems | SB Nation Skip to main contentCome Fan with UsThursday, April 30, 2026SBNation.com homepage The Feed The NBA’s new lottery reform system creates more problems than it solves Adam Silver heard the outcry over tanking ahead of a loaded 2026 NBA Draft and was determined to find a solution. The league has now settled on its preferred system of lottery reform, and it essentially reduces the distribution of top young talent entering the league to complete randomness. ESPN insider Shams Charania revealed the NBA’s new “3-2-1” lottery system on Tuesday night. Here’s what you need to know: The three worst teams in the league are in the “relegation zone,” which means they lose ping-pong balls. Teams that finish 4th through 10th in the reverse standings get three lottery balls in the drawing. Teams in the “relegation zone” get two lottery balls, and can’t fall further than the 12th pick
Published: April 29, 2026 4:22 pm
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