NBA Draft Lottery Overhaul Could Hit Pacers Nets Wizards

Merlin sees the NBA has presented three draft-lottery proposals to owners aimed at blunting tanking. Each plan would expand lottery access to playoff or play-in teams, and the boldest 22-team option would use two seasons of record data plus a win floor to mute extreme losing. Owners will vote in May and Adam Silver said, "I do think ultimately this is a decision that needs to be made at the ownership level... and we are going to fix it. Full stop." Merlin senses a pivot toward competition. A wider lottery would drain the reward of intentional losing, force late-season fights and change how teams time rebuilds and trades. The 22-team, two-year model favors steady building over short-term tanking. Watch fringe clubs; every game now carries extra weight.