C.J. Holmes: A generational tank-off has the NBA reaching for fixes, and fans hate the fine print
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By C.J. Holmes
Published on March 27, 2026.
The NBA is considering three potential anti-tanking concepts to team owners, with a vote set for May. The proposals aim to make losing seem less profitable and more transparent. The first concept involves expanding the lottery to 18 teams and reducing odds heavily, with the bottom 10 teams each sitting at 8% to land the top pick, and the remaining 20% distributed among the next eight teams. The second concept involves a 22-team lottery bringing in the four teams eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The third concept involves giving the bottom five teams equal odds for picks 1 through 5, then using a second drawing so bottom-five teams can't fall below 10. Critics argue this could create a larger middle class of teams. However, the current lottery is complicated enough and could make it harder to explain.
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