The NBA is weighing a significant overhaul of its draft lottery system with a new "3-2-1 lottery" proposal that would expand the field from 14 to 16 teams, per Shams Charania.
The proposal, named to represent the specific number of lottery balls allocated per team, aims to restructure how the league’s draft odds are distributed among non-playoff franchises. According to Charania, teams that do not qualify for the playoffs or the play-in tournament but remain outside of the "relegation zone"—defined as spots four through 10—would receive three lottery balls under this new format.
This potential change would mark a major shift in the league's approach to the draft. By expanding the lottery to 16 teams, the NBA would broaden the pool of franchises eligible for a top-four selection. The move appears designed to further address competitive balance and the incentives associated with the end-of-season standings. Currently, the NBA lottery consists of the 14 teams that do not make the playoffs, a system that has been in place with various odds adjustments for decades.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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