NBA Passes Lottery Reform, But Will It Actually Cure Tanking?

It will be quite difficult moving forward for a team to replicate the Sixers' strategy the last few years of doing everything possible to land the top pick in the NBA draft.

On Thursday, the NBA's Board of Governors passed draft lottery form.

Beginning with the 2019 draft, the team with the worst record no longer has the best odds at the No. 1 pick. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted out a chart that clarifies how the new process will work. From 2019-on, the teams with the three worst records have the same chance (14 percent) at the top pick. Previously, the team with the worst record had a 25-percent chance.

This will be interesting because it doesn't really cure or de-incentivize tanking, it just changes the point at which tanking will take place. You mean to tell me that the teams with the fourth- and fifth-worst records aren't going to do everything in their power to get to the third-worst record?

Rockets GM Daryl Morey appears to agree. He sent a sarcastic tweet to former Sixers GM and Rockets assistant GM Sam Hinkie shortly after the news broke.

Philadelphia 76ers

Complete coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers and their rivals in the NBA from NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Tyrese Maxey becomes the 2nd Sixer to win Most Improved Player award

Last 2-Minute Report details multiple mistakes at the end of Sixers-Knicks Game 2  

Copyright CSNPhily
Contact Us