Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic has shared an important new detail related to the NBA’s draft lottery reform plan, reporting (via Twitter) that – if the proposal is approved – the first 16 picks of the second round will be in the reverse order of the first round.
The NBA’s “3-2-1” lottery reform concept would add two more teams to the lottery, increasing the total from 14 to 16. The league’s 10 non-play-in clubs would be joined by the four teams who play in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games and the two losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 games. The NBA would then draw each of the first 16 spots in the draft via the lottery instead of simply drawing the top four spots, which is how the current format works.
While a bottom-three team can’t fall further than 12th in the first round, the fourth-worst club in the league could theoretically slip all the way to No. 16. But if that’s the case, that team would get the first pick of the second round (No. 31), according to Vorkunov’s reporting. Conversely, the team that wins the lottery would pick 46th overall in the second round.
Under the current draft format, the second round order is simply determined by record, with the worst teams getting the highest picks, regardless of where they landed in the first-round lottery or whether or not they were a playoff team.
For example, the Nets, the league’s third-worst team, have the 33rd overall pick this year despite falling to sixth in the first round via the lottery. Similarly, Portland’s second-round pick this year (No. 42) comes in three spots higher than Charlotte’ second-rounder (No. 45), even though the 42-40 Trail Blazers made the playoffs and the 44-38 Hornets didn’t (both picks have been traded, for what it’s worth).
Based on Vorkunov’s reporting though, it sounds as if the same 16 teams that are involved in the lottery will also get the top 16 picks in round two, with the order simply flipping from one round to the next. Of course, many of those future second-round picks have already changed hands via trade.
The NBA’s Board of Governors are meeting this week and could approve the 3-2-1 lottery proposal as soon as Thursday, so we’ll be keeping a close eye out for more updates. If the changes are ratified, they would take effect for the 2027 draft.
LOL. Silver just stole the NYK best draft pick for next year. He can’t even hide behind the ping pong balls on this one. Good thing this FO doesn’t like the draft much.
LOL…like the NYK getting “lucky” with ping pong balls and able to draft Patrick Ewing. Biggest rigged draft ever.
I mean, most drafts are and anyone who doesn’t believe are ignorant. Whether it be Ewing, D Rose, Kyrie, Wemby, Flagg, even the 2019 year when the Lakers were trying to get AD and they magically jumped up to pick #3