A proposal for new NBA lottery rules could flip draft odds. Discover how such rule changes might affect the Sacramento Kings.
In the NBA this season, tanking became a big point of discussion, as more teams than usual seemingly began to give up and focus on securing better position in the draft.
The league's new "3-2-1" proposal to address the increase in tanking would have huge impact on teams that finish in the bottom of the standings, like the Sacramento Kings did this year.
The Kings finished the year 22-60, falling just short of securing the best odds at landing within the top-five and a 14-percent chance at the top overall selection.
However, if the proposed changes to the lottery were approved, the Kings would actually have a better chance than teams that finished in the bottom three.
According to the proposal, teams that finish with a bottom-three record in the league would receive two lottery balls compared to the three that teams in the bottom 4-10 team records would have.
Teams that lose in the play-in games would receive just one ball, but would hold similar chances at the No. 1 overall pick as the bottom tier of teams.
Essentially, the worst teams in the NBA would be penalized for landing in the bottom three, regardless of intent or talent level.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported that "no team would be able to win the top pick in consecutive years or be able to win three consecutive top-five picks. Teams also would not be able to protect picks in the 12 to 15 slots going forward."
While this approval is far from set in stone, if it was confirmed, the changes would go into effect next season.
However, looking back on this past season, the lottery odds would be completely shaken up.
The Kings would hold an 8.1-percent chance at the No. 1 overall selection, alongside teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks.
Talented teams like the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, who lost in the play-in, would mirror the bottom-three squads -- the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and league-worst Washington Wizards.
While tanking has become a threat to the entire league this season and NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been vocal about wanting to implement new changes to prevent it, this proposal would be a radical switch.
Kings head coach Doug Christie frequently preached anti-tanking beliefs throughout the year, asserting the team values development over improving draft position.
At least this season, the Kings would have been among the group of teams that could have benefited from this change.
However, rewarding teams for mediocrity rather than squads that are just flat-out not ready to win in an era of deep, uber-talented NBA rosters would be something difficult to navigate.
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