The NBA is officially throwing out the old playbook on tanking, and it is going down this season. We are talking about a completely revamped Draft Lottery system kicking off with the 2026-27 season, and it is going to shake up the entire league. This isn’t just a tweak; the Board of Governors took a massive swing to combat those “unsightly” attempts at bottoming out for a better draft pick.
Tanking’s Last Dance: The New Draft Lottery System Just Dropped
Forget everything you thought you knew about hitting rock bottom for a top pick. This new “3-2-1 Lottery system” is a dramatic departure, and it is in place for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 drafts. It is a three-year trial run, but man, it is packed with changes. They flattened out the lottery odds, expanded it from 14 to 16 teams, and now they are drawing for all 16 lottery picks. But wait, there is more: teams cannot pick first in back-to-back drafts, and you cannot own top-five picks in three consecutive drafts. Oh, and if you are one of the three worst teams in the league, you are getting draft relegation, meaning worse odds for a top-nine pick than other non-play-in squads. The league saw tanking as a real problem, and they just dropped a bomb on it. This is going to change how every struggling franchise approaches the end of the season.
New Home Court for the Emirates NBA Cup and Official Focus Shifts
The Emirates NBA Cup is also getting a facelift, heading into its fourth year. The tournament’s semifinals and championship games are no longer chilling in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. Now, the higher-seeded team in each conference will host the semifinals, which is huge for home-court advantage, and the championship game is moving to the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Butler University’s home. Group Play for the Cup runs from Friday, October 30, through Friday, November 27. The Knockout Rounds start on Friday, December 4, with the championship set for Friday, December 11. Keep in mind, every single one of these tournament games, except for the finale, counts toward the regular-season standings. The Lakers took the first Cup, the Bucks grabbed the second, and the Knicks snagged the most recent one.
On the court, the officials are also getting new marching orders. For the 2026-27 season, the league is really clamping down on push-offs. Refs will now be watching for “feeling, firming, force, and full extension.” Ball-handlers can use their off arms to feel out a defender or firm up their position, but if they use force or extend their arm fully to create an advantage, that is a foul. Officials are also instructed to keep a sharp eye on illegal screens and any illegal defensive contact like clutching and grabbing off the ball. We will see if they maintain this focus all season, but they are clearly trying to clean up some of the more frustrating physical plays.
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off Tuesday night, and with these new draft lottery rules, a fresh NBA Cup format, and tightened officiating, it is going to be fascinating to watch how teams adapt. Get ready, basketball fans, because this season is bringing some serious changes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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