If it’s all right with you, I’d like to just skip the intro. I’ve read enough columns, blog posts and manifestos about NBA draft lottery reform—and I’m guessing you have, too—to know this is the part where they usually start with an explanation of why reform is needed and some particularly egregious examples of shameless, blatant tanking. I think, given how much it’s been in the news lately (first, commissioner Adam Silver came out and said reform was coming, then ESPN reported three potential reforms that will be discussed at a Board of Governors meeting in May, then the NBA Players Association countered with its own set of tweaks to consider) we can just cut right to the good part.
The bad news is, I don’t think any of the ideas I’ve seen batted around actually eliminate the warped incentive structure where teams benefit from losing, the toughest but most crucial nut to crack in this long-running debate. The good news is I think I have a plan that does.
