The NBA considered a major change to its draft system known as the “draft credit” model but ultimately chose not to pursue it, according to The Stein Line.
The concept was discussed internally before more realistic proposals were presented to teams at a recent Board of Governors meeting.
The idea would have removed the link between regular-season records and draft position.
Instead of traditional picks, each team would receive a set number of draft credits, such as 100, and use them to bid on selections in an auction-style format, starting with the No. 1 pick.
Trades would also look different, with teams able to deal portions of their credit pool rather than actual draft picks, allowing others to accumulate credits and compete for top prospects.
The system was compared to fantasy football waiver budgets and resembled a concept previously proposed by Amin Elhassan in 2015.
In the end, the league leaned toward less drastic changes, including expanding the lottery to Play-In teams and flattening odds among non-playoff clubs.
Those proposals remain under consideration and could be implemented as early as May as part of efforts to reduce tanking.
NBA Brainstormed Fantasy Football-Style 'Draft Credit' System Before Rejecting Concept https://t.co/GAHHJ4CtvI
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 2, 2026
