As the NBA continues to explore changes to its draft lottery system, the “3-2-1” proposal has emerged as the leading option, though a final decision from the league’s Board of Governors is still a few weeks away.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, discussions are ongoing and adjustments to the proposal could still be made before any vote takes place.
Amick notes that team executives have been asking for more detailed explanations about how certain elements of the plan would function, particularly in less straightforward scenarios.
One key area of uncertainty involves rules designed to limit teams from repeatedly securing top picks – specifically, restrictions on winning the No. 1 pick in consecutive years or landing top-five selections in three straight drafts.
A major question is how those limits would apply to traded draft picks.
For example, if a team earns the No. 1 pick with its own selection in one year and then acquires another No. 1 pick the following year through a trade, would that violate the rule?
For now, the league’s interpretation is that such a situation would still be permitted.
Amick's Latest: Lottery Reform, Jenkins, Thibodeau, Blazers https://t.co/Cpbi4lsB8E
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 5, 2026
