NBA Passes New Rules On Draft Lottery, Resting Players

The NBA’s board of governors on Thursday voted to pass new regulations on draft lottery as well as guidelines for resting healthy players during the regular season.

NBA Draft Lottery Reform News

The draft lottery reform passed with a 28-1-1 vote, with Oklahoma City voting against and Dallas abstaining. The league needed at least 23 of 30 teams — a three-fourths majority — to pass the legislation.

These changes will take effect in the 2019 NBA draft.

Commissioner Adam Silver has been a fervent proponent of both legislative agendas for reasons concerning the NBA’s economy, competitive balance and public perception.

The NBA needed a three-fourths majority to pass draft lottery reform, which is designed to discourage teams from tanking to pursue the best possible odds to select highest in the draft order.

With regards to resting healthy players, the new rules grant Silver the authority to fine teams for sitting healthy players for all games, including nationally televised contests. That regulation required only a simple majority in order to pass.

“It ultimately is my hope that the rules go in the drawer and that teams step up here and see that there is a larger obligation to our fans, to the basketball community,” Silver said regarding the rest issue.

In the new lottery odds, the three teams with the worst records will share a 14 percent chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick, a change from the descending percentages of 25, 19.9, and 15.6 in the current system.

Certain small-market teams expressed uncertainty about the plan, primarily because officials felt it limited their chances of recruiting elite players since free agency has typically favored big-market teams.

The NBA also announced that any violation of the new resting rule will be ruled as conduct prejudicial or detrimental to the league. Teams that violate the regulation can now be fined at least $100,000.

The NBA rid the upcoming season schedule of several back-to-back games around nationally televised appearances, giving teams presumably less reason to sit out players for high-profile games.

MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 20: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors works against Matthew Dellavedova #8 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on April 20, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Bucks defeated the Raptors 106-77.