The National Basketball Association is exploring modifications to its draft lottery system through a proposed "3-2-1" format designed to discourage teams from deliberately losing games to secure better draft positions.

Under the current lottery system, teams with worse records have better odds of obtaining high draft picks, creating incentives for struggling franchises to continue losing games late in the season rather than competing. This practice, known as "tanking," has been a persistent concern for the league.

The proposed 3-2-1 system would reportedly penalize teams with the worst records rather than reward them with the highest probability of securing top draft picks. Specific details about how the new system would operate have not been fully disclosed.

The concept has been described as creating a "draft relegation zone" that would make finishing at the bottom of league standings less appealing for franchises. This approach represents a significant departure from traditional lottery formats that have historically given the worst teams the best chances at high draft selections.

The NBA has previously modified its lottery system to address tanking concerns, most recently in 2019 when it flattened the odds for the worst teams to reduce extreme incentives for losing. The league has not announced a timeline for implementing any new changes or confirmed whether the 3-2-1 proposal will advance beyond the consideration stage.