NBA

I still don't understand why the bottom three teams have worse odds than teams 4-10 from the bottom. Is it a measure to insure that teams that tank only tank a little bit? Even with flat odds for the bottom 10, there is no reason for a team not to start winning once they are out of the play-in. They would want to since it is more interesting for fans and helps with player development.

Just want to point out some corrections, at least in my understanding:

• 16 teams total in the lottery now
• Winner of 7/8 game gets no lottery balls and is not a part of the lottery
• Loser of 7/8 game gets one ball
• 9/10 seeds both get two balls
• Bottom 3 teams overall get only two balls, but they cannot fall below 12 in the draft
• Remaining 7 non-play-in teams get three balls and can pick anywhere from 1-16

Additional restrictions:

• Cannot win #1 overall pick in consecutive drafts
• Cannot win a top 5 pick in three consecutive drafts
• Cannot attach top-12 through top-15 protections to newly traded draft picks
• League has expanded authority to reduce a team's odds modify draft positions and/or impose fines in response to tanking

https://www.nba.com/news/nba-board-governors-approve-new-draft-lottery-system