What happened: The NBA's Board of Governors approved sweeping anti-tanking rules, expanding the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The changes add a relegation zone in which the bottom three teams receive reduced odds at the No. 1 pick, alongside further flattened lottery odds. Reporting around the vote tied the package to a new '3-2-1' lottery framework.

Why it matters: The reforms target one of the league's longest-running structural problems: incentives that reward losing. By penalizing the worst teams rather than rewarding them, the league reshapes how front offices approach rebuilds, roster construction, and end-of-season strategy. Flattened odds further reduce the payoff for bottoming out, a continuation of reforms first introduced in 2019.

What to watch: Watch for the league's formal rollout details and the timeline for when the expanded 16-team lottery and relegation penalties take effect. Front-office reaction and any competitive-balance pushback will shape how the new system is received.