Tanking is ruining NBA basketball. Can math save it?

The NBA has awarded the Washington Wizards the first pick in the upcoming draft after their fifth consecutive losing season. This high draft pick is crucial as it can transform a struggling team into a successful one. The draft lottery system is designed to help weaker teams by giving them better odds for top picks, but it has led to “tanking,” where teams intentionally lose to improve their draft chances. The NBA is considering a new “3-2-1” system to address this issue, which would adjust the odds and penalize the worst-performing teams. However, some experts argue that this might still keep the weakest teams at the bottom. Alternative proposals suggest creating tiers to reduce intense competition for the worst records. The ongoing debate highlights the challenge of balancing competitive fairness with discouraging tanking. QUESTION: How might changes to the NBA draft lottery system impact the way teams approach their seasons?