NBA Considers New Rules to Curb Tanking After Mavericks' Lottery Win

Proposed changes could have prevented Dallas from drafting top prospect Cooper Flagg.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 10:39pm

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The NBA is exploring new rules to discourage tanking, including a proposal that would prevent teams from picking in the top 4 the year after making the conference finals. This comes after the Dallas Mavericks, who made the NBA Finals in 2024, traded away star Luka Doncic and then won the 2025 draft lottery, allowing them to select highly touted prospect Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks are currently struggling without Doncic, making Flagg's arrival even more crucial. Other ideas include protecting lottery picks only in the top 4 or top 14+, and freezing lottery odds to disincentivize teams from purposefully losing.

Why it matters

Tanking has become a major issue in the NBA, with many teams prioritizing draft position over winning. The Mavericks' situation highlights how the current system can reward teams for losing, undermining the league's competitive integrity. The proposed changes aim to discourage this practice and ensure the draft remains a fair and effective way for struggling teams to improve.

The details

The Mavericks' 2025 lottery win, which allowed them to draft Cooper Flagg, is a prime example of how the current system can be exploited. After making the NBA Finals in 2024, the Mavericks traded away star Luka Doncic, leading to a disastrous 2024-25 season. Despite their poor record, the Mavericks defied the odds and jumped to the first overall pick, landing the highly touted Flagg. This outcome has prompted the NBA to consider new rules, such as preventing teams from picking in the top 4 the year after making the conference finals, or only allowing lottery protection on the top 4 or top 14+ picks.

  • The NBA discussed these proposed changes at a GM meeting on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • The Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, allowing them to select Cooper Flagg.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A highly touted prospect selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, seen as a potential life raft for the struggling franchise.

Luka Doncic

Former star player for the Dallas Mavericks, who was traded away prior to the 2024-25 season, leading to the team's disastrous campaign and unexpected lottery win.

Kyrie Irving

Veteran player for the Dallas Mavericks, who is returning from an ACL injury and will be relied upon to help the team alongside the newly drafted Cooper Flagg.

Anthony Davis

Former player for the Dallas Mavericks, who was traded away prior to the team's struggles in the 2024-25 season.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to curb tanking and ensure the draft remains a fair and effective way for struggling teams to improve.”

— NBA Executive

What’s next

The NBA plans to further discuss these proposed rule changes at future meetings, with the goal of implementing them in time for the 2027 or 2028 NBA Draft.

The takeaway

The Mavericks' unexpected lottery win highlights the need for the NBA to address tanking, as the current system can be exploited by teams prioritizing draft position over winning. The proposed changes aim to create a more balanced and competitive league, ensuring the draft remains a fair avenue for struggling franchises to improve.