NBA Lottery Reform Debate: Impact on Milwaukee Bucks, Tanking Solutions, and Playoff Team Inclusion

NBA lottery reform could shake up the Milwaukee Bucks’ rebuild, but will new anti-tanking rules actually fix the league’s longstanding problems? Justin Garcia and Camille Davis break down Adam Silver’s three proposed changes, including expanded draft lotteries, win minimums, and playoff teams entering the mix. Heated debate erupts over whether these reforms reward mediocrity or unfairly punish struggling franchises, with references to lottery odds, tanking strategies, and hidden financial incentives for owners.

Are the Bucks in danger of missing out on future franchise talent, and how might teams like the Utah Jazz or Indiana Pacers maneuver under the new system? The hosts raise bold ideas like penalizing bottom teams with player free agency, revenue hits, and more, questioning if the NBA’s upcoming expansion and CBA changes could create even more chaos. Tune in for sharp analysis, lively disagreement, and a preview of the policy storm brewing for Milwaukee and the league.

00:00 Lottery Reform Proposals
11:04 Playoff Teams in Lottery
21:29 Tanking Alternatives & NBA Chaos

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-bucks/

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nba

#MilwaukeeBucks #Bucks #GiannisAntetokounmpo #NBA

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
TurboTax
This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.
PrizePicks
Download the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.
Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA

Quo
Make this the year where no opportunity – and no cutsomer – slips away.
Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to http://Quo.com/lockedonnba.

Robinhood
You’re no longer just a spectator. Play by play. You decide. Trade Every Play with Robinhood.
Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firm.

5-Hour ENERGY
Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It’s party time. Order Now at 5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.

Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

Gametime
Today’s episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

FanDuel
Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. During the tournament FanDuel is offering $300 back in Bonus Bets every day for ten days. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

14 comments
  1. On TANKING – Only one thing need to fix tanking in current system…….At the end of the lottery, Top # of 1st round drafted rookies are treated the same as restricted free agents. 1. Tanking solved! 2. Bonus, creates more of an even talent distribution due to team salary cap restraints.

  2. Everyone ist against tanking, excluding if his own team does it. Look at you guys whining why you didn’t tank this year, what a great opportunity it was to be bad this year. That is exact definition of tanking if u r honest

  3. Justin’s thoughts on rewarding mid teams also just ruins trades lmao why trade Ayo to the Wolves or Jrue to the Bucks when I actually get rewarded for being mid. It would make the league so much more boring and the league gets so much engagement from trades and trade talk free agency is already dead, the lottery would give no more hope to actual bad teams that need it, and trades wouldn’t be as impactful either.

  4. just base it on record last 5 years, plus don't allow picks to be traded- what Horst has done to the Bucks future is too much for fans to suffer through

  5. Get someone smart to create a formula similar to the NFL' compensatory pick formula.
    Current year holds just a little more weight than the previous two years. Bit all three years matter.
    Also in the formula is player minutes compared to salary. A player that earned 25 million and only played 50% of the season minutes hurts your odds. Players making vet mins and missing time barely moves the needle.
    This helps prevent big names from sitting too much.
    Then whatever this complicated formula translates to lottery odds. So nothing is still guaranteed.

  6. People been tanking since the 70’s. I think the option for the lottery to include all the playin teams & out of play in teams would be good. I think the bottom 10 teams should play in a tournament for the 1st pick. The rest of the picks through 10 are decided equally through ping pong balls. 11-30 by record.

  7. We tanking apparently according to Shambles 😂
    That geezer is a fuckin melon. Salty salty melon 🤡

    Desperate for that big Giannis trade story. Man I PRAY he stays to see them Shambles tears. What an idiot!
    Bucks tanking by asking Giannis to sit the last 2 or 3 games … 🙃

    After desperately tryna make a push for the play-in, we fuckin “tanking” askin Gianni to not rush back again n miss the last couple games.

    Unreal.

Leave a Reply