NBA Draft Overhaul Proposal That Could End Tanking Has GMs Talking, Zach Lowe Reveals

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Zach Lowe Reveals NBA Draft Overhaul Proposal that Could End Tanking

The NBA’s ongoing effort to address tanking has sparked renewed debate across the league, with multiple ideas emerging from recent general manager discussions. Among them, a unique proposal shared by NBA insider Zach Lowe has gained traction for its unconventional approach to restructuring the draft system.

Speaking on “The Zach Lowe Show“, Lowe detailed a concept that would eliminate the traditional draft order while keeping the draft itself intact. The idea comes at a time when league officials and executives are searching for ways to reduce incentives for losing, especially in seasons featuring highly touted prospects. As Lowe noted, there is “unanimous support” among teams that “something needs to change.”

The concept introduces a market-style system built around “draft credits.” As Lowe explained, “Every team gets, let’s just say, a hundred draft credits… and you bid your draft credits on every individual slot in the draft.”

Teams could trade these credits, roll them over to future years, or spend them aggressively to target a specific pick. Crucially, teams advancing deeper into the playoffs would lose credits, limiting their ability to compete for top selections.

Zach Lowe Details Draft Credit System Proposal

The proposed system would fundamentally change how teams acquire young talent. Instead of relying on lottery odds tied to losing records, franchises would strategically allocate resources in a competitive bidding process.

Under the model, a team could choose to spend all its credits on the No. 1 pick or distribute them across multiple selections. Lowe added that even the highest bidder would not automatically secure the pick, as “there would even be a lottery… with the two or three or four highest bidders.”

This approach introduces flexibility and long-term planning. Teams could accumulate credits over multiple seasons if they anticipate stronger draft classes ahead. They could also trade credits in deals, as draft picks are currently used in transactions.

Lowe noted that at least one general manager was surprised by the level of interest, saying several teams viewed the idea as “actually an idea worth thinking about.” The system aims to reward strategic decision-making rather than losing, while still preserving competitive balance.

Stan Van Gundy Pushes for Radical Draft Elimination Solution

GettyStan Van Gundy

While Lowe’s proposal has generated intrigue, former coach and analyst Stan Van Gundy advocated for an even more sweeping change during the same discussion.

Van Gundy argued that the only true way to eliminate tanking is to remove the draft entirely. “It’s the only thing that incentivizes losing,” he said. “You get rid of the draft… there’s absolutely no incentive to lose.”

He outlined a broader three-part plan: eliminate the draft, remove the rookie salary scale, and abolish maximum player salaries. According to Van Gundy, this would create a true open market where rookies could choose their destinations and negotiate contracts freely.

He also suggested that removing max contracts would spread star players more evenly across the league. “Will a guy sacrifice a million or two a year to play on a better team? Yeah. Will he sacrifice 20 million? No,” he said, arguing this would improve equality.

However, Van Gundy acknowledged resistance would likely come from the players’ union, as such changes could redistribute earnings away from mid-tier players toward top stars.

Lowe, while acknowledging the boldness of the idea, emphasized the complexity of implementing such sweeping reforms. He noted that more moderate solutions, such as flattened lottery odds or stricter anti-tanking penalties, are still under consideration.

For now, the NBA’s search for a solution continues. But Lowe’s draft credit concept represents one of the most innovative ideas currently on the table, signaling that league stakeholders are willing to explore unconventional paths to preserve competitive integrity.

Debayan Biswas is a sports writer covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He focuses on breaking news, trades, and player stories. His work has been featured by Athlon Sports and Pro Football and Sports Network, with republication across platforms including Yahoo Sports and Yardbarker. More about Debayan Biswas