The 3 franchises that could be the worst NBA team next season

The upcoming NBA season will have an unexpected incentive at the bottom of the standings. With the new Draft lottery system, finishing last will no longer be an advantage, meaning franchises will have fewer reasons to deliberately lose games. The big question will be who actually ends up being the worst team in the league in a scenario where winning regains value.

The new system reduces the reward for losing

The NBA has approved a lottery reform that will take effect with the 2027 Draft. The system expands the lottery to 16 teams and establishes that the three worst franchises of the season will receive only two balls for the drawing, while other teams that miss the Play-In will have three.

The change is significant. Until now, the three worst teams shared a 14% chance of getting the number 1 pick. With the new rules, that percentage drops to 5.4%. Furthermore, franchises that finish in the lowest zone will be guaranteed at least the 12th pick, while other lottery teams could fall to the 16th position.

The consequence is clear: losing does not guarantee a better position in the Draft. In fact, it could result in a team with a slightly better record having a higher chance of getting a top pick.

Tanking loses much of its meaning

The reform does not completely eliminate the possibility of a franchise having a very bad season, but it does reduce the incentive to build a deliberately weak roster. Teams in a middle position will have reasons to compete until the end, try to enter the Play-In, and avoid falling into the heavily penalized area.

Restrictions have also been introduced to prevent a franchise from getting the number 1 pick in two consecutive drafts or a top 5 pick for three years in a row. The NBA will also have more capacity to sanction behaviors deemed aimed at artificially improving lottery odds.

Therefore, the debate will no longer be merely about which team has less talent, but rather which one can compete worse despite having reasons to try to win. Injuries, last-minute trades, the development of young players, and the adaptation of new coaches will be determining factors.

Bulls, Bucks, and Nets, candidates for the fight at the bottom

Among the teams that appear in the predictions to occupy the bottom of the Eastern Conference are the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets.

The Bulls are undergoing a rebuilding phase and have lost much of the talent that allowed them to compete in previous seasons. Their main problem may be the lack of an offensive reference capable of supporting the team in close games. If the young players do not step up, Chicago could accumulate losses, although the new system will make each victory carry added value.

The Bucks also feature in this conversation after parting ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The departure of the franchise player leaves Milwaukee without its main advantage creator and forces a complete reevaluation of the project. The experience of some veterans may keep them competitive during certain stretches, but the team’s ceiling seems much lower without Giannis.

Brooklyn, on the other hand, finished last season with a 20-62 record, but they might not be as weak as initial forecasts suggest. The Nets have added Julius Randle and Keon Ellis, while Michael Porter Jr. has just had a great season under the guidance of Jordi Fernández. Additionally, player development from individuals like Egor Demin and the arrival of rookie Mikel Brown Jr. is anticipated.

In fact, Ricky O’Donnell from SB Nation ranked Brooklyn ahead of the Bulls and Bucks in his Eastern Conference standings. His argument is that Jordi Fernández's work, the growth of young players, and Randle’s presence could make the Nets a more competitive team than expected.

Winning will be important even for the worst

The new regulations could lead to a much more interesting season at the bottom. Teams that would have previously accepted losing to improve their Draft odds will now have reasons to seek victories, develop their players in a competitive context, and avoid getting trapped in the “draft relegation” zone.

This does not mean that the Bulls, Bucks, or Nets will necessarily fight for the playoffs. But it does open up a different discussion: which will be the real worst team in the NBA when finishing last is no longer a prize? The answer will depend less on who wants to lose and more on who has fewer resources to win.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las 3 franquicias candidatas a ser el peor equipo NBA la próxima temporada