Thunderous Intentions
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Adam Silver faces first major challenges since taking office

By Tamberlyn Richardson

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media to discuss the Board of Governors meetings on July 12, 2017 at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media to discuss the Board of Governors meetings on July 12, 2017 at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Adam Silver - addressing the tank
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 3: Robert Covington /

Lottery Reform:

An answer on whether the lottery will significantly change realistically could occur by the end of this month.

The status of this situation is the Competition Committee (comprised of coaches and General Managers) would have received the recommendation from the league office sometime this week. That committee will review the proposal and chose to either accept it in its entirety or make recommendations for specific alterations.

Once that part is complete the committee will send the proposal to the Board of Governors or BOG (comprised primarily of team owners). By the end of September, the BOG would then vote on the lottery reform proposal. Timelines for implementing a new lottery structure would not affect the process until the 2018-19 season.

Trial and Error:

In essence, if there are sweeping changes to the manner in which the lottery is handled this coming season would not be affected by them. So, if a franchise was planning on tanking (and if there were significant changes to the system) this would be the final year to exercise the tank method.

If approved, the major changes to the 2019 lottery would find the three worst teams all with an equal opportunity of landing the top pick. Whether this minor tweak alone will reap massive process changes will be determined in time.

It’s a hairy situation because small-market teams like the OKC Thunder often have to rely on the draft to land top talents.  Therefore, the overriding question is shouldn’t the lottery reward teams who at least try to win?

A look at teams who’ve toiled in the basement in recent seasons also leads to another issue which may be the largest of Silver’s issues…

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