One of the biggest details in the NBA’s proposed lottery reform centers around limiting how often teams can receive elite draft positions.
According to the proposal, franchises would no longer be allowed to win the No. 1 overall pick in consecutive drafts or land inside the top five three straight years in a row.
“In the event a team’s pick is drawn in the lottery in a position where it is not permitted to be, then such team’s pick would be moved down to the first permissible position,” the league stated in the proposal.
The restrictions would reportedly apply retroactively, creating ripple effects for several teams around the NBA.
That means the Washington Wizards would be unable to win the 2027 lottery after already landing the No. 1 pick in 2026, while the Utah Jazz could not receive another top-five pick after recent lottery finishes.
The rule could also affect future traded draft picks involving teams such as the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns.
NBA Draft Lottery Reform Proposal Includes Retroactive Streak Rules https://t.co/yGBNpnrktO
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 23, 2026
