In the wake of changes to the NBA’s draft lottery odds, some teams find themselves worse off than before. While the league hopes to end the days of “being bad on purpose,” five teams have taken notable steps backward during the 2026 offseason. The broader implications of this shift may affect league dynamics for years to come.
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5 Teams That Definitely Got Worse During 2026 NBA Offseason
Photo by Bleacherreport
Key Takeaways:
- The NBA has introduced reformed draft lottery odds to curb tanking.
- Five teams suffered notable setbacks during the 2026 offseason.
- Tanking could become obsolete as a long-term strategy.
- Observers suggest these teams are struggling to adjust to the new rules.
- The article was authored by Grant Hughes for Bleacherreport on July 12, 2026.
The Changing NBA Landscape
The NBA has undergone a significant transformation in 2026, primarily due to the introduction of a reformed draft lottery system. This new approach is intended to prevent teams from deliberately losing games—commonly referred to as “tanking”—to secure higher draft picks.
The Shift in Draft Lottery Odds
Under the revised lottery structure, each team has a less predictable chance of landing top draft selections. This change was designed to promote more competitive play throughout the season, mirroring the motto embedded within the article’s description: “If the reformed NBA draft lottery odds do what they’re supposed to, the days of being bad on purpose are over.”
Five Teams in Trouble
Although many teams took advantage of the offseason to improve their rosters, five franchises ended up regressing. The details of each squad’s specific struggles remain under wraps, but the overall conclusion is that certain teams failed to adapt effectively to the new system. This shortfall could lead them down a tougher path when the regular season tips off.
Potential Impact on the NBA
These offseason developments underscore a professional basketball landscape shifting under the pressures of new policies. The league’s attempts to maintain competitiveness and fairness have upended long-held strategies, altering how teams approach season planning. For fans, this could translate into more exciting regular-season matchups and a more level playing field. For front offices, it means a need to be more resourceful, focusing on player development and savvy trades instead of building through the draft alone.
A Look Ahead
The story’s insights, compiled by Grant Hughes, offer a preview of what might come next: a more unpredictable NBA, in which simply waiting for a big draft pick is no longer a viable path to success. As these five teams struggle to regain their footing in a new era of lottery odds, the larger question looms: will the league’s changes indeed thwart tanking in the long term, or is the next clever strategy already in the works? Only the 2026-27 season will tell.
