Open Extended ReactionsThe NBA has begun to gather input from its owners and general managers on new ways to combat tanking in the aftermath of the gambling scandal that rocked the league at the start of the season, sources told ESPN. In recent years, multiple teams have either shut down players early or sat players for games to try to improve their draft positioning, often tied to a protected pick. The NBA last changed the lottery rules in 2019, giving the three worst teams in the regular season the same 14% odds to land the No. In addition to the ideas for combating tanking, the league office presented to the board of governors several examples of protected picks potentially impacting the finish of recent seasons. The pick had top-10 protection each of the past two seasons, and Utah kept the pick both times.