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NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on a recent Competition Committee call, according to sources: "We should have a system where you should hate to lose. It shouldn't be a badge of honor. Losing should be uncomfortable." The new change is not as drastic as relegation to a lower league -- but a penalty for being at the bottom. Many league executives understand this may be an overcorrection, but one the majority believes is necessary.

The "3-2-1 lottery" proposal, named to represent the number of lottery balls per team, would expand the lottery from 14 to 16 teams. Teams that do not qualify for the playoffs or play-in tournament but stay out of the relegation zone (spots four through 10) would receive three lottery balls each. Teams with a bottom-three record -- the relegation zone -- would have just two lottery balls but have a floor of the 12th pick while the rest of the 13 lottery teams could fall as far as the 16th pick. The 9th and 10th play-in seeds in each conference receive two lottery balls each while the losers of the 7-8 play-in games receive one lottery ball each. In addition, no team would be able to win the top pick in consecutive years or be able to win three consecutive top-five picks. Teams also would not be able to protect picks in the 12 to 15 slots going forward.

Johnston is now under contract through 2027. He is projected to make $18 million fully guaranteed in 2027, per Over The Cap.

Louisville freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. in the lab preparing for the pre draft process

Ringmaster (1998)