Jerry Reynolds: NBA Draft Lottery changes could alter Sacramento’s rebuild

The Sacramento Kings may need to rethink their approach to rebuilding after the NBA approved sweeping changes to the draft lottery system designed to discourage tanking.

Speaking on Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, Sacramento Kings legend Jerry Reynolds shared his thoughts on the league’s newly approved lottery reform, which will take effect beginning with the 2027 NBA Draft Lottery.

Under the new system, the teams with the three worst records will no longer have the best odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick. Instead, teams finishing in the middle tier of the lottery standings will have a better chance, dramatically reducing the incentive to intentionally lose games.

For Reynolds, the biggest takeaway is simple: tanking is no longer a viable strategy.

“It does seem to me like, well, clearly it’s taken away, whatever, for the most part, the advantage of tanking,” Reynolds said. “It kind of behooves teams to try to be better.”

(NBA Draft Lottery)

The changes could create significant challenges for small-market franchises like the Sacramento Kings.

In the past, struggling teams could count on improving their lottery odds by finishing near the bottom of the standings. Reynolds believes that the path to acquiring franchise-changing talent has become much more difficult.

“I think that it’s going to hurt small market teams maybe more than anybody else,” Reynolds said. “Waiting three or four years in the draft being bad to get that one guy, you know, the Cade Cunningham or the Wembanyama, it’s almost impossible to do now.”

Instead, Reynolds believes successful front offices will need to focus on trades and free agency.

“If you want to be good, you’d better be good at trading,” Reynolds said. “Trading and free agency now become even more important than they were before for small-market teams.”

That reality presents a challenge for Sacramento. Reynolds acknowledged that the Kings’ bleak current position makes it difficult to immediately capitalize on the new landscape.

“I think for [general manager] Scott Perry, your best chance is to make good deals,” Reynolds said. “You have to create assets and improve the assets that you have.”

Sacramento Kings GM Scott Perry (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Reynolds also emphasized the importance of financial flexibility, noting that free agency remains a viable avenue for Sacramento if the organization can create cap space.

“Even people always say, ‘Well, no free agent wants to come,'” Reynolds said. “Yes, they do. If they can make more money, you just have to be in a position to overpay them.”

As the Sacramento Kings search for a path back into contention, Reynolds believes the formula is clear: improve existing assets, make smarter trades, and position the franchise to be aggressive in free agency.

Under the NBA’s new lottery rules, rebuilding through losing may no longer be an option.

Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?

The Sacramento Kings are preparing for a crucial 2026 NBA Draft, which is set to take place from Tuesday, June 23rd, through Wednesday, June 24th.

Sacramento owns the 7th pick in the Draft, giving them a chance at selecting a talented player with upside, such as Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., Houston’s Kingston Flemings, and Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, among others.

Be sure to stay locked into Sactown Sports for pre-draft workout news, player breakdowns, draft rumors and MUCH more.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule

• Tuesday, June 23rd – NBA Draft (Round 1)
• Wednesday, June 24th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
• Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
• Saturday, July 4th – Monday, July 6th – California Classic at Golden 1 Center
• Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
• Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official

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