NBA Tackles Tanking Issues Ahead of Potential Draft Changes
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced on Wednesday that the league will confront the pressing issue of tanking and that modifications to the draft are anticipated for 2027.
Silver shared that the recent NBA Board of Governors’ meetings included significant discussions about the problem of tanking. “There was a lengthy conversation,” he noted, emphasizing a strong consensus among attendees for implementing changes in the upcoming season. “We’re currently working on what those changes will entail,” he added.
Tanking isn’t a new challenge in the league. However, the urgency has escalated recently because teams have been especially transparent in their efforts to improve draft positions. This led to fines for the Jazz and Pacers for overtly prioritizing draft rankings over winning.
Merely imposing fines won’t resolve the situation, Silver indicated. The league is actively seeking strategies to stop teams from manipulating game outcomes to boost their draft odds.
A special board meeting is likely to be scheduled in May to discuss and vote on potential amendments, as per Silver. He mentioned that key figures, including NBA Director of League Operations Byron Spruell and the league’s general managers, are dedicating significant effort to address the tanking dilemma. The competition committee, which comprises selected general managers, coaches, and players, will also play a role in proposing solutions.
Silver remarked, “This needs to be decided at the ownership level. It affects various aspects of business and basketball and the integrity of the league. We’re serious about fixing this.”
The NBA implemented the draft lottery in 1985 and has modified it four times since, most recently in 2019. Back then, the odds were adjusted, reducing the worst team’s chances of securing the top pick from 25% to 14%.
Looking ahead, Silver anticipates that the league may need to take more drastic measures compared to previous modifications to the lottery system.
Despite the challenges, Silver expressed confidence in the league’s current state. “What I really like is the excitement surrounding live sports. Fans crave that unscripted drama. However, the challenge arises when it seems that both teams might not be fully committed to winning,” he acknowledged. “We need to figure this out.”
He added a note of caution regarding the permanence of any solutions, suggesting that future changes in collective bargaining could alter the current landscape. “Next season, the incentives will be quite different,” he stated.
Other topics discussed during the board meeting included the possibility of team expansion and the ongoing NBA growth in Europe. They also reviewed the upcoming sale of the Portland Trail Blazers by the Paul Allen Estate to a group led by Tom Dundon.
Seattle and Las Vegas are two prime candidates for potential new teams. Silver mentioned that any expansion would be a strategic decision but noted that it’s not guaranteed. “There’s a chance that expansion might not happen,” he said, emphasizing the importance of exploring options carefully. “We might consider expanding into one, two, or no markets at all.”
