The NBA is actively examining measures to address tanking, with up to 10 franchises currently prioritizing draft position over winning, according to ESPN sources. Commissioner Adam Silver’s comments on the issue generated considerable discussion during All-Star Weekend.
Abolishing the draft entirely and allowing prospects to choose their own teams has not surfaced in competition committee meetings, sources told ESPN. A tournament format among lottery-bound teams has similarly failed to gain support, reflecting how distant those concepts remain from actual consideration.
The Utah Jazz recently became the latest franchise fined for tanking, receiving a $500,000 penalty. League officials are now weighing substantially larger financial sanctions and the potential loss of draft picks for organizations engaged in blatant circumvention of competitive rules.
One high-ranking league official pointed directly to financial consequences as the most effective deterrent.
“You hurt them in the pocketbook,” said the source. “What happens if they don’t receive their full revenue share if the league finds them guilty?”
Among the options drawing favorable responses from league officials is adjusting when lottery odds are set, potentially locking them in earlier than the conclusion of the full 82-game schedule. The change would reduce incentives for late-season losing.
The problem has been amplified this season, with multiple franchises losing deliberately to preserve draft pick protections ahead of what scouts consider a potentially elite draft class. The NBA has not committed to any specific policy changes, though the scope of discussions signals the league views the issue as an urgent competitive threat.