As the 2025–26 season hits its midpoint, one topic has dominated league circles more than any MVP debate or trade rumor: tanking. Around the National Basketball Association, front offices are once again being accused of prioritizing lottery odds over competitiveness — and the issue feels more visible than ever.
With a generational draft class looming, several teams near the bottom of the standings have shifted into development mode early. Star players are being shut down for “precautionary” reasons. Veterans are being traded for draft capital. Young lineups are playing heavy minutes. The pattern isn’t subtle.
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The modern tank is smarter than it used to be:
Jun 21, 2019; Independence, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers first round draft picks Dylan Windler, left, and Darius Garland show off their jerseys during a press conference at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports
Since the league flattened lottery odds in 2019, finishing with the absolute worst record no longer guarantees a top pick. Yet executives have found a middle ground: lose enough to stay in the bottom tier, but not so blatantly that it damages credibility.
The result?
A growing stretch of late-season games featuring:
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Rest-heavy rotations
Two-way contract players in starting roles
Limited incentive to chase the Play-In Tournament
While teams publicly frame it as “player development,” fans see what’s happening — and so do players.
The Competitive Balance Question
Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly stated that preserving competitive integrity is a league priority. But critics argue the current system unintentionally encourages strategic losing.
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The problem isn’t just about draft odds. It’s about:
TV ratings dipping for non-contenders
Veterans frustrated with organizational direction
Paying fans watching a product that feels compromised
Even contending teams have voiced concerns privately about the uneven nature of the schedule when some opponents pivot toward development months before April.
The Play-In Effect
Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; 2025 NBA Draft class poses for a group photo before the first round at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Ironically, the Play-In Tournament was designed to reduce tanking. And in some ways, it has. Mid-tier teams now have reason to compete deeper into the season.
But it has also created a new gray area:
Teams clearly outside the Play-In range shut it down early.
Fringe teams debate whether sneaking into the 10-seed is worth sacrificing lottery position.
That tension has made the bottom third of the standings a strategic battlefield rather than a competitive one.
Possible Solutions
Several ideas are gaining traction among analysts and executives:
The Draft Wheel Concept – A rotating system that removes lottery positioning entirely.
Expanded Lottery Odds – Further flattening to reduce incentive for bottoming out.
In-Season Incentives – Financial or competitive rewards for late-season wins.
Relegation-Style Penalties – Unlikely, but occasionally floated in league think tanks.
Each solution carries risks. Too much parity in draft odds could hurt truly struggling franchises. Too little reform could erode fan trust.
The Bigger Picture
The NBA has long marketed itself as a player-driven league built on star power. But stars enter through the draft — and as long as elite prospects can transform a franchise overnight, teams will chase that opportunity.
The real question isn’t whether tanking exists. It’s whether the current structure unintentionally rewards it.
With another loaded draft approaching and several franchises already positioning themselves, tanking isn’t just a subplot — it’s one of the defining storylines of the season.
And until the incentives change, the debate isn’t going away.
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