Overview
- Commissioner Adam Silver told all 30 general managers on Thursday that anti-tanking rule adjustments are planned for the 2026–27 season, according to multiple reports, with details still to be finalized.
- Options under discussion include limiting first-round pick protections to top four or outside the top 14, freezing lottery odds at the trade deadline or later, and flattening odds for all lottery teams.
- Other proposals would bar teams from picking in the top four in consecutive years or after consecutive bottom-three finishes, disallow a top-four pick the year after reaching the conference finals, base odds on two-year records, and extend the lottery to include play-in teams.
- The league has already enforced penalties, fining the Jazz $500,000 and the Pacers $100,000 for conduct tied to player participation, including Utah sitting Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for fourth quarters of close games.
- Debate is intensifying as Suns owner Mat Ishbia denounces tanking and Mark Cuban argues to embrace it, while analysts warn of unintended consequences and any final changes will require Board of Governors and likely NBPA approval.