Silver considering all remedies for rampant tanking in NBA

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed concerns on Saturday, stating that tanking has reached a level this year that is “worse than we’ve seen in recent memory,” and is considering “all possible solutions,” including the possibility of revoking draft picks to curb the behaviors that led to fines for the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers this week.

“In the past, there was an implicit understanding among partners regarding acceptable behavior,” Silver noted ahead of Saturday’s All-Star Saturday events. “Today’s modern analytics have highlighted how misaligned the incentives are. … Are we witnessing more egregious behavior this year compared to previous years? Yes, in my opinion. This is what prompted those fines and my commitment to scrutinizing all teams’ behaviors comprehensively this season, making it clear that teams should be aware.”

Silver opened the press conference by discussing a recent conversation with 97-year-old Bob Cousy about the inaugural All-Star Game in 1950, and they both acknowledged how much the game has evolved since that time. This reflection led Silver to consider the potential need to revamp draft procedures after 75 years, similar to the ongoing experiments with the All-Star Game format.

He pointed out that discussions with general managers and members of the league’s competition committee revealed that the lottery’s incentive structure has muddied the distinction between the worst-performing teams and those with the poorest records.

“If teams are manipulating their outcomes to secure better draft picks even within a lottery system, the question arises … are these actually the worst-performing teams?” Silver remarked. “It’s unclear, for example, whether the team with the 30th worst record is significantly inferior to the 22nd team when there’s a motive to perform poorly for a better draft spot.

“It’s a perplexing issue. As I’ve said, the All-Star [Game] has been around for 75 years. The league itself is 80 years old. It’s time for a fresh evaluation of this situation to determine if it’s a dated approach.”

Throughout Saturday, Silver repeatedly acknowledged the dilemma teams face between short-term pressure to lose for improved draft positions and the long-term interests of the league.

“It’s a collective effort to determine what serves the best interests of the game,” Silver stated. “It’s my responsibility to remind everyone. … I get what your short-term objectives may be, but we must not forget our fans who support this league consistently.”

This point came in response to a question about the ongoing investigation into whether the LA Clippers bypassed the NBA’s salary cap via an endorsement deal between the former team sponsor Aspiration and star forward Kawhi Leonard.

Silver indicated that he had no new information regarding the inquiry, which is led by the New York-based firm Wachtell Lipton.

“It’s incredibly complex. You have a company that is bankrupt, thousands of documents need reviewing, and multiple witnesses must be interviewed,” Silver explained.

“Just to clarify, the presence of All-Star [Weekend] this weekend has not affected the investigation’s timeline. We have tasked the Wachtell law firm with conducting their work and subsequently making recommendations to the league office; that’s where we currently stand.”

Silver could not provide a timeline for the investigation’s conclusion.

He did, however, share an update on the NBA’s potential expansion plans, stating he expected the board of governors to discuss the issue at their upcoming March meeting and to start reaching out to potential cities and owners interested in expansion. He emphasized that the league isn’t exploring relocating any existing franchises.

“I believe the logical next step is to say, ‘We’ve had our internal discussions, made decisions regarding potential cities, and now need to engage with the market,'” Silver concluded. “Discovering who may be interested in owning a franchise in specific locations and assessing the value of such franchises is crucial. We still have work to do regarding potential conference realignment. That’s our next step.”