The National Basketball Association imposed its strongest penalties of the season this week, fining the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for sitting healthy players, a practice Commissioner Adam Silver said “undermines the foundation of NBA competition.”
League officials acted amid what observers describe as an unprecedented wave of strategic losing. Ten clubs are now seen as openly prioritizing lottery position, driven largely by a 2026 draft class expected to feature high-impact prospects Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Kingston Flemings and Caleb Wilson.
Current Tanking Rankings
10. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans has retained its veterans, played its starters and kept Zion Williamson on the floor. The club’s poor record is viewed as results-based rather than intentional.
9. Milwaukee Bucks
Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s presence, Milwaukee remains near the bottom of the standings. The situation is described as accidental, though it may ultimately improve draft odds.
8. Chicago Bulls
After trading veterans, Chicago added short-term replacements and continues to use win-now lineups, creating confusion about its direction.
7. Dallas Mavericks
Dallas sold assets at the trade deadline but stopped short of aggressive lineup manipulation, a measured approach that follows the franchise’s 2023 fine for intentional losses.
6. Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn alternates between resting and playing veterans. Waiving scorer Cam Thomas is expected to contribute organically to additional defeats.
5. Sacramento Kings
Long associated with on-court struggles, Sacramento traded youth for veterans, started Russell Westbrook and has occasionally rested the entire rotation, yet continues to lose without assistance.
4. Indiana Pacers
Capable of winning, Indiana drew league scrutiny by playing Pascal Siakam heavy minutes one night and resting him the next, prompting the $100,000 sanction.
3. Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis traded away Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., eased Ja Morant back into action and fielded a youthful roster that fell apart late against Golden State without using timeouts.
2. Washington Wizards
Washington acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis but then sat both stars in favor of experimental lineups, even deploying a 6-foot-6 wing at center versus Cleveland.
1. Utah Jazz
Utah’s approach includes benching veterans in fourth quarters, foregoing late timeouts and allowing Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkić to watch end-game collapses. The strategy resulted in a league-record $500,000 fine and public pushback from team ownership.
With lottery odds favoring a top-eight selection for Utah and several other clubs, front offices continue to balance competitive integrity against the lure of a transformative 2026 draft pick. How aggressively teams pursue that goal is now under heightened league surveillance.
Source: Hoops Wire
