The NBA is studying additional measures to curb intentional losing, including the possibility of stripping draft picks from clubs deemed to be tanking, league sources told The Athletic.
Under concepts being discussed by Commissioner Adam Silver’s office, a team found guilty of deliberately worsening its on-court performance could:
- Forfeit a draft selection,
- See that selection moved to the end of the lottery or the first round, and/or
- Face multimillion-dollar fines.
“You have to have something in place that is so drastic a team would actually think twice,” an unnamed league source said about the proposed penalties.
Additional anti-tanking proposals
The potential sanctions would complement three anti-tanking models the league has already presented to the Board of Governors. Those proposals, scheduled for a vote with possible amendments in May, include:
- Expanding the draft lottery to 18 or 22 teams, and
- Revising the odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick.
Silver has publicly called reducing tanking a priority, and the league is expected to decide on a new framework before next season.
Source: LakersNation.com
