Hidden Tanking: NBA Clubs Aim for Top Picks Today, Playoffs Tomorrow
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New York, Feb. 9, 2026 — A handful of NBA franchises are rolling out a two-part plan that pairs late-season losses with blockbuster trades, hoping to draft high this June and contend as early as next fall.
The Lottery That Set the Stage
During last May’s draft lottery, Utah Jazz general manager Justin Zanik, Washington Wizards executive Will Dawkins and Charlotte Hornets co-owner Rick Schnall watched as the final ping-pong ball was drawn. When the number 11 appeared — completing combination 3-5-2-11 — Charlotte secured the fourth overall pick. The Hornets selected Kon Knueppel, while Utah chose Ace Bailey at No. 5 and Washington took Tre Johnson at No. 6.
Knueppel’s arrival turbocharged Charlotte: the rookie is hitting 42% of his eight three-point attempts per game, matching the efficiency Stephen Curry posted in 2009-10 on a lighter volume. The Hornets have won nine straight, their longest streak in more than 20 years, and just acquired guard Coby White to reinforce a playoff bid.
Washington’s Star Duo on Ice
In December, Trae Young returned from a quad injury and played five of six games for Atlanta. After being traded to Washington, he has not suited up in six weeks, and the club has offered no timetable. Anthony Davis was expected to miss six weeks with a hand injury while still with the Dallas Mavericks; following last week’s trade, Dawkins projected up to 10 weeks of rehab — work Davis will complete back in Dallas.
The Wizards’ first-round pick conveys to the New York Knicks unless it falls inside the top eight. Prolonged absences for Young and Davis improve those odds now, while a healthy pair could push Washington back into the postseason next year. “Owners want to know when a rebuild ends,” a longtime league executive said. “These teams have set a deadline.”
Utah’s Parallel Path
Utah’s pick is also protected through the top eight. The Jazz shocked the league at the trade deadline by sending a package heavy on draft assets to Memphis for Jaren Jackson Jr. He dropped 22 points in 25 minutes Saturday, then sat the entire fourth quarter of a three-point loss in Orlando. Lauri Markkanen, who recently missed seven games with illness, scored 27 in 27 minutes and likewise watched the final period from the bench.
An Eastern Conference head coach summarized the gamble: “Trae and AD plus a top-five pick, or Jaren and Markkanen plus a top-five pick, can be special. Miss on that pick and you’re probably stuck at the bottom.”
Brooklyn and Indiana Join the Trend
The Brooklyn Nets, lacking control of their future first-rounders, amassed and deployed five first-round selections this season and routinely field one of the league’s youngest lineups. Forward Michael Porter Jr., in the midst of a career season, stayed through the deadline to anchor a potential turnaround once roughly $50 million in summer cap space is spent.
Indiana, a few steps ahead on the same path, awaits Tyrese Haliburton’s recovery from a torn Achilles and landed center Ivica Zubac from the LA Clippers. Zubac appeared in 15 of 16 games before the deal; Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has since ruled him out “for a sore ankle” — an ailment not previously listed — while the new father spends time at home.
Injuries Elsewhere and League Reaction
The Milwaukee Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo) and Dallas Mavericks (Kyrie Irving) could likewise benefit from extended injury timelines that coincide with draft positioning. Meanwhile, Charlotte discovered a previously undiagnosed calf strain in Coby White’s physical, forcing Chicago to remove a second-round pick from the trade package — a twist that irked some executives who view the Hornets as trying to win now while others sit veterans.
According to sources, the NBA’s competition committee has discussed such “flip” strategies, but any rule change would arrive after this season. Until then, more clubs may embrace short-term pain for what they hope will be an immediate future payoff.
Source: ESPN.com
