NBA Considering Several Different Solutions to Stop Teams From Tanking

The NBA is actively considering rule changes to address the issue of teams intentionally losing games, known as "tanking," to improve their draft position. This follows a report by ESPN's Shams Charania detailing discussions held at a recent board of governors meeting.

The league presented several specific proposals aimed at discouraging late-season roster manipulation for the purpose of losing. Key ideas under discussion include limiting draft pick protections to only the top four picks or picks 14 and higher, thereby eliminating protections in the problematic mid-lottery range. Another proposal would prevent a team from drafting in the top four in consecutive years. A third idea involves locking lottery team standings after March 1 to prevent late-season tanking.

The proposed rules are specifically targeted at teams that manipulate their rosters late in the season to accumulate losses, not at clubs that are genuinely rebuilding with their available players. While there is no confirmed timeline or guarantee that these ideas will be implemented, the discussions indicate the NBA is taking a proactive approach to solving a recognized league-wide problem.