Tanking is not the way
If this year’s NBA draft lottery has taught us anything it’s that actively trying to lose (tanking) may not be the best strategy anymore. I know I just said that this new lottery system is a mixed bag but teams should still take this as a warning against tanking since it’s clear Adam Silver and the rest of the league are looking to get rid of it.
Teams like the Knicks, Cavs, and Hawks were in tank mode all year-long last season and they each fell out of the top 4 in the lottery. Then teams like the Pelicans and Grizzlies (neither of whom were tanking all year) both jumped to picks 1 and 2, respectively. The Pelicans didn’t intend to tank until later in the season when all the AD trade drama started.
And in Memphis’ case, they were in the playoff hunt earlier in the season but even after falling out of the race, they still competed and at least tried to be respectable. And then what happens? They land with the number 2 pick.
So what does this prove?
Since you can’t just rely on losing more games than everyone else now, franchises will need to be better all-around with the other little things that contribute to team success. In-season trades, scouting, and draft selections and player signings all become more important to a team’s overall level of success.