Commissioner Adam Silver delivered a strong anti-tanking message during a video call on Thursday with the NBA’s general managers, according to Joe Vardon and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
The purpose of the gathering was to discuss measures that could be implemented for next season to curtail the practice. Vardon and Amick cited “tension” during the call as Silver talked about the integrity of the league and at times resembled his predecessor, David Stern, who was known to clash with owners and team executives.
At one point, Nets GM Sean Marks objected to some of the proposals, mistakenly believing they would be implemented right away. Marks, whose team is going through the rebuilding process and is counting on a high draft pick this summer, was reminded that nothing will take effect until the new league year starts in July.
“I would just say, Sean,” Silver told him, “you could assume for next season your only incentive will be to win games.”
Silver argued with another general manager over whether coaches of losing teams are willing participants in tanking, Vardon and Amick add. When the GM said, “Our coaches are on board with our plan,” Silver responded, “(They) tell that to you. They say they’re on board because they have to. When we talk to coaches, no one wants to go in there and try to lose (on purpose).”
A few GMs pointed out that they have to submit long-term plans to their ownership, which provides some incentive to plot out a lengthy rebuild that will ensure job security. Silver stated that those “mindsets” need to change.
According to the authors, some of the proposals mentioned during the call included placing limits on pick protections, preventing teams from having top-four picks in consecutive years, and not allowing conference finalists to pick in the top four a year later.
The league is accepting ideas from all 30 teams to create a system that doesn’t provide an incentive to tank. More than half the GMs shared suggestions and other input during the call, according to Vardon and Amick, and it was generally regarded as a productive exchange despite the sometimes-tense atmosphere.
“Overwhelmingly, everyone realizes changes are coming and they need to come,” one executive told the authors. “It’s a matter of when and what and how. What changes you implement, do they last a year, five years, is this a quick band-aid? That’s not what we want.”