Entering the 2022/23 season, it looked like it could be a historic year for tanking in the NBA, with Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson headlining next year’s draft class as prospects who have the potential to transform a franchise.
So far though, many of the teams expected to be involved in that race to the bottom have performed better than expected. The Pacers (5-6) and Spurs (5-7) have been hovering around .500, while the Jazz (10-3) have the best record in the Western Conference.
Still, front office executives who spoke to Sam Amick of The Athletic believe it’s just a matter of time before we see a handful of teams bottom out.
“It’s such a long season,” one executive said. “A lot of people that run and operate teams understand the risk of not winning games, as far as what it does to the fabric of your organization or your team. They do value teaching the right habits and making sure they’re putting their best foot forward and trying to win games, so I think that’s why you’re seeing teams perform better than what we thought coming out. But I do think at some point during the season, when teams realize where they’re at, they’ll adjust and do more things to try to procure the best position they can.”
Another exec put it more succinctly: “Nobody starts 0-10. You just can’t do that. But yeah, (the tanking) will happen.”
Amick spoke to 10 NBA front office executives about a variety of topics, with a focus on possible tanking teams. Here are a few more highlights from his article, which is worth checking out in full if you’re an Athletic subscriber:
- While some executives believe the Jazz remain open for business and will look to continue selling off veterans, others aren’t convinced the team will go into fire-sale mode. “I think (CEO) Danny (Ainge) won’t break it all the way down,” an exec told Amick. “I could see him keeping a guy like (Lauri) Markkanen, and (there’s a sense) that he doesn’t have the stomach for a true rebuild. That might be one team that doesn’t make moves to go that direction because Danny doesn’t believe in it.”
- Veteran center Jakob Poeltl is considered a “floor lifter” for the Spurs, so if San Antonio wants to bottom out, he’ll likely emerge as a prime trade candidate in the coming weeks and months — especially since he’s so highly regarded around the NBA. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up back there, but I also think he’ll be very much in demand (from other teams) in February,” an exec told Amick.
- Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has expressed confidence in the Thunder‘s future, people around the league are curious about how long he’ll remain patient if the losses continue to pile up. Amick says “quite a few teams” are monitoring Gilgeous-Alexander’s situation in addition to the Raptors, whose interest was reported in September. “You keep hearing that Shai is frustrated with the losing, and so I think that’s the Toronto thing that we’ve all heard about with their interest in Shai this summer,” one executive said. “But how far do (the Thunder) want to push this (tanking effort)?”
Thunder definitely need to push harder for SGA
With Lakers bottoming out maybe you go get a LeBron James
Maybe you go get Myles Turner and Buddy Hield or go get Bradley Beal
Thunder certainly have cap space and picks to pretty much get anyone they want or a couple guys they want and have a decent contention window for 3 or 4 years or longer.
No we need to keep shai. He’s looking like the next LeBron
Uh sure
My point is build around Shai. Go get him some help.
Yeah that’s next year after one more lottery pick and chets back. Next year they might win 50 games after they use some cap.
Lebron can’t be traded this season because of his contract extension
SGA is playing great this season. He has had freedom to develop his entire game, and work on his weaknesses in OKC. He wouldn’t have that in L.A. His scoring talent is really showing now that Giddey is there to handle some of the facilitation duties. OKC is playing better this season too. Their games were boring awful last season. Huge improvement there
Danny Ainge was the whole reason I never bought into the Jazz rebuilding. If you look at his history he has always been about maximizing his talent and building culture then supplementing it through trades and signing choice free agents. I had them pegged as battling with Minnesota, New Orleans and Portland for the 7-10 play-in spot coming into the season and now think they have a legitimate shot at the 4 if they stay healthy.
At this point, it would be insane for the Jazz to make additional trades in order to tank.
This. They literally spent three quarters outplaying the Hawks last night, and even after losing the lead, they got it pretty much right back. Honestly, at the moment, they should be looking to add a two-way wing to supplement the group they have (especially if they’re going to keep Agbaji in the G-league for a significant time).
As a fan of the Jazz I’m hyped but this we’ll see where they’re at around the deadline. Conley and Gay always get nagging injuries and Clarkson hasn’t played this many minutes in years. So, like I said yeah I’m hyped but I’m also tempering my expectations.
Either way it’s a great environment to develop young players. That matters.
I also think they should just be patient. Those Timberwolves picks are going to be juicy I predict.
I don’t think those Wolves picks will be all that good, they’re going through growing pains. I think Finch is going to have to eventually hand the keys to ANT and move Russell to the bench while playing Nowell in the other guard spot. That would give them better spacing and a stouter perimeter defense along with a gunner for the 2nd unit.
The worst thing the Jazz can do is not tank. This will set them back for years. Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, and Jordan Clarkson are not long term building blocks. Neither is Beasley.
Missing out on a Generational talent will have Jazz fans wondering for the next 10 years why did they push for a 1st round playoff exit in 22-23.
It is interesting those teams are winning. But I agree in second half. You will start to see the tanking. All three should be there. Not just for those two players. Top 10 is loaded with talent.
Lauri Markkanen —
Didn’t I tell you. You let this guy start and back him up. He will become a solid stretch 4. Young players need time to develop. And they need help getting better. Not criticism about all they can’t do.
In 13 gms, 33 mins, 22.7 pts. 8.8 reb, 2.5 ast