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.”
Silver is a JOKE…
Yep, any which way they slice this, all’s I see is Silver will have more control. Draft just gone was nothing short of absolutely disgraceful.
This guy has some hide. Player empowerment aka more money for less in this load management age.
The teams who are down the bottom in standings are exactly where everyone thought they’d be.
Why wouldn’t bad teams shut guys down, it’s a business isn’t it? How many times do we hear that phrase.
Not good business to risk your better assets going forward. Yet star players on good teams can miss smoke and avoid match ups throughout the season and nothing gets done.
Gonna have to see the seamstress to take in the crotch if you wanna wear Stearns suit Mr Silver
This comes off so desperate the constant tanking stuff lately from Silver. NBA is the only league on right now and honestly the actual games don’t seem to be a high topic of conversation from the league and media. The Giannis rumors dominated until trade deadline and now tanking resolutions are going to dominate until playoffs.
Tanking for a better chance at a draft pick is a two edged sword because you don’t want to implement that mentality into any organization.
But if you do wanna take that route, I think the teams need guidelines on how to do it properly. These fines are unfair as the teams didn’t break any written rule.
Here is how I would do it;
1. Once an organization hits the tank button they must publicly announce it in order to shut down healthy players.
2. You have to announce all the players that you’re shutting down for the rest of the season within a week of your announcement. It has to be for the rest of the season, otherwise the chemistry between the players of the new rotation cannot build itself.
3. You can only shut down healthy players if they are 25 years or older. Otherwise, they should be allowed to continue to develop!
4. You cannot announce “tanking” for more than 1 season straight.
5. You cannot increase the price of season tickets the following season. This is my modification on the Charles Barkley rule! It’s the only rule I’d propose to subtly disincentivizes tanking (which by itself is its own punishment), as season ticket holders should be reimbursed for watching their team tank.. Hopefully they will get to see a number one draft pick in his rookie season for the same price they paid last season.
Thank you for your attention on this manner, Mr. Silver.
What did Silver have to say on deals with planting trees companies?