Teams around the league continue to get away with blatant tanking, which could cost the Atlanta Hawks a chance at a top pick.
Now that we are at the midway point of the NBA season, teams eliminated from championship contention are starting to look ahead. The Hawks are no exception, as they kicked off trade season by dumping Trae Young's contract. This move will certainly hurt the team’s outcome this season, but Onsi Saleh has a plan to build for the future.
Atlanta, however, cannot tank – even though they could have a top pick this draft. After the failed Dejounte Murray trade, the Hawks do not have control over their first round pick until 2028. But after a draft day heist for the 2026 New Orleans Pelicans pick, Atlanta currently holds the top lottery odds with 37 games left.
The teams at the bottom of the league – the Pacers, Wizards, Nets, and (most offensively) the Jazz – are taking active measures to ensure they stay there.
Utah’s egregious tanking could cost the Hawks
The Utah Jazz laid out the blueprint for a successful tank last season. Led by Danny Ainge, one of the most shrewd minds in basketball history, the team had a foolproof method for losing critical games. They simply did not play Lauri Markkanen, their star player, against bad teams.
While tanking is objectively a smart strategy, it is also objectively disrespectful for all parties involved. Fans around the league deserve to see him light their team’s power forward up in an exciting shootout of a match. Jazz fans deserve to see one of the most fun offensive players in the world. His teammates deserve the reps next to such a floor-bending player. Markkanen certainly deserves to play.
Adam Silver and the league office recognized the harm of such blatant tanking and fined the franchise accordingly. One year later, however, it is clear as day that the penalty did not correct the behavior.
Matt John, covering the Jazz for The J-Notes, recognized this utter failure for the league. The Jazz began tanking as early as December 23rd, when they benched Markkanen for what John described as a “so-called groin injury.” Nearly a month later, the Finnish forward continues to miss time.
John described Utah's current situation with the beautifully put, “The point still stands, though, that because they are blatantly tanking with the season halfway over, the league will probably issue a fine. If and when that's the case, what exactly will that do?” Unless the league strips Utah of its pick, what punishment could end the tanking?
Like the Hawks, the Pelicans have no reason to lose games. They already traded their pick and made a win-now trade for Jordan Poole. The least they can do is try to win some games for the sole purpose of “winning” the Derik Queen trade.
With teams like the Jazz racing to the bottom while the Pelicans attempt to win, Atlanta ends up caught in a losing position. New Orleans is clearly the worst team in the league, but the Hawks will not be rewarded appropriately.