League boss Adam Silver does not even rule out the forfeiture of draft picks to stop intentional losing.
The NBA is considering tougher sanctions in the fight against so-called “tanking,” i.e., intentional losing. “Are we seeing behavior this year that is worse than anything we’ve experienced in the recent past? Yes, that’s my opinion,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the sidelines of the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
NBA boss Adam Silver at a press conference in Los Angeles
When asked whether teams could even face the forfeiture of draft picks for “tanking” in the future, Silver replied that “all possible measures are currently being discussed to stop this behavior.” In the opinion of the 63-year-old, the current approach “would not work.”
In the NBA, the worst teams of a season receive the best chances for the greatest talents in the subsequent draft. In the upcoming draft this summer, several highly sought-after college players, including Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer, will enter the NBA.