The NBA faces mounting concerns about tanking tactics as teams pursue an aggressive rebuild strategy that executives warn could undermine competitive integrity. League officials discussed the issue at a recent competition committee meeting, though no immediate rule changes are expected this season.
“You’ve heard of Icarus and what happens when you fly too close to the sun,” one team president said. “I think some teams are in danger of flying too close to the ground.”
The controversial approach centers on what executives call “the flip,” which is acquiring star players during lost seasons while continuing to tank for high draft picks, then attempting immediate playoff pushes the following year. The Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz lead the trend after trading for multiple All-Stars despite holding bottom-tier records.
The Wizards acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis in separate deals but have kept both sidelined. Young has not played in six weeks despite recovering from a quad injury with Atlanta. Davis, initially given a six-week timeline by Dallas, saw his recovery extended to 10 weeks after joining Washington.
Utah executed a similar strategy by adding Jaren Jackson Jr. from Memphis. In his debut Saturday, Jackson scored 22 points in 25 minutes before being benched in the fourth quarter of a three-point loss. Teammate Lauri Markkanen, who scored 27 points in 27 minutes, also sat during crunch time.
“Trae and AD plus a top-five pick in this draft, or Jaren and Markkanen plus a top-five pick and you have something that could be special,” one Eastern Conference head coach said. “No stud from this draft and you have teams that are at the bottom who maybe can just get to the middle.”
Both franchises hold top-eight protected picks, creating powerful incentives to lose games. The Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets appear positioned for similar flips, with the Pacers acquiring Ivica Zubac despite star guard Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles.
After playing 15 of 16 games with the Los Angeles Clippers, Zubac was announced unavailable for upcoming contests due to an ankle issue not previously reported. The Nets retained Michael Porter Jr. at the deadline despite interest, prioritizing their rebuild trajectory over immediate returns.
“You know what’s ironic?” one Western Conference executive asked. “Charlotte trades for White hoping to use him right away, and they find out he’s actually injured. And you have Utah, Indy and Washington trade for players and find ways to keep them out.”
The competition committee addressed these non-competitive strategies, but meaningful rule changes remain unlikely before next season.
“You may think your fans are the toughest ones to answer to when you’re rebuilding,” one longtime league executive said. “But it’s really your owner. And owners want to know when a rebuild will end, and it’s clear some of these teams have a deadline.”