CLEVELAND, Ohio - When three NBA teams combine for a staggering 39-game losing streak, it's clear there's a systemic issue at play. The Pacers, Wizards, and Nets have transformed the season's final stretch into a race to the bottom, leaving fans shelling out $80 a ticket to witness the spectacle.
On the latest episode of the "Terry’s Talkin’" podcast, cleveland.com columnist Terry Pluto and host David Campbell dove into two intriguing proposals aimed at tackling the NBA’s tanking dilemma and restoring competitive integrity.
Pluto's proposal is straightforward and aims to eliminate any incentive for losing. He suggests a flat lottery system where all non-playoff teams have an equal shot at the No. 1 pick.
“Forget the weighted ping pong balls and percentages," Pluto stated. "If you miss the playoffs, you’re in the lottery with the same odds as everyone else.”
This approach means no more rewarding the worst records with the best chances. Whether a team finishes 15-67 or 35-47, their odds remain identical.
Campbell, however, offered a different perspective. He proposed a three-year rolling total to determine draft order, rewarding teams that have struggled over a longer period.
“So the team with the fewest wins over three years gets the No. 1 pick,” Campbell explained. “It’s about acknowledging prolonged hardship rather than short-term tanking.”
For instance, with just 49 wins over the past three seasons, the Wizards would land the top pick under Campbell’s system.
Pluto raised concerns about this approach: “Are we really going to reward three years of incompetence?”
Both proposals target the same issue: teams tanking while fans foot the bill. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has vowed to address the problem decisively, but the league has allowed this to persist for too long.
“We’re having some fun with it,” Pluto remarked, “but it’s absurd. Charging 80 bucks for this?”
The current system incentivizes losing by offering better draft odds to teams with worse records. Pluto’s flat lottery removes this incentive, while Campbell’s rolling total seeks to reward sustained struggle without encouraging short-term tanking.
For more insights, check out previous episodes of the podcast.