The NBA's ongoing battle with tanking has sparked plenty of conversations, and Commissioner Adam Silver is stepping up with potential solutions.
Enter Draymond Green, the Warriors' outspoken forward, who recently shared his thoughts on the issue and what changes might actually work.
On “The Draymond Green Show,” he said, “Flatten the odds for all lottery teams, I can understand that. It seems like the most effective solution.
The other options feel more like punishments. Some teams are just going to struggle, and if they genuinely can’t compete, there’s no clear path to improvement.
“If you give all 14 lottery teams the same chance at the top picks, it might deter teams from intentionally losing games just to secure a better draft position.”
There’s a lot on the table when it comes to rule changes aimed at curbing tanking. Ideas include protecting first-round picks only for top-four or top-14-plus selections and expanding the lottery to include all play-in teams, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania.
This season, the NBA has already fined teams like the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers for benching players who could have played, which Silver argues undermines the league’s competitive spirit.
Green also backed a proposal from ESPN’s Charles Barkley: teams with losing records shouldn’t be allowed to raise ticket prices. “Why hike prices if you’re below .500?”
Green asked. “It’s like a high tide lifting all boats.”
He suggested that struggling teams should make games more affordable, perhaps by lowering concession prices. “You’re a struggling team, but fans still come to watch. Make it more accessible.”
This is especially relevant when stars like Steph Curry or LeBron James are in town. Ticket prices often soar, a practice known as dynamic pricing.
“When Steph’s on the road, ticket prices shoot up. Everyone wants to see him, and prices go crazy,” Green noted.
While finding a fix for tanking is no simple task, expect some changes soon to preserve the NBA’s competitive edge.