The NBA All-Star Weekend is always a time for reflection, celebration, and-let’s be honest-some pretty important conversations about where the league is headed. This year, amidst the highlight dunks, logo threes, and player camaraderie, there was a renewed energy surrounding the All-Star Game itself thanks to a revamped format.
But behind the scenes, the buzz wasn’t just about flashy plays. It was about the league’s future-specifically, two major topics: expansion and the league’s ongoing battle with tanking.
Let’s start with expansion. It’s no secret the NBA has been eyeing the possibility of adding new teams.
That kind of move would reshape the league landscape, from roster construction to market dynamics. And naturally, the idea of an expansion draft became a hot topic over the weekend.
Coaches, execs, and insiders were all weighing in-because when you add new teams, you have to figure out how to stock their rosters without gutting the existing ones. It’s a delicate balance, and one that could have ripple effects for every franchise in the league.
But as much as expansion stirs up excitement, it was the tanking conversation that really took center stage.
Tanking isn’t new, but it’s becoming harder for the league to ignore. Over the last few seasons, it's become a persistent issue, with some teams making eyebrow-raising lineup decisions that raise questions about competitive integrity.
Take the Utah Jazz, for example. They’ve been experimenting with a new approach-benching key players before the fourth quarter in a way that’s hard to justify from a pure basketball standpoint.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers have made a string of puzzling rotation choices that only add fuel to the fire.
This isn’t just about losing games. It’s about the message it sends to fans who pay to see their teams compete-and to young players trying to develop in a winning culture. For Commissioner Adam Silver, this has become one of the thorniest challenges of his tenure.
And now, the league is reportedly considering a drastic response: eliminating the NBA Draft altogether.
According to reporting from Joe Vardon, the league has discussed the idea of scrapping the draft and turning incoming prospects into free agents. That’s right-no more lottery, no more ping-pong balls, no more draft night drama. Instead, rookies would hit the market and sign with whichever team they choose, subject to whatever financial and roster constraints are in place under the CBA.
It’s a bold idea, and one that would completely upend how teams build for the future.
Let’s break this down. On paper, turning prospects into free agents could cut off the incentive to tank-after all, there’s no top pick to chase if there’s no draft.
But the fallout would be massive, especially for smaller-market teams or those in the middle of a rebuild. Think about the Washington Wizards.
In a world where top prospects get to pick their destination, how often are they choosing a team that’s not already a contender or a marquee market?
Big-market franchises like the Lakers, Celtics, and Knicks would suddenly have a leg up in the rookie sweepstakes, not just in free agency or trades, but right out of the gate. Sure, the collective bargaining agreement would impose some limits-rookie-scale contracts, cap restrictions, etc.-but the competitive imbalance could grow even wider.
It’s hard enough for rebuilding teams to land a franchise cornerstone. Take away the draft, and that task becomes even more daunting.
The league’s heart is in the right place here. Tanking does need to be addressed.
Fans deserve to see teams competing with purpose, not gaming the system. But if the solution ends up being the elimination of the draft, the cure might be worse than the disease.
For now, this idea is just that-an idea. But the fact that it’s being seriously discussed tells you everything you need to know about how pressing the tanking issue has become.
The NBA has some tough decisions ahead. And whatever path it chooses, the goal has to be clear: preserve the integrity of the game while ensuring every team, no matter the market size, has a fair shot at building something special.