What strategies are the Chicago Bulls employing to balance between winning and tanking this season? How has the performance of Coby White and Josh Giddey affected their chances of securing a top draft pick? What impact does the absence of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine have on the Bulls’ postseason aspirations? Can the Portland Trail Blazers effectively combine player development with the goal of improving their draft position? How does the absence of a first-round draft pick influence the Phoenix Suns’ decision-making as they head toward the playoffs?
Welcome to the Tanking Rankings, where we have perfectly placed in order the teams that are tanking the best this season. Who is driving its season into the ground the most recklessly? See for yourself …
14. Chicago Bulls (32-40)
Most recent starters: Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, Kevin Huerter, Nikola Vučević, Coby White
Since the All-Star break: 10-7 record • 117.6 offensive rating (10th) • 112.5 defensive rating (13th)
When a team trades DeMar DeRozan in the offseason and Zach LaVine at the deadline, returning a collection of misfit assets, it is trying to lose. Nikola Vučević has also seen his minutes diminished.
Do not tell the rest of the Bulls, who have won eight of their last 10 games and all but clinched their annual entry into the play-in tournament. Since LaVine last played for Chicago on Jan. 27, the Bulls are perfectly average, owners of a 12-13 record and a -0.8 net rating. They might even make the playoffs.
To what end? How frustrating it must be to be stuck in the middle, to trade your best players, and to still be stuck in the middle. It is encouraging that Coby White and Josh Giddey have played so well, but what is the ceiling for a team that counts them as its best players? It may be the same as it was when the Bulls had DeRozan and LaVine. At some point, if you cannot get any better, you have to get worse — you have to give yourself a shot at a top-tier draft talent; you have to tank — and Chicago cannot even do that right.
13. Portland Trail Blazers (32-41)
Most recent starters: Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe, Anfernee Simons
Since the All-Star break: 9-9 record • 115.4 offensive rating (18th) • 111.4 defensive rating (7th)
When Deni Avdija has played more than 35 minutes, he has averaged 23.5 points (on 53/43/84 shooting splits), 11.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game for a Blazers team that has finished 9-8 in those 17 games.
It would make sense if Portland decided it was not worth playing Avdija so much since its first-round draft pick is lottery protected. For a while, there seemed to be hope that the Blazers might be vying for a play-in tournament berth, but they have found a balance between developing their existing talent and ensuring they add to that pool in the draft, as three losses now separate them from the postseason.
Over the past two months, as Avdija has emerged alongside Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons as a primary creator, Portland owns the Western Conference’s sixth-best record and the league’s second-best defense. Time will tell if this strategy is any better than throwing away the season entirely in pursuit of improved lottery odds, or maybe the basketball gods will reward a team that should be tanking and isn’t.
12. Phoenix Suns (35-38)
Most recent starters: Devin Booker, Ryan Dunn, Kevin Durant, Collin Gillespie, Nick Richards
Since the All-Star break: 9-10 record • 119.1 offensive rating (4th) • 119.7 defensive rating (24th)
The Suns do not own their own first-round draft pick since they traded it for Kevin Durant. They have no incentive to tank, as if a team that has traded for Durant should ever think of entertaining the idea.
Meanwhile, the two teams with whom the Suns are battling for the No. 10 seed, Dallas and Sacramento, have every reason to tank. This should be easy; Phoenix should walk into the play-in tournament.
Only the Suns have stumbled into every possible obstacle on their way to the postseason, at least until this recent stretch of five wins in seven games. It is a bold strategy to wait until March, when everyone else is either tanking for the lottery or resting their best players in anticipation of the playoffs, to make a move.
11. Washington Wizards (16-56)
Most recent starters: Bub Carrington, Justin Champagnie, AJ Johnson, Jordan Poole, Alex Sarr
Since the All-Star break: 7-11 record • 107.3 offensive rating (29th) • 113.9 defensive rating (18th)
The Wizards did their tanking work early, building an abominable roster and becoming the first East team to be eliminated from the playoffs. No small feat since the conference’s play-in field will feature a pair of teams well below .500. Kudos to Washington for arming its tank with Jordan Poole at the cannon’s helm.
Of course, the Wizards did not need to tank; they just played their team.
Here is how bad the Wizards have been this season: They won six of their 10 games over a three-week stretch after the All-Star break, nearly doubling their win output for the rest of the season, and they still own the league’s worst record, as far from danger of losing their top-10 protected pick as they could be.
10. Sacramento Kings (35-37)
Most recent starters: DeMar DeRozan, Keon Ellis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
Since the All-Star break: 7-10 record • 116.6 offensive rating (14th) • 118.4 defensive rating (22nd)
Weeks after Doug Christie called for a meeting with his starters, following an "embarrassing" loss to the Golden State Warriors, the interim coach said, "We just let up off the gas," this week when his Kings, who had led by as many as 14 points, finished scoreless in the final four minutes of a loss to Milwaukee.
If Sacramento is not tanking, it might as well be. And it should be.
The Kings, who traded De’Aaron Fox in a deal that returned Zach LaVine, cling to a play-in tournament berth among other teams that are presumably trying to win, only to lose eight of their last 10 games.
Their first-round draft pick is top-12 protected, otherwise owed to Atlanta, and they ride that line. Lose, and they just might keep their pick in this talented draft; win, and they are, at best, first-round fodder.
9. Miami Heat (31-41)
Most recent starters: Bam Adebayo, Alec Burks, Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins
Since the All-Star break: 6-13 record • 111.2 offensive rating (24th) • 113.2 defensive rating (16th)
Not even Erik Spoelstra can find a way to motivate this edition of the Heat.
"We have not come up with solutions, and we’ve pretty much tried everything," Spoelstra said, before his team finally snapped a 10-game losing streak earlier this week, the longest of the coach’s 17-year career. "This has been one of the biggest challenges of a regular season that I’ve been a part of. And we just have to stay the course."
Yikes! Never figured a Spoelstra-coached team for giving up on a season, but this is Heat Culture in the post-Jimmy Butler era. Only Washington, Philadelphia, and Charlotte have a worse net rating than the Heat (-5.3) among Eastern Conference teams since the trade deadline. In that same span, only the Oklahoma City Thunder have a higher net rating in the West than Butler’s new team, the Warriors (+9.5).
The Heat better decide soon when they want to lose their next first-round draft pick, since theirs is lottery-protected this season and unprotected next year, or else the players will decide for them.
8. San Antonio Spurs (31-40)
Most recent starters: Harrison Barnes, Bismack Biyombo, Stephon Castle, Chris Paul, Devin Vassell
Since the All-Star break: 8-11 record • 117.9 offensive rating (9th) • 120.9 defensive rating (29th)
The Spurs did their tanking work two years ago when they won the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes and added this year’s likely Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, with the No. 4 overall pick last June.
With those building blocks and an improved roster around them, San Antonio had hoped to compete for a playoff spot this season. It was not necessarily working out that way, as the Spurs were in 12th place in the West when they announced that blood clots would end Wembanyama’s season at the All-Star break.
So the Spurs have made the best of a bad situation, also putting the newly acquired Fox on ice. Even with five wins in seven games, they have plunged to 13th in the West, and one loss separates them from the eighth-worst record in the league—and a 6% chance at the No. 1 pick. They also own Atlanta’s pick, and if the Hawks manage to miss the playoffs, add those odds to San Antonio’s chances of capturing Flagg.
7. Toronto Raptors (26-47)
Most recent starters: Ochai Agbaji, Scottie Barnes, Jamison Battle, Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley
Since the All-Star break: 9-9 record • 108.1 offensive rating (26th) • 109.1 defensive rating (1st)
Scottie Barnes, a 2024 All-Star, is averaging fewer fourth-quarter minutes since the All-Star break than 11 teammates, none of whom are Toronto’s top players. Brandon Ingram, who has been nursing an ankle injury since December, still has not played since being traded to the Raptors at the deadline. This would be expert-level tanking if Toronto had not managed to win six of seven games at the start of the month.
That may have cost the Raptors their shot at a bottom-three record. As it is, they own the NBA’s seventh-worst record (7.5% odds at the No. 1 pick). They are within three games of the fifth-worst record (10.5% odds). It will be fascinating to see what measures Toronto takes — and what measures the NBA is willing to allow — as the Raptors attempt over their final 10 games to secure a 3% better chance at Flagg.
6. Brooklyn Nets (23-50)
Most recent starters: Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, Keon Johnson, D’Angelo Russell, Ziaire Williams
Since the All-Star break: 3-16 record • 107.7 offensive rating (28th) • 116.4 defensive rating (20th)
The Nets cannot violate the NBA’s player participation policy, since they do not have a recent All-Star or All-NBA selection on the roster, so they can feel free to rest Cameron Johnson as often as possible down the stretch, which they have done twice to great success in recent losses to Charlotte and Indiana. There is no urgency to expedite the healthy return of a mildly injured Cam Thomas or D’Angelo Russell, either.
When Brooklyn reacquired its own draft pick from Houston in the offseason, it took control of its own tanking destiny, only to cede it to others with a .500 record for the first quarter of the season. The Nets promptly realized their mistake, trading Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith in order to get worse.
It worked. Since the calendar turned to 2025, only the Wizards have a worse offense. If only the Nets had committed to being this bad from the jump, they may have earned one of the NBA’s three worst records and a 14% shot at the No. 1 overall pick. Instead, they are in a dogfight for the No. 5 spot and 10.5% odds.
5. New Orleans Pelicans (20-53)
Most recent starters: Jose Alvarado, Keion Brooks Jr., Jordan Hawkins, Yves Missi, Kelly Olynyk
Since the All-Star break: 7-11 record • 112.2 offensive rating (22nd) • 120.4 defensive rating (27th)
Coach Willie Green is in an interesting situation. His Pelicans are bad, and they have been bad from the jump. Injuries decimated any chance of cohesion, and it was unclear if they would have been any good, even if everyone were healthy. Whether or not they were any good was largely out of Green’s control.
It is hard to imagine either side would want to continue this partnership, as Green’s four-year tenure will end in a sub-.500 record and a second lottery appearance in three seasons. It is in the best interest of New Orleans to lose. It is the only team outside of Charlotte, Utah, and Washington with a chance at a bottom-three record and, as a result, the best of the flattened lottery odds (a 14% shot at the top pick).
But is it in Green’s best interest to lose? Letting go of the rope is not exactly the best bullet point on your next job application. Plus, this may be a good opportunity for Green to stick it to the team that is setting him up to be its scapegoat. He has motivation to win. And it still might not matter in New Orleans, where they have all but taken any decision out of Green’s hands, resting just about everyone who is not injured.
4. Dallas Mavericks (35-38)
Most recent starters: Spencer Dinwiddie, Kessler Edwards, Kai Jones, Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson
Since the All-Star break: 5-12 record • 111.7 offensive rating (23rd) • 120.1 defensive rating (26th)
The saddest part about the Mavericks is that their general manager, Nico Harrison, thought this was a good idea. He traded Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis and actually said that the team was better built to win in both the short term and the long term. Then Davis got hurt. Then Kyrie Irving suffered an ACL injury. Then everybody else got hurt. And it all went to hell, as if it were not headed that way anyhow.
It is as if they are cursed, and now they need luck on their side. Blowing a seven-point lead in the final minute of a loss to Indiana, their ninth loss in 10 tries, was a good start. That futility helped them fall out of the play-in tournament field, and then, for some reason, they brought Davis back for a playoff push.
To cost themselves even a 1% chance at Flagg is more malpractice.
The Mavericks do not own the rights to their own first-round draft pick from 2027 to 2030, so now is their chance to draft someone who, if absolutely everything goes right, can only hope to be as good as Dončić.
3. Charlotte Hornets (18-54)
Most recent starters: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green, DaQuan Jeffries, Mark Williams
Since the All-Star break: 5-15 record • 105.9 offensive rating (30th) • 120.7 defensive rating (28th)
The Hornets own their own lottery-protected first-round draft pick, and they have done the work of ensuring they keep that selection, positioning themselves for one of the NBA’s three worst records.
This is nothing new for Charlotte. The Hornets have picked in the lottery every season since they won 48 games in 2016, including 2018, when they traded the No. 11 overall pick (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) for No. 12 (Miles Bridges) and a pair of second-rounders. And what do they have to show for it? An 18-win team.
Apologies in advance to whoever Charlotte drafts next. It may be the NBA’s least hopeful destination.
2. Utah Jazz (16-57)
Most recent starters: Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Cody Williams
Since the All-Star break: 3-16 record • 107.7 offensive rating (27th) • 118.9 defensive rating (23rd)
The NBA fined Utah $100,000 for failing to make Lauri Markkanen available for a March 5 game against Washington. It was the season’s first fine for tanking. So what did the Jazz do in response? They benched Markkanen for the entirety of a second half against Toronto, teaching the Raptors the way of the tank.
One is not allowed under the player participation policy; the other is. So we will probably be seeing a lot more of this quiet-quitting strategy. It just goes to show: No matter how much the NBA does to curtail tanking, there will always be a way around it, as long as lottery odds continue to incentivize teams to lose.
In unrelated but kind of related news: The Jazz are getting the worst whistle of any team in the final two minutes of crunch-time games, according to our latest Sleepless Nights Index. Flagg to Utah confirmed?
1. Philadelphia 76ers (23-50)
Most recent starters: Ricky Council IV, Jeff Dowtin, Justin Edwards, Quentin Grimes, Guerschon Yabusele
Since the All-Star break: 3-16 record • 112.6 offensive rating (20th) • 123.5 defensive rating (30th)
No team is incentivized to lose more than the 76ers, and they are doing an excellent job at it.
Philadelphia’s first-round draft pick is only protected for the first six draft slots, otherwise owed to Oklahoma City (the result of its decision to dump Al Horford’s salary in 2020). The Sixers are currently tied with Brooklyn for the NBA’s fifth-worst record. Toronto is three games better than both of them.
The worst-case scenario is definitely in play for Philadelphia. It entered this season as a championship hopeful and could exit it both playoff- and pick-less. An entirely lost season. Joel Embiid and Paul George are out for the year. Tyrese Maxey might be, too. The injury list includes just about everyone.
It is bleaker than that. Nobody knows what to make of Embiid and George for next season, either. They are, as of now, two of the worst contracts in the league. The only solace should be the promise of a pick, only that is in jeopardy. So lose and lose often. They lost to New Orleans this week by 13 points, starting Guerschon Yabusele, Ricky Council IV, Jared Butler, Chuma Okeke, and Justin Edwards. Yabusele, barely the most seasoned among them, played the fewest minutes. This is a joke of a team and a heck of a tank.
NBA Tanking Rankings: These 14 Teams Are the Best at Being Bad
In the world of professional basketball, the NBA season is a rollercoaster ride of emotions—highs, lows, and everything in between. One of the most intriguing strategies teams can adopt is "tanking," where franchise leadership chooses to intentionally lose games to secure a higher draft pick. While this may sound counterintuitive, it is often seen as a viable strategy for long-term success. Let’s take a look at the 14 teams that have mastered the art of losing in the 2023 NBA season, why they’re tanking, and the potential implications for their future.
1. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have embraced their rebuilding phase after the departure of legendary coach Gregg Popovich and key players. Their aggressive tanking has positioned them to potentially land a franchise cornerstone in the 2024 draft, with many eyes on top prospects like Victor Wembanyama. With young talents like Keldon Johnson and an influx of lottery picks, the future is bright in San Antonio.
2. Houston Rockets
After years of competing for a title, the Rockets have reset their roster. Their focus has shifted to developing young talents like Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. While they’ve struggled in the win column, the Rockets’ commitment to tanking puts them in a prime position for the draft.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have become experts at tanking, leveraging their vast arsenal of draft picks acquired from previous trades. With a young roster that includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City has intentionally positioned itself for a future filled with potential and promise.
4. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are in the midst of a major overhaul, focusing on player development and long-term financial flexibility. Their commitment to playing younger players, even if it means losing games, has positioned them to acquire a high draft pick. Cade Cunningham’s development will be vital in the team’s rebuild.
5. Orlando Magic
The Magic have shown flashes of potential with their young core, including Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. However, injuries and inconsistency have hampered their efforts this season, leading to more strategic losses that can help them land additional top-tier talent in the upcoming draft.
6. Utah Jazz
After trading away their foundational stars, the Jazz are in the uniqueness of both a retool and a rebuild. They have embraced a developmental strategy that enables them to evaluate their young players while keeping their draft stock high. Their ability to secure a top draft position while maintaining a level of competitiveness makes them one of the best in the tanking game.
7. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets’ continuous struggle to find stability has led them down the tanking path. With LaMelo Ball sidelined with injuries, the team’s chances of winning significantly declined. The focus is now on securing top prospects to complement Ball and another pivotal player in the upcoming draft.
8. Indiana Pacers
While the Pacers have seen flashes of promise with Tyrese Haliburton as a centerpiece, their roster is yet to find true chemistry. Injuries to key players have led the team to lose games intentionally, positioning them for a stronger draft position to help complete their young core.
9. Washington Wizards
The Wizards have undergone a significant roster change, leading to a lack of direction. With veterans traded away and a focus on youth, they have entered the tanking sphere. Their objective is to build a competitive team for the future through the 2024 draft.
10. Toronto Raptors
While the Raptors have a history of competitiveness, their current state suggests a shift toward rebuilding. The team has faced challenges with injuries and the inconsistency of key players. Having an eye on the draft to secure fresh talent is now an essential part of their strategy.
11. New York Knicks
After years of mismanaged draft selections, the Knicks are finding themselves in contention for higher draft picks again. With potential trades on the horizon, it’s clear that a long-term, patient approach is being taken, aiming to set the cornerstones of the franchise moving forward.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have struggled with injuries, aging superstars, and inconsistent play this season. Although there’s often a push for team success, the prospect of trading key veterans for future assets may lead the Lakers to embrace a less competitive approach as the season unfolds.
13. Phoenix Suns
With the salary cap putting strain on their ability to attract top talent, the Suns may find themselves tanking to acquire another foundational player. Their struggle to keep up with the competitive Western Conference has prompted a re-evaluation of their current roster.
14. Miami Heat
Despite being perennial playoff contenders, the Heat’s recent struggles and the potential for trades may render them in a position to tank. With the right moves, they could elevate their draft position, lifting the future of the franchise in a historically competitive Eastern Conference.
Conclusion
In an era where the NBA rewards teams for smart decision-making and a clear vision, tanking has become a strategy for many franchises. Whether it’s the pursuit of young talent or the desire to shift the team’s culture, these 14 teams have successfully embraced the art of losing—a risky game that, if played correctly, can lead to future championship glory. The 2024 draft could see these franchises reaping the benefits of their tanking strategies, ultimately shaping the landscape of the NBA for years to come.
In the current NBA landscape, several teams have strategically positioned themselves in the pursuit of top draft picks, leveraging their performance to build for the future. The approach, often referred to as “tanking,” has garnered both criticism and support. Here’s a look at some of the teams that have embraced this strategy effectively.
The focus for these teams is typically centered around youth development and asset accumulation. By prioritizing playing time for younger players and reducing minutes for veterans, these franchises aim to foster growth while simultaneously increasing their chances of landing high draft picks.
In recent seasons, the NBA draft has been seen as a critical avenue for rebuilding teams. With top college prospects like Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson drawing significant attention, finishing with a lower win total can become a calculated risk with potentially high rewards.
While the practice of tanking isn’t universally accepted, it has led to some successful rebuilds. Teams that have embraced this philosophy often focus on maximizing their long-term potential, aiming for sustained success rather than immediate victories.
As the season progresses, keeping an eye on the standings will reveal which franchises are fully committed to this strategy, highlighting the ongoing balance between competitiveness and the pursuit of future excellence.