WEAKNESS – Adam Silver’s INABILITY to STAND UP Hurts the NBA Narrative | Utah Jazz Podcast
Adam Silver faces mounting criticism—could a bolder commissioner mindset reshape the NBA’s narrative on tanking? David Locke unpacks Silver’s recent decisions, arguing the 65-game rule and reactions to media pressure are missing key opportunities to spotlight league strengths like competitive balance and rapid team rebuilds. With examples from the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Detroit Pistons, Locke examines how franchises rise from the bottom and why changes to lottery odds may not curb late-season tanking.
How will teams like the Utah Jazz approach roster management if draft incentives flatten? Locke breaks down scenarios involving Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George, offering insight into potential shutdowns and strategic moves. The episode also touches on mock draft hype, the realities of player development, and Denver Nuggets’ late-game execution. Will Silver and league officials find solutions that reward both competitiveness and long-term growth? The debate for the NBA’s future continues.
00:00 Adam Silver & NBA Narrative
12:51 Flattened Lottery Odds Debate
24:00 Late Game Watch Analysis
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20 Comments
How should Adam Silver address the NBA’s tanking narrative?
I would structure a fine that would go off a reduction in minutes to the five highest-minutes averaging players on a team. Have the fine increase by the percentage drop. Make it as aggressive as you want. Players aren't playing badly when they tank; teams are just limiting playing time.
This path was decided when the league blinked during media negotiations and agreed to greater physicality…. The media giants are the dog and the league is the tail.
I've heard you say that outlawing protected picks won't work. Help me understand why.
What do we think about the wild idea that the last team in the league gets to choose whichever teams draft pick they get next year? (Obviously can't pick yourself, possibly ban two teams owning each other's picks). It gives the worst teams a good chance at picking up a high draft pick, and completely eliminates the incentive for your own team to perform poorly since you don't own your own pick
Davadd Locke
If you flatten the odds for every team that doesn't make the second round of the playoffs, nobody is shutting down anyone. That is the solution. Draft well, trade well, and luck. Worth it to have not have to sit through 3 years of this nonsense.
Very good points.
Did you say Jamal Murray 2nd best guard in the league… is that honest did you hear yourself? I like the guy too but wow. I assume you have Shai 1 so Jamal Murray ahead of Luka, Mitchell, Curry, Brunson, Brown, Maxey, Edwards, Haliburton, Booker, Fox, Irving, Cunningham etc. wow
Just let the w/L record determine draft position, period! Having a different NBA champion each year will be healthy and good for the NBA.
The NBA set it up for tanking to be the "necessary evil" for teams that are not free agent destinations. To prevent tanking get a hard cap and allow teams that have less free agent success to pay more to offset the advantages of Miami, Boston, L.A. etc. The NFL's parity allows for contention much quicker than the NBA, look at the Seahawks. I'm also watching many more basketball games than just the Jazz this year than any other year. I cheer for the Jazz to lose and develop players and cheer for the Kings, Wizards, etc. to win, which hopefully improves the Jazz's lottery odds. I'd argue tanking has improved my viewership and next year, I will have so much more informaiton about our young guys.
Everyone who doesn't make the conference semifinals (22 teams) gets equal odds. If you picked #1 this year next year best pick possible is 10 if pick #2 then 9 if pick #3 then 8 and so on. Everyone tries to win in this scenario. Who doesn't want to make the conference semi's anything can happen at that point -Kawhi Raptors? Also, the rich don't get richer, like Timberwolves with KAT and then ANT. No Steph or Hali hurt and then a great franchise tanks either. Imagine how valuable draft picks would be-higher caliber stars would get traded more often. Right now a first round pick isn't that valuable, because any team that doesn't have their own pick can make it out of the top ten (besides New Orleans, the exception not the rule). Your Welcome for fixing the NBA.
fansbases having "hope" is not worth having numerous games on the scheudle with teams TRYING to lose
There is a massive difference between watching bad team, vs watching will hardy intentionally throw. Why do you ignore this?
The jazz gonna tank next year too? If an injury happens to one of their main guys, is ainge gonna shut everyone down? If I was markennan I’d be pissed, basically 4 years your prime have been stolen
The most prized things in the NBA are championships and the number 1 pick. How about this, the loser of the NBA finals gets the #1 pick. The rest of the selections are dispersed via the lottery.
Great show, the idea of shifting the narrative to a more positive one does not just work in basketball, but throughout our lives.
Thank you, thank you , thank you.
Nice to hear the point of view that maybe Silver made a mistake. We were all thinking its just crazy that no media has the ba..s to address it. And you did and did such a wonderful job of doing it!
The real problem is and has been that the worst teams often dont get the best picks. So they have to continue to be bad year after year. Get rid of the flattened odds and you solve that part. The second issue is teams who are on the edge they are incentivized to shut it down early for a chance to get a good pick ie the spurs.
Sadly the Jazz have gone from the popular and successful Frank Leyden/Jerry Sloan eras under the Miller Family to the Will Hardy/Ainge/Ryan Smith debacle. Utah Jazz should be renamed to the Utah Wizards. Keyonte and Flip are the only players with potential to be 'above average' players (certainly not All Stars). The four veterans joke on the bench and with opposing players after the games. Will Hardy just stands never calling a time out after countless 12-0 runs for the other teams. Poor David and Ron, this will be the same level of play for the next five seasons regardless of the Ainge family tanking. Get used to 22-60 David.
Overall, NFL teams can turn the corner faster than NBA teams.