NBA's Tanking Problem: A Fix That Backfired?

The NBA's attempt to curb tanking has had unintended consequences, according to sports analysts Big Cat and PFT of the Pardon My Take podcast. Their recent discussion highlights how the league's efforts have inadvertently made the problem worse, particularly for lower-market teams. "I still don't understand how a lower-market team can get better other than through the draft," stated PFT. They cite the Washington Wizards as a prime example, illustrating the difficulties teams face in improving without securing high draft picks. The podcast's analysis suggests that the current system may be inadvertently encouraging more teams to engage in tanking strategies. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the NBA's current approach to addressing this issue and whether alternative solutions need to be explored.