“This is ridiculous! Tanking is losing behavior done by losers,” Ishbia wrote on X. “Purposely losing is something nobody should want to be associated with. Embarrassing for the league and for the organizations. And the talk about this as a ‘strategy’ is ridiculous.
“If you are a bad team, you get a good pick. That makes sense. But purposely shutting down players and purposely losing games is a disgrace and impacts the integrity of [the] whole league.
“This is much worse than any prop bet scandal. This is throwing games strategically. Horrible for fans that pay to watch and cheer on their team. And horrible for all the real teams that are competing for playoff spots.
“Awful behavior that Adam Silver and the NBA will need to stop with massive changes, and I have complete confidence that with his leadership, he will fix it. Those of us in a position of influence need to speak out… the only ‘strategy’ is doing right by fans, players and the NBA community.”
This past Saturday during All-Star Weekend, Silver conceded the league’s observed worse tanking behavior this season than it’s seen in recent memory.
The NBA currently has seven teams with fewer than 20 wins. The Jazz and Pacers are among that bottom-dwelling group that’s looking toward the future, including this year’s draft, which most notably features four potential franchise needle-movers: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and UNC’s Caleb Wilson.
Despite hitting the reset button — moving away from Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal — Phoenix isn’t tanking or even in rebuild mode. It’s in seventh place in a crowded Western Conference table.
At 32-23, the Suns have maximized a roster full of players who have chips on their shoulders.
Their performance and the organization’s refreshing transition after carrying the highest payroll in league history last season give Ishbia’s comments Thursday more credibility.
Nate Tice & Charles McDonald join forces to answer the NFL offseason’s biggest looming questions submitted by the audience. The duo start off by diving into the New York Giants’ potential NFL Draft plans with the 5th overall pick, how the Chicago Bears can fix their defensive line and whether or not Brian Daboll is a good fit with QB Cam Ward as the new Tennessee Titans OC.
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Next, Nate & Charles discuss whether or not the Los Angeles Chargers can fix their offensive line in one offseason, if the Jacksonville Jaguars defense can take a leap next season, who the Denver Broncos should be targeting in free agency (Tyler Allgeier?) and what our expectations for the 2026 Washington Commanders should look like.
Later, the two hosts wrap up with thoughts on the New England Patriots’ upcoming offseason decisions, why Sean McVay changed to a duo run game style with the Los Angeles Rams, whether Sean McDermott was really the problem with the Buffalo Bills and more.
(44:15) – Biggest offseason questions: Patriots, Rams, Bills & more
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
There were so many coaching changes this past month we decided to split our annual coaches show in two parts. Nate Tice joins Matt Harmon to breakdown every single head coach and offensive coordinator change in the NFC. Harmon and Tice identify which changes they like, they’re fine with and the one’s they are most skeptical of for fantasy purposes in 2026.
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(3:00) – NFC coaching changes this offseason: I like it, It’s fine and I’m skeptical
(6:18) – I like it – Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur
(20:45) – I like it – Commanders OC David Blough
(30:00) – I like – Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski + OC Tommy Rees
(38:30) – It’s fine – Lions OC Drew Petzing
(47:30) – It’s fine – Buccaneers OC Zac Robinson
(56:00) – It’s fine – Seahawks OC Brian Fleury
(1:02:00) – I’m skeptical – Eagles OC Sean Mannion
(1:11:30) – I’m skeptical – Giants HC John Harbaugh + OC Matt Nagy
There were so many coaching changes this past month we decided to split our annual coaches show in two parts. Nate Tice joins Matt Harmon to breakdown every single head coach and offensive coordinator change in the NFC. Harmon and Tice identify which changes they like, they’re fine with and the one’s they are most skeptical of for fantasy purposes in 2026.
The NCAA has issued a threat to schools among the recent rise of court cases arguing for additional eligibility. The threat is to impose the Rule of Restitution. This was created in 1975 to allow the NCAA to punish a school or athlete if the preliminary injunction, which that athlete competed under, was overturned. Andy Staples, Ross Dellenger and Steven Godfrey discuss the NCAA issuing this threat and what may be the fallout. They also dive into the discussion that the SEC had about the conferences self-governing rather than the NCAA being the governing body. Is the NCAA’s power dwindling enough for it to not be necessary anymore?
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Then, after the recent discussion about former Nebraska AD, Bill Moos, saying he wanted to move Nebraska back to the Big 12, Andy got to thinking about who were the winners and losers from all of the realignment in the 2010s. This led to him ranking what teams made the best move during that era of realignment. The crew discusses the list and what were some of the issues and casualties that came with it.
Later, the guys revisit a conversation from the beginning of the show. When discussing court cases, Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar and his case was discussed. This led to the point that many Tennessee fans want one of the two five-star quarterbacks on the roster to be the Vols’ QB this year instead. The guys discuss how Tennessee should go about deciding this and what the future of player development looks like. Is there a way that a “minor league” could be created out of schools in the Group of Six?
NCAA President Charlie Baker & SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
All of this and more on today’s College Football Enquirer.
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0:00:00 – NCAA threatens the Rule of Restitution
14:44 – Is the NCAA needed in college sports anymore?
31:38 – Ranking conference realignment of the 2010s
52:51 – Should Tennessee move on from Joey Aguilar?
58:47 – Creating a “minor leagues” in college football
The storm of confetti had barely been cleared from Chase Stadium in early December when Inter Miami — still awash in MLS Cup revelry and ravenous for a second trophy — was back at work retooling inventory and identifying pieces to accompany the luminous Lionel Messi on another bubbly voyage.
For those reasons, among others, the pink-splashed Floridians will begin MLS’ 2026 campaign this weekend with high hopes of becoming the first repeat champions in 14 years.
Miami also converted two 2025 loans into permanent acquisitions: Argentines Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende, who set a playoff record with nine goals in six matches. De Paul will step into a larger role following Sergio Busquets’ retirement.
(Illustration by Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)
(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports illustration)
Messi, who has won consecutive MVP awards, has shown no signs of slowing down, compiling 57 goals and 45 assists in 62 regular-season and playoff appearances. But this is a World Cup year, and with him expected to play for reigning champion Argentina one last time, don’t be surprised when he and Miami manage his minutes the first part of the season. He was nursing a hamstring injury late in preseason.
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The club will begin its title defense with five away matches before christening Freedom Park, a 25,000-seater near Miami International Airport that sits 30 miles south of its makeshift stadium used the past six seasons.
Here are 11 other talking points ahead of Major League Soccer’s 31st season:
Will MLS keep playing during the World Cup?
No way. The summer belongs to the World Cup. MLS will go dark for seven weeks starting May 25 — 17 days before the tournament begins — and resume a few days before the July 19 Cup final.
Five stadiums used by MLS teams (Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Atlanta and New England) are reserved for tournament matches, while multiple MLS training facilities will host World Cup teams.
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Besides, with an international soccer spectacle on home ground consuming attention, MLS understands it needs to just get the heck out of the way.
For fitness and sharpness purposes, MLS teams will continue training (and playing informal matches) during the break.
The longest scheduled pause in league history will push the regular season to its latest end date (Nov. 7) and extend the playoffs deep into December. MLS is praying Minnesota, Montreal or any northern team isn’t the host.
Didn’t MLS vote to change the schedule calendar, so it wouldn’t have summer conflicts anymore?
It did, but the move does not go into effect until 2027-28, when the adjusted schedule will largely mirror European calendars (late summer to late spring). In colder months, MLS has promised to prioritize indoor and warm-weather venues just before and after a planned winter break.
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So enjoy the last season contained within a calendar year. To fill the gap between the end of this season and the later-starting 2027-28 campaign, MLS will conduct a sprint season early next year, complete with the MLS Cup.
Lionel Messi returns to MLS with Inter Miami aiming for another championship amid a World Cup year.
(MARCOS PIN via Getty Images)
MLS wants to become one of the top leagues in the world, but is it there yet?
No, it still has a ways to go. For now, never mind the world; the first step is becoming consistently successful in these parts, clunkily known as CONCACAF. The region’s annual competition is the Champions Cup, which, in MLS’ early years, was won by D.C. United and the Los Angeles Galaxy two years apart.
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Since 2001, however, the Seattle Sounders are the only MLS team to hoist the trophy. In that time, clubs from Mexico’s Liga MX — the measuring stick for MLS — have claimed 21 crowns. MLS has made progress, sending a representative to the final five of the previous six years, but in last year’s championship game, Cruz Azul blasted Vancouver 5-0.
This year’s MLS candidates: Miami, Vancouver, Seattle, L.A. Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Philadelphia, San Diego, Cincinnati and Nashville.
Could the ascending Whitecaps really descend out of Vancouver?
On the surface, the Whitecaps have strengthened their place in British Columbia after years of mediocrity with appearances in both the MLS Cup and Champions Cup finals last season and a resurgence at the box office, thanks in part to German star Thomas Müller’s summer arrival.
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The organization, however, claims it can’t generate enough revenue playing at BC Place, which is owned and operated by the provincial government. The sides recently agreed to a 2026 lease, and the Whitecaps reached a non-binding agreement with the city to explore building their own stadium.
Without significant change to the current arrangement or a deal for a new venue, it’s hard to see a future in Vancouver for the Whitecaps, who have been an MLS member since 2011 but on the market for more than a year.
NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese is making a strong case to be USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino’s leading option in goal for the 2026 World Cup.
(Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Are any MLS players going to make the U.S. World Cup roster?
Yes, several. More than a dozen are in the running for a place on Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man squad, headed by New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese, Columbus left back Max Arfsten and Charlotte center back Tim Ream.
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New England goalkeeper Matt Turner, Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson, Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, Seattle midfielder Cristian Roldan and Real Salt Lake attacker Diego Luna have made their cases, as well.
The Canadian World Cup squad will also include several MLS players.
Which U.S. players from abroad have joined MLS teams?
All the top U.S. national team players in Europe remain there, but goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, a 2022 World Cup backup who spent a dozen years abroad, signed with Red Bull New York. Joining him in Harrison, New Jersey, are two young returnees: right back Justin Che (Brondby/Denmark) and forward Cade Cowell (on loan from Chivas Guadalajara), who has made 11 national team appearances.
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Others of note: St. Louis midfielder Dante Polvara (Aberdeen/Scotland) and New England midfielder Griffin Yow (Westerlo/Belgium).
Colombia’s James Rodriguez brings star power and vision to Minnesota United.
(Jordan Bank via Getty Images)
Aside from Miami adding Berterame, are any international arrivals moving the needle?
The most exciting arrival is in Minnesota: Colombian superstar James Rodríguez, the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner who captains the national team but has bounced around the globe seeking club stability. His contract runs only through June, with a club option for an additional six months.
Since leaving Everton in 2021, the 34-year-old ringleader has played in Qatar, Greece, Brazil, Spain and Mexico, totaling 17 goals and 26 assists in 102 matches. His enormous popularity — almost 52 million Instagram followers — will elevate his new club and the league, but will on-field influence and impact follow before he heads to the World Cup?
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San Jose used a designated player slot to sign Timo Werner, the 29-year-old German forward who, amid injury setbacks, fizzled at Chelsea and Tottenham and fell off the national team radar after tallying 24 times. He has not scored a league goal in almost two years.
Who left MLS?
D.C. said goodbye to striker Christian Benteke, the 2024 Golden Boot winner who, in the twilight of his career, has landed in the United Arab Emirates.
Two top young talents transferred to La Liga clubs: right back Alex Freeman from Orlando to Villarreal for up to a reported $7 million and midfielder Obed Vargas from Seattle to Atlético Madrid for $3.5 million. Chicago sold winger Brian Gutiérrez to Chivas Guadalajara.
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Veteran goalkeepers Pedro Gallese (Orlando to Deportivo Cali), Carlos Coronel (Red Bull New York to São Paulo) and Maarten Paes (Dallas to Ajax) departed, while Philadelphia sold defender Kai Wagner to Birmingham City.
What were the most notable moves within the league?
Following St. Clair’s free-agent move to Miami, fellow goalkeeping standout Sean Johnson (Toronto) signed with D.C.
Nashville bolstered a potent attack by signing free-agent midfielder Cristian Espinoza, who posted 36 goals and 70 assists in seven seasons at San Jose. He’ll collaborate with striker Sam Surridge (24 goals last year) and attacker Hany Mukhtar (82 goals, 49 assists in six seasons).
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Nashville, though, lost two key figures: free agent center back Walker Zimmerman to Toronto and winger Jacob Shaffelburg in a trade with LAFC, which strengthened an already scary attack featuring Korean superstar Son Heung Min and Denis Bouanga (64 goals in three seasons).
Philadelphia shook things up by trading 16-goal scorer Tai Baribo to D.C. and MLS Best XI defender Jakob Glesnes to the Galaxy. Seeking to return to contention after a poor 2025, the 2024 champion Galaxy bolstered their frontline by acquiring João Klauss (10 goals) from St. Louis.
U.S. national team midfielder Luca de la Torre will play for Charlotte after spending last year in San Diego on loan from Spain’s Celta de Vigo.
Who are the most intriguing new coaches?
Gerardo “Tata” Martino returns to Atlanta, where, eight years ago, he won the MLS crown. In between, he guided the Mexican national team and Inter Miami.
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Michael Bradley, the former U.S. national team standout, was promoted by Red Bull New York after less than a year in charge of the club’s developmental squad (his first head role). Marko Mitrovic, who oversaw the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, takes over in New England.
Is it any easier to watch MLS matches?
Yes, it is, but you’ll still need Apple TV to view most matches. The difference from the previous three years is everything will now be available on that platform without a supplemental subscription to MLS Season Pass.
If you have Apple TV, you’ll get more than 500 matches, including Leagues Cup, the summer tournament with MLS and Liga MX teams. In addition, 15 MLS matches will appear on Fox and 19 on FS1. (All 34 are on Fox Deportes.)
The season kicks off Saturday with 13 matches, headlined by LAFC hosting Miami at the historic Coliseum, which sits across Exposition Park from LAFC’s 22,000-seat BMO Stadium.
The Cooligans welcome former MLS head coach and analyst Giovanni Savarese for a deep dive into the 2026 MLS season. Gio shares his predictions, breakout teams to watch, and how the league continues to evolve ahead of a massive 2026 on home soil. The conversation also turns to the USMNT, as the guys assess expectations, pressure, and what success should realistically look like at the 2026 World Cup.
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Christian and Alexis then tackle the troubling racist incident involving Vinícius Júnior during Real Madrid’s clash with Benfica. They unpack how these situations are currently handled, question whether the responsibility to stop a match unfairly falls on the player experiencing abuse, and debate what meaningful structural changes could better protect players moving forward.
Finally, it’s a jam-packed Champions League recap. Folarin Balogun shines in a statement performance against Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus suffer a shocking defeat to Galatasaray, and Bodø/Glimt pull off a stunning win over Inter Milan. The boys react to all the drama, surprises, and what these results mean going forward.
Timestamps:
(6:30) – 2026 MLS preview and predictions
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(30:00) – Gio Savarese’s USMNT World Cup outlook
(39:00) – Vinicius Junior deals with racism again: time for a rule change?
(59:00) – Folarin Balogun shines in Champions League loss to PSG
(1:04:30) – Serie A teams suffer shocking Champions League losses
The Washington Wizards released a statement Thursday saying Anthony Davis has not been cleared yet due to a hand injury, and the same goes for newly acquired point guard Trae Young, who is dealing with a knee injury.
Davis’ hand will be re-evaluated in two weeks, while Young will be out at least another week.
Wizards fans have been deprived of a certain level of star power over the past few years, watching their team come up short and not qualifying for the playoffs since the 2020-21 campaign. Bradley Beal was an All-Star that season and named third-team All-NBA. Beal also finished second in the NBA in scoring that year, averaging 31.3 points per game and finishing behind Stephen Curry.
That was also the last time Washington fans had an All-Star to call their own. So, bringing in two All-Star and All-NBA players within weeks of each other should be a cause for celebration in the nation’s capital. If Davis and Young can get on the court together in the foreseeable future, they could do some good things in Washington down the stretch of the season, but the Wizards’ front office may be more interested in getting a better draft pick.
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Washington currently holds the worst record in the NBA at 14-39.
Washington is back in action Thursday against the second-worst team in the East, Indiana, tipping off at 7 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena in Washington.
MILAN — Amber Glenn rarely masks what she’s feeling on the ice. The reigning U.S. champion can’t help but let her emotions play out all over her face, whether elation or desolation. She’s probably a terrible poker player, but a magnetic presence as a skater.
Skating in Thursday’s free skate, starting from 13th position after a disastrous short program, Glenn strode toward the ice the moment her predecessor’s notes faded away. Wearing her Team USA warmup, she looped around the ice as the many United States fans in the crowd rose to their feet and waved American flags above her. And while her poise communicated confidence, her eyes looked more than a little nervous.
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Still, she tamped down whatever anxieties were within. She handed her coach Damon Allen her jacket, clasped hands with him, and then skated to center ice. And then her music — a medley of “I Will Find You” by Audiomachine and “The Return” by CLANN — began, and there was no more time for second thoughts or anxieties.
The moment she landed her first jump — the triple axel, one that virtually no other female skater even attempts — the crowd at Assago Ice Skating Arena exploded in delirious joy, as if exhaling in relief. Glenn went on to skate a strong routine worthy of her skills. Not the routine of her life, not a perfect routine — “this close,” she said to herself over a slight bobble late in her program — but a redemptive one.
She finished with a free-skate score of 147.52 to give her a total of 214.91, good enough to claim the leader’s couch with 12 skaters left to go. And then she was left to wait to see if somehow, some way, it would be good enough to land her on the podium. It wasn’t, as a flawless Alysa Liu took gold with a score of 226.79 and Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (224.90) and Ami Nakai (219.16) won silver and bronze, respectively. Glenn finished in fifth place.
“A lot of what-ifs,” she said of her thoughts while sitting on the leader’s couch. “I didn’t want anyone to make a mistake, but I don’t want to go back (stage, off the couch), so it’s very conflicting. I was just glad I was able to see such a fantastic event up close.”
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Glenn and her Team USA teammates Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito arrived in Milan two weeks ago riding a surge of nationwide popularity. The “Blade Angels,” as they dubbed themselves, were a perfect trio — the heartfelt Glenn, the quirky Liu, the understated Levito. They’d shown so much talent, so much promise — all three are national champions — that talk of a podium sweep even took flight. At the very least, one of them would almost surely break the American medal drought that’s existed in women’s figure skating since 2006. It ended up being Liu after a flawless routine.
For Glenn, the first cracks started to show in the team event. Tasked with handling the free skate element — Liu had handled the women’s short program — Glenn was uncharacteristically tentative, ending her routine in third place.
“If an average person were to watch, they’d probably be like, ‘Oh, it’s fine. Just a few little things (went wrong), but as skating people we know, there were many, many, many points left out on the table,” Glenn said afterward. “I did not feel or perform the way I wanted to. I physically didn’t feel great. My legs were feeling heavy, I was tired, I just didn’t feel my best, and I’ve been practicing here incredibly.”
The United States still claimed the team gold for a second straight Olympics, but Glenn’s face betrayed her anguish and fear that she’d cost Team USA a gold right up until the final results were announced.
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“I think I had some fatigue and I need to really manage that going into the individual event,” Glenn said at the time. “But I’m really proud of the mental strength that I’ve built over the years to be able to get through some mistakes in the beginning and really fighting in the second half.”
She had no idea that much worse was yet to come. Glenn and her fellow Blade Angels had more than a week between the team event and their individual events, a long time to maintain Olympic-level intensity.
When Glenn finally took the ice for her short program, she began with a triple axel, a jump so difficult only one other skater in this year’s women’s event landed it. After another successful element, she prepared to do a triple loop, a relatively routine jump; virtually every Olympian on Tuesday’s program completed one. But a slight loss of balance meant she only did two loops instead of three, giving her zero points for the entire element.
That loss sent her plummeting down the standings; she finished the program in 13th place, more than 11 points behind leader Ami Nakai of Japan. She was visibly devastated, and left the arena after only the briefest of interviews.
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Glenn returned to the ice on Thursday night with an opportunity to rewrite her narrative. She did exactly that, and there was no mistaking how she felt once she did.
“I told myself, no matter how the program was going to go, I was going to look up and tell myself, ‘You’re at the Olympics,’ and I did that. I’m just really proud of that moment,” she said.
“ … It’s something I’ll never forget, and I’ve had the moment that I’ve always dreamed of. I’m really going to hang on to that.”
Tanking has begun. Forget April nosedives. That was a 2010s thing. March? That was so last year. The NBA’s annual tanking ritual, in all its spirited glory, is now taking place as early as February. Yes, before the All-Star break.
Last week, the NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for tanking and hit the Indiana Pacers with a $100,000 fine for their own unsavory efforts. In the news release, commissioner Adam Silver vowed: “Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games. Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”
We’ll see how they react. To figure out why the Utah Jazz were resting star players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in fourth quarters already, it’s important to understand that this year presents the perfect storm of tanking.
(Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
There are three primary reasons why it’s become the topic du jour, and Silver’s fiery comments will do little to change the following realities:
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For one, it’s a frothy draft class with Cam Boozer (my favorite prospect), AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson and others making NBA executives weak in the knees. There was only one Wemby in his draft class. It was seen as a “Cooper Flagg and then everybody else” kind of class last year. This time around, there might be several prospects whom front office people could view as The One. Thus, getting a top-4 pick is akin to having the No. 1 pick in any given year — except with the low-key sweetener that you can sign that player to a cheaper rookie scale contract than that of the No. 1 guy.
Secondly, the NBA’s decision to flatten the draft lottery odds beginning in 2019 has backfired. Evidently, it has not stopped the losers’ race to the bottom; the league just opened up the race to more standings plungers. Now, a team on the fringe of the playoff race could realistically have a chance at a top-four pick, which before was nothing more than a statistical Hail Mary. Before 2019, in the previous era, the No. 10 team in the draft lottery would have a measly 4% chance at a top-four pick, but those odds more than tripled to as much as 14% in the new model. Furthermore, the odds of actually winning the lottery, in the No. 10 slot, also tripled from 1.1% to 3%.
Third, that nasty cognitive trick … good ol’ recency bias. A 3% chance at winning anything might seem on paper like a foolish pipe dream — until it happens. And happens again. The last two draft lotteries were won by teams in the No. 10 (2024) and No. 11 (2025) draft slots. A GM trying to convince an owner of a fringe play-in team that it’s in the franchise’s best interest to lose games may not have been particularly persuasive in prior years. But then the Atlanta Hawks soared from No. 10 to land the No. 1 overall pick. And then the real kicker: the 11-seeded Dallas Mavericks got Flagg.
Put it all together and we could have as many as 11 teams, over a third of the NBA, who are either already awful or outright trying to lose — and oftentimes both. More could join the party soon. So which team will be the Top Tanker? Let’s rank them based on five categories in a five-point system with a 5 being the strongest tanking power. (I’m weighting the “Draft Incentive” factor 10 points due to its huge influence on the proceedings.)
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Draft Incentive. Do they have their first-round draft pick this year? Is it protected, and by how much? Do they have urgency to tank this season because of draft-pick debt in the future?
Tanking Track Record. Are they showing symptoms of tankitis now? Does this front office have a history of tanking behavior or is it new to this party? Has its coach shown a tank-friendly willingness to “develop young players” at the cost of winning in the past?
Bill of Health. Are there players who have existing injuries or an injury-riddled past that can be weaponized in the tank? Are players already being ruled out with cryptic injuries?
Youth Movement. Is the roster filled with rookies and youngsters who can fulfill a sudden “development” phase? Or is it a veteran-laden team with players who may object to any DNP-Rest strategies?
Tankerific Roster. Do they have any winning players? Do they have any All-Stars that can hurt their quest? Is this a glorified G League team?
Got it? Without further ado, let’s get to the tank scores …
Record: 15-41 (No. 3 in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Dejounte Murray (Achilles); Trey Murphy III (shoulder; day-to-day)
Tank Score: 15 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
0 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
3 out of 5
Bill of Health:
4 out of 5
Youth Movement:
4 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
4 out of 5
They’re here because they’re horrible, not because they’re horrible onpurpose. The Pelicans are losing their first-round pick no matter what happens, either to their likeliest destination of Atlanta or to Milwaukee. Against all odds, Williamson has played in 30 straight games, which is commendable. If he shows any sign of gimpiness, I’d expect them to shut him down to preserve one of their core pieces in trade talks or, you know, the franchise’s future.
Record: 26-29 (12th in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Coby White (calf)
Tank Score: 19 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
6 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
4 out of 5
Bill of Health:
3 out of 5
Youth Movement:
4 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
2 out of 5
A glorious recent nine-game win streak may say otherwise, but then again the Clippers were ripping through the NBA before they quickly shifted gears and traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac. The Hornets are a Kon Knueppel injury away from having some serious organizational deliberations about the upcoming draft odds. Even still they can only move up so far in the lotto standings if they pull the plug. As of now, the Hornets are too good to tank. Emphasis on as of now.
Record: 23-30 (9th in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf); Myles Turner (calf); Ryan Rollins (foot)
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Tank Score: 20 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
8 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
2 out of 5
Bill of Health:
5 out of 5
Youth Movement:
3 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
2 out of 5
To tank or not to tank, that is the question. Giannis’ status can swing this wide open. The Roster Quality factor goes to 5 if he’s out, but I have to be somewhat measured here about their tank potential.
It’s a common misconception that the Bucks aren’t incentivized to tank. Yes, they don’t “control” their first-round pick as they will receive the least favorable of their pick and New Orleans’ (the most favorable of those two reroutes to Atlanta). Luckily for Milwaukee, the Pelicans are dreadful, so Milwaukee has a good chance of actually benefiting from its own tank job. The Bucks can pick as high as No. 2 in this year’s draft, but if they win the draft lottery, it automatically goes to Atlanta. Everyone around the league is watching the saga that is Cream City.
Record: 15-40 (4th in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles; out for season); Ivica Zubac (ankle); Obi Toppin (foot); Johnny Furphy (ACL; out for season)
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Tank Score: 21 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
10 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
3 out of 5
Bill of Health:
4 out of 5
Youth Movement:
2 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
2 out of 5
They must really love Ivica Zubac. The Pacers are sending their first-round pick to Hollywood if it lands anywhere from No. 5 to No. 9 on draft lotto night. Given the flattened lottery odds, Indiana can’t guarantee it keeps it, but it can certainly tilt the scales by losing a ton. We’ll see how much it’s been deterred by the commissioner’s slap on the wrist.
Record: 24-31 (10th in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Josh Giddey (hamstring); Noa Essengue (shoulder; out for season); Isaac Okoro (knee); Jalen Smith (calf); Tre Jones (hamstring)
Tank Score: 23 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
10 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
1 out of 5
Bill of Health:
4 out of 5
Youth Movement:
5 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
3 out of 5
That sound you hear is the sigh of relief from Chicago fans who have been begging for this downward direction. After holding a midseason firesale for Nikola Vučević, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White, the Bulls are finally picking ping-pong balls over purgatory. The delayed tank may not have been timely for maximizing this year’s pick, but hey, better late than never.
Record: 12-44 (No. 1 in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Zach LaVine (finger; out for season); Domantas Sabonis (knee; out for season); Keegan Murray (ankle)
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Tank Score: 25 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
9 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
4 out of 5
Bill of Health:
4 out of 5
Youth Movement:
3 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
5 out of 5
Are they tanking or are they just epically bad? Who knows? The team announced both Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis will miss the remainder of the season with injuries, which will certainly help efforts to be the Kings of the Tank. The presence of DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook could interfere with their nosedive, but it hasn’t really slowed down their unrelenting march to No. 1 on the reverse standings.
Record: 20-33 (8th in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Ja Morant (elbow); Zach Edey (ankle); Brandon Clarke (calf); Santi Aldama (knee); Walter Clayton Jr. (knee)
Tank Score: 26 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
9 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
3 out of 5
Bill of Health:
5 out of 5
Youth Movement:
5 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
4 out of 5
Bluff City ain’t bluffing when it comes to their intentions. The Grizzlies stunned league insiders by trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah for draft picks, signaling the Grizzlies are going for ping-pong balls, not the play-in. The Grizzlies have a ton of future draft capital so they don’t need to tank this season, but the small-market team can add top-shelf talent if it plays its cards right.
Record: 19-35 (7th in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Cooper Flagg (foot); Kyrie Irving (out for season; ACL); Dereck Lively (out for season; foot); Caleb Martin (ankle); Daniel Gafford (ankle); Naji Marshall (foot)
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Tank Score: 27 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
10 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
5 out of 5
Bill of Health:
5 out of 5
Youth Movement:
4 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
3 out of 5
Mark Cuban says embrace the tank, so who are we to argue? Normally, a sighting of Cooper Flagg in a walking boot would be a nightmare scenario for the Mavericks. But in a world in which Dallas wins by losing, news of Flagg’s gimpy foot will likely help its tanking efforts. Because the Mavericks don’t control their first-round pick until 2031 after this, they receive a maximum tanking incentive score for this season.
Record: 15-38 (5th in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Nic Claxton (hip); Noah Clowney (ankle); Michael Porter Jr. (knee)
Tank Score: 27 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
9 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
5 out of 5
Bill of Health:
4 out of 5
Youth Movement:
5 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
4 out of 5
There’s urgency here even though they don’t have any protections on the pick like Utah and Washington do. Brooklyn owes Houston swap rights on their 2027 first-round pick as a result of the 2020 James Harden trade. Brooklyn’s time to add a face of the franchise through the draft is now. Michael Porter Jr. remains one of the best players in the tank field, but his iffy medical history suggests Brooklyn will be ultra conservative when it comes to allowing him to play through any sort of ailments.
Record: 18-38 (6th in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee; out for season); Keyonte George (ankle); Walker Kessler (shoulder; out for season)
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Tank Score: 29 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
10 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
5 out of 5
Bill of Health:
5 out of 5
Youth Movement:
5 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
4 out of 5
Silver dropped the hammer on the Jazz for a reason (beyond, of course, their guilt): They have the most to gain by tanking. Not only do they have to secure a top-eight protected pick, but BYU standout AJ Dybantsa is in this draft. If the pick falls outside the top eight on lotto night, it goes to OKC. With Jackson out for the rest of the season following a knee procedure, the tank path is a lot clearer now. The uncertain future of Markkanen in light of the $500,000 fine is the only reason why this isn’t a perfect 30 out of 30 score.
Record: 13-39 (No. 2 in draft lottery)
Injuries of note: Trae Young (knee); Anthony Davis (hand); Alex Sarr (hamstring); Cam Whitmore (shoulder; out for season)
Tank Score: 30 out of 30
Draft Incentive:
10 out of 10
Tanking Track Record:
5 out of 5
Bill of Health:
5 out of 5
Youth Movement:
5 out of 5
Tankerific Roster:
5 out of 5
Behold, the Washington (Tank) Commanders. Oh, you thought Trae Young was going to play anytime soon? The Wizards thought otherwise, announcing at the time of the trade that he’s out indefinitely with a knee issue. And now star newcomer Anthony Davis may be potentially sidelined for the rest of the season with a tricky hand issue.
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In related news; the Wizards lose their pick to New York if it doesn’t fall in the top eight! With that in mind, they’re sending loud signals that they’re fully committed to the tank. Beyond Trae and AD being put on ice, the Wizards have quietly sat their best players down the stretch in multiple games this season, somehow skirting any penalty from the league. Let’s see if they tempt fate again.
The Atlanta Falcons missed out on the 2025 NFL playoffs, extending their streak of missing the postseason to eight straight seasons. As a result, head coach Raheem Morris was ousted and former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was brought in to replace him.
With Stefanski in place and a new offensive coordinator in Tommy Rees, Atlanta’s offense should look different schematically in 2026. Matt Harmon was joined by Nate Tice on the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast podcast to discuss the hire and what it could mean for top offensive weapon, RB Bijan Robinson.
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Despite being fired by the Browns, Tice believes that Stefanski is a pretty good hire for the Falcons. A two-time AP Coach of the Year winner, Stefanski brought Cleveland to the postseason twice in six seasons. Tice wants to see how the QB room shakes out this offseason with Kirk Cousins likely headed out the door and Michael Penix Jr. coming off another major injury. But this hire appears solid for Robinson.
The RB was a consensus top-three player selected in 2025 fantasy football drafts and was excellent for managers, finishing as the RB3 overall in points per game (20.3). He finished with nearly 1,500 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs, plus 79 receptions for 820 yards and another four scores. He had double-digit touches in every game this past season and Tice believes that Stefanski will get Bijan the ball plenty in 2026.
Harmon believes the shift away from a heavy zone run game under Zac Robinson, instead mixing in more duo and man gap-based concepts, could be good for Robinson and the offense under Stefanski. Harmon thinks Robinson could make the leap into the truly elite tier of fantasy performers in 2026 in this new regime, which would be pretty remarkable given how well he performed this past season.
