As part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, commissioner Adam Silver conducted a press conference. One of the topics was getting rid of the draft to eliminate tanking in the NBA. That could be a huge problem for a basement team like the Sacramento Kings who need the draft.
Adam Silver and his advisors would “seriously consider” abolishing the rookie draft and turning rookies in free agents if it is the only way to stop tanking, per @joevardon
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) February 15, 2026
(https://t.co/4heoXdM0NL) pic.twitter.com/qXNP8KfXXp
The current structure of the NBA Draft features a lottery for the top 14 picks. It usually includes the 14 teams that did not make the Playoffs, and generally have the worst records in the league. The way it's set up, a team has a better chance of getting a high pick the worse their record is.
This also means the worst team isn't guaranteed the number one pick, a system that was put into place in 2019. This is meant to discourage the practice of tanking, also known as intentionally losing to get a top pick in the draft. It's safe to say that it hasn't really worked considering this season.
Both the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers were recently fined for sitting healthy players as part of tanking strategies. The Kings are likely doing the same thing but have avoided punishment so far. Regardless, the NBA is considering removing the draft to end tanking permanently.
The Kings will take a beating if the draft ends
During his All-Star Weekend press conference, NBA commissioner Adam Silver appeared to be rather tired of tanking. He said the league is seriously considering getting rid of the draft and changing the process of teams selecting college players to something more similar to free agency.
Assuming the current salary cap and apron penalty system stays in place, this puts small-market teams like the Kings at a huge disadvantage. The draft system gives all teams a shot at picking up top rookies. This is especially important for a basement team like Sacramento that's trying to rebuild.
If it wasn't for the draft, those top rookies wouldn't likely want to head for a team in 30th place. Many of them would rather play for a competitive EuroLeague team or stay in college, assuming they still have eligibility. Sacramento would be a team that has problems getting good rookies.
Getting a high draft pick is a big part of any team's planning. For a small market team buried in the NBA's basement, it's a lifeline. Silver's frustration with tanking is understandable, but there has to be a better way to fix the problem than potentially destroying the future of teams like the Kings.