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New York Knicks: Adam Silver calls tanking ‘corrosive’

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Kevin Knox poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted ninth overall by the New York Knicks during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Kevin Knox poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted ninth overall by the New York Knicks during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke against tanking, which NBA teams like the New York Knicks have been accused of.

Many words can be used to describe the 2018-19 New York Knicks season. The franchise labeled it as “developmental” — a year to focus on players that do and don’t fit the future. However, the common word from fans is “tanking,” or taking a from-the-bottom approach with the team to accumulate a higher first-round pick.

Players will never say they want to lose, but their development exceeds the need to win, especially at 11-47 entering the All-Star break.

During his All-Star presser, NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke on the concept of tanking, acting against this organizational idea, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post:

"“I, personally, don’t think it’s a winning strategy over the long term to engage in multiple years of rebuilding,’’ said Silver, who lives in New York. “There’s a mindset that, if you’re going to be bad, you might as well be really bad. I believe personally that’s corrosive for those organizations.”"

Silver tried to curtail tanking, with smoothening the draft lottery odds. Starting with the 2019 selection show, the three worst records will own even 14-percent odds, although whoever owns the worst record can only fall as low as fifth, second can land sixth, and third can go seventh.

However, this has not stopped teams’ efforts to start from the bottom and work up. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls also fit this mold.

There’s only so much Silver can enact, as well, if this is how teams want to build. Like the Philadelphia 76ers, these franchises have undergone painfully slow rebuilds; the Cavs only started this season due to LeBron James‘ departure last summer.

The Knicks have accumulated some young talent in this rebuild, including Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. They need more, given this second-worst record, and that can happen via the 2019 NBA Draft, with Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Ja Morant among the potential players available.

Plus, free agency could prove fruitful for the Knicks and cancel the “tanking” idea. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have been frequently linked this season.

Next. 2019 NBA Mock Draft, All-Star break. dark

Tanking may always remain a popular idea in the NBA. It avoids the dreaded middle ground and allows teams greater odds at the incoming collegiate players, even if deemed a “crapshoot.” The Knicks have taken this road, so let’s see how long it lasts.

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