The OKC Thunder may be the favorites to win their second straight title here in 2025-26, but, ironically enough, they're also the team that's directly responsible for making one of the game's biggest problems look even worse.
NBA fandoms have been up in arms on social media as of late, calling out the Utah Jazz for their newly adopted approach to tanking.
Essentially, the Jazz (17-37) have leaned into a rotational strategy in which head coach Will Hardy plays his bigger-name, higher-impact players like Lauri Markkanen and the recently acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. during the first three quarters, only to then pull them once the fourth quarter rolls around.
Some feel this is an egregious new approach to what is widely considered an already out-of-control issue in tanking.
However, others, such as an anonymous West executive who recently spoke to NBA insider Marc Stein, argue that it's merely Utah exploiting a loophole in the tanking game, as they noted that it's not as if the Jazz "just sit everybody," and argued that the league "can't tell a team how to use their guys during a game."
Now, regardless of how one feels about this particular matter, it's undeniable that the Thunder are the primary reason why these shenanigans are taking place.
Jazz's ultimate goal is to avoid giving Thunder 2026 first-round pick
Four years ago, the Jazz sent big man Derrick Favors to the Thunder via salary dump, and coughed up the rights to a future first-round selection to seal the deal.
Come the 2026 NBA Draft, it'll be time for Utah to finally pay up and hand their pick over to OKC.
That is, of course, unless it falls with the top-eight slots on the night.
From the jump, the Jazz pick came with top-eight restrictions, meaning that if they land, say, the eighth overall pick or anywhere below, the rights will remain in Danny Ainge's possession and the debt to the Thunder will be officially finished.
For months now, it has been widely believed that Utah would be actively trying to lose as many games as possible to avoid giving up its draft rights to OKC and its budding dynasty.
At first, they seemed to be pulling off the usual gimmicks of sitting players for broad reasons such as "injury management." However, as the season has progressed, it's clear they've found a way to make their approach to tanking even trickier.
Though these actions may wind up hurting the Thunder's chances of ultimately reaping the full benefits of the 2021 Favors deal, in an odd way, it's almost impossible not to be impressed with how creative Utah has gotten in their efforts to screw over Oklahoma City.