NBA clamping down on 'tanking' after fining Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers

The NBA have fined Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers, with the league saying both teams sat healthy players in recent games and noting that compromising its integrity won't be tolerated.

Utah, who have won only 18 of their 56 matches this season, appeared to find a loophole in the NBA's player participation policy, but the league sent a message by hitting the Jazz with a $500,000 fine.

The NBA also docked the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for holding out Pascal Siakam and two other starters in a game against the Jazz.

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The policy was put in place in September 2023 to try to discourage teams from purposely losing in order to improve their chances in the draft lottery.

The tactic, known as 'tanking', is used by coaches to improve draft position by fielding a non-competitive team and essentially forfeiting victory.

This year's draft is considered the strongest in several years, possibly incentivising clubs like the Jazz to position themselves for a high pick.

The Jazz did not play stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr in the fourth quarter of recent close games. Both played three quarters in recent road games against Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. The Magic rallied from 17 points down to win 120-117, but the Jazz defeated the Heat 115-111.

Jazz coach Will Hardy was asked after the game at Miami whether he considered playing Markkanen and Jackson in the fourth quarter.

"I wasn't," Hardy said succinctly.

Hardy also said after a loss to Portland Trail Blazers that he was following the advice of the team's medical staff.

"I sat Lauri because he was on a minutes restriction," he said. "So if our medical team puts a minutes restriction on Lauri, I'll try to keep Lauri healthy."

Jackson's minutes were restricted because of a growth on his knee.

In fining the Jazz said, the NBA said in its release "these players were otherwise able to continue to play and the outcomes of the games were thereafter in doubt".

The Pacers (15-40) and Jazz (18-38) are among the bottom-six teams in the league.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement the competition committee and team owners will work "to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct".

"Overt behaviour like this that prioritises 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," Silver said.

Silver likely will further address the topic when he meets with the media Saturday during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.

"Agree to disagree," Jazz owner Ryan Smith posted on social media. "Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense."

BYU's AJ Dybantsa is considered a likely top-three and potentially franchise-changing draft pick, along with Duke's Cameron Boozer and Kansas' Darryn Peterson.

But it's also a deep draft where simply getting into the lottery could mean still getting a shot at a difference-making player.

Under the direction of CEO Danny Ainge and his son and team president, Austin, the Jazz are trying to return to their glory days. The John Stockton-Karl Malone teams in the 1990s were regular championship contenders, making the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.