The topic of tanking in the NBA is undoubtedly a controversial one. Many think that tanking games to get a better draft pick is wrong, but sometimes tanking is the key to long-term success. Just ask the Oklahoma City Thunder, who tanked for a couple seasons, stockpiled draft picks, and are now not only the defending champions, but could be the next NBA dynasty.
Because of a stacked draft class last season that was headlined by Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and V.J. Edgecombe, we saw unreal levels of tanking.
From the Raptors pulling players in the second halves of games to the Jazz sitting out Lauri Markkanen a lot over the second half of last year to the Sixers blatantly sitting out players to maintain their pick, teams were bending the rules to get a lottery pick. This is something we could see even more of this year.
The 2026 NBA Draft class is stacked
Teams that are searching for their franchise face, or impact players, will be in luck once again next June. College basketball is littered with talent, especially this freshman class that is projected to be one of the best ones we have seen in years.
The top three prospects are set in stone: Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa. The order of those three is not set in stone, but all three have the potential to be franchise players.
Peterson is probably the best shooting guard prospect we have seen in quite a while. His level of poise, his all-around scoring ability, and his athleticism jump off the page immediately. He has the tools to be one of the best shooting guards in the NBA at his peak.
Boozer is 6’10” and built like an NFL linebacker but plays with a balance of smoothness and power. His unique combination of size, strength, and versatility makes him the perfect forward for the modern NBA.
Dybantsa is an athletic freak that runs the floor like a gazelle, defends with a high motor, and slashes to the basket with bad intentions every time. Dybantsa actually reclassified so he can be in college this year and get to college quicker.
Outside of the top three, there are several sleeper prospects
Even guys like Arizona’s Koa Peat, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, Tennessee’s Nate Ament, and Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. are all prospects that can make an impact on day one and lead a team’s young core.
Because of this wealth of talent, expect teams to not be shy about tanking this season once again. Teams like Brooklyn, Indiana, Washington, Utah, and Sacramento will likely be lining up for the chance to secure the services of an elite prospect. Tanking may be considered unethical by some, but the benefits are hard to ignore.
