The NBA's proposed 3-2-1 anti-tanking rule could devalue a key Grizzlies asset from the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. Here's why Memphis fans should be concerned.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver is passionate about ending tanking.
There's plenty of debate to be had about how important that is. Some folks feel tanking is a blight on the game. Others see it as a viable team-building strategy.
No matter where you stand, it seems fair to agree that any trade made under the previous rules should be honored. If a team acquired a first-round pick under certain expectations, the value of that pick shouldn't change. That feels like common sense, but apparently, Adam Silver disagrees.
That could spell disaster for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Grizzlies' Key Asset Could Be Devalued
Let's review the new, proposed "3-2-1" rule.
A team can't land the first pick two years in a row, and they can't land a top-five pick three years in a row.
That's fine, in a vacuum. What's problematic is that the rule applies even when a team trades its pick away. The original team's recent draft positions still determine where that pick can land. Confused? That's fine. As a Grizzlies fan, you don't have to venture far to find an example that impacts your squad.
The rules will date back to 2025. The Utah Jazz picked fifth that year. They'll be picking second this year. So, in 2027, their pick cannot land in the top five:
Even though the Grizzlies have a path to owning that pick.
The Grizzlies acquired the most favorable of three 2027 first-rounders — Utah's, Cleveland's or Minnesota's — in the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal. Moving the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate was a monumental decision. Why should the Grizzlies be punished if the Jazz are a lottery team again next season?
It would be impossible for me to present even a veneer of objectivity in this piece. I do not see both sides. This is blatantly unfair and a wild overcorrection to the tanking issue.
How badly will it hurt the Grizzlies?
Grizzlies Should Be OK
The sky is not falling, and there are a few reasons why.
Firstly, the Grizzlies are lucky to have landed the third pick in a draft with four potential stars. They'll likely have their franchise player after this draft. If their pick had landed, say, fifth, this would be a different conversation.
It's also worth noting that the Jazz have no intention of handing the Grizzlies a lottery pick next summer. That's why they acquired Jackson Jr. in the first place. They're highly unlikely to be championship contenders, but they'll be vying for a playoff spot, and they're likely to get close whether they make the postseason or not.
Finally, these rules are not finalized. The owners' vote is set for May 28, and there could be minor modifications to the proposal. The opinions expressed in this article are gaining traction. There's still some hope that Silver will see the light.
Rules ensuring that a team's outgoing picks don't convey are arbitrary and contrary to the spirit of the new rules. The point ought to be for the teams themselves not to land high picks. If their pick is outgoing, it should not be subjected to the rules. That's not fair to the Grizzlies:
It's not fair to anyone.
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