The annual tradition of tanking for a better draft pick is in full swing.
The NBA tank has become more interesting than the playoff race for many fans. Let’s look at which teams are most likely to be tanking and which teams are just terrible (Go Nets!). Team’s status will be fluid as the season progresses.
Notes: The Contenders are teams that are definitely still trying to win this season, not necessarily teams that will compete for playoffs/titles. A Contending-Wounded team is a team that is still in the hunt for the playoffs but recently lost a key player to either injury or trade (so the Spurs don’t count). Some of the other buckets are self-explanatory.
This status for each team will be used to focus further review of the tank this season and updated as needed.
| Team | Wins | Lossess | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Suns | 18 | 43 | Tank Contender |
| Dallas Mavericks | 18 | 42 | Tank Contender |
| Atlanta Hawks | 18 | 42 | Tank Contender |
| Sacramento Kings | 18 | 41 | Tank Contender |
| Orlando Magic | 18 | 41 | Tank Contender |
| Brooklyn Nets | 19 | 41 | Just Terrible |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 18 | 40 | Tank Contender |
| Chicago Bulls | 20 | 39 | Tank Contender |
| New York Knicks | 24 | 37 | Dead in the Water |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 25 | 34 | Contending |
| Charlotte Hornets | 27 | 33 | Contending |
| Detroit Pistons | 28 | 31 | Contending |
| Miami Heat | 31 | 29 | Contending |
| Utah Jazz | 31 | 29 | Contending |
| Denver Nuggets | 33 | 27 | Contending |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 31 | 27 | Contending - Wounded |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 34 | 27 | Contending |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 33 | 26 | Contending |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 34 | 26 | Contending |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 32 | 26 | Contending |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 37 | 26 | Contending |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 33 | 26 | Contending - Wounded |
| Indiana Pacers | 34 | 25 | Contending |
| Washington Wizards | 35 | 25 | Contending |
| San Antonio Spurs | 36 | 25 | Contending |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 35 | 24 | Contending |
| Boston Celtics | 42 | 19 | Contending |
| Toronto Raptors | 41 | 17 | Contending |
| Golden State Warriors | 46 | 14 | Contending |
| Houston Rockets | 46 | 13 | Contending |