League-Wide Shutdowns Could Hurt the Pacers Chances at Top 4 Pick

Multiple teams at the bottom of the standings are shutting players down

Feb 10, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) knocks the ball away from Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Oh, let the tanking games begin!

The dog days of tanking are officially upon us, and teams are getting “crafty” with roughly one-third of the season still left to play.

Adam Silver and the league office were firm in their recent fines of the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz for violating the league’s anti-tanking policy before the All-Star break, hoping to deter teams from openly “throwing games.”

Well, the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Jazz appear to have found a workaround. Instead of risking fines, they’ve simply shut down key players for the remainder of the season. Problem solved, right?

Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Kyrie Irving and Jaren Jackson Jr. have all been ruled out for the rest of the year. Purely coincidental timing, of course.

Feb 21, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (8) and forward Domantas Sabonis (11) look on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

The Kings, owners of the league’s worst record, announced Wednesday they would shut down their two best players. LaVine will undergo finger surgery, and Sabonis is set for season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury he had been rehabbing during the season.

Nov 14, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving looks on during the second half against the LA Clippers in an NBA Cup game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

In Dallas, Kyrie Irving tore his ACL during the 2024–25 season, and all signs previously pointed to a return after the All-Star break. That changed Feb. 18, when the Mavericks announced he would not play again this season. Dallas has lost nine straight and now sits seventh in the inverse standings, trying to climb back into the top four of the lottery, because apparently drafting Cooper Flagg last year wasn’t enough excitement.

Feb 9, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) reacts against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Utah’s decision to shut down Jackson Jr. with 26 games remaining came as little surprise. The Jazz had already been sitting Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen in fourth quarters of close games, mindful that their pick is top-eight protected. If it falls outside that range, it conveys to Oklahoma City. Jackson Jr. recently underwent a procedure to address a PVNS growth in his left knee.

Sep 29, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) poses for a photo during media day. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle told reporters that Ivica Zubac (ankle) and Obi Toppin (foot surgery) will be out “for a while.” Pascal Siakam was also listed out for personal reasons against Washington. The Pacers, fourth in the inverse standings, are notably the only team in the bottom eight currently on a winning streak, which, in tanking circles, is practically rebellious behavior.

Jan 9, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Newly acquired Washington Wizards guard Trae Young speaks at an introductory press conference prior to the Wizards' game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Washington listed Anthony Davis, Trae Young and Alex Sarr out, three of its top players on paper. Head coach Brian Keefe said Davis will be reevaluated in two weeks, offering no guarantees about a return this season. The Wizards own the second-worst record in the league and have lost three straight. Mission proceeding as planned.

Grizzlies' Ja Morant (12) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) talk during open practice at the FedExForum on October 4, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. | Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Memphis, eighth in the inverse standings, announced Ja Morant will miss at least two weeks, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will undergo surgery to correct a misalignment in his right pinky finger. Because nothing says “development season” like finger realignment.

As you can see, plenty of “injury management” is taking place, to properly treat players, of course, and just so happening to weaken rosters in the process.

Whether you’re for or against tanking, the system’s flaws are on full display, courtesy of what might as well be dubbed the “Tanking Eight” (Sacramento, Washington, Brooklyn, Indiana, Dallas, Utah, Memphis, Chicago) of 2025–26.

Every team wants a shot at a top-four pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and it’s hard to blame them. The talent at the top is loaded with potential future stars. For franchises stuck in the lottery loop, the temptation is obvious.

The league may be monitoring tanking teams like a hawk, but Indiana must prioritize doing whatever is necessary to retain its 2026 top-four protected pick.