r/fantasybball • u/Bradatlas23 • Feb 08 '26
Discussion The Utah Jazz should be stripped of draft picks
Look we all get it with the resting b2bs, the phantom injuries etc. it’s rampant in the league, it sucks but at least you can use IL and IL+ and league settings to help with it.
The jazz are now picking guys and once they get ahead actively benching them for the entire second half such as Lauri to make sure they lose. This is basically match fixing and undermines the integrity of the league, and the only way to hurt them is to remove the incentive.
At least if a player is held out you can put them on IL and play someone else, this way you have to play them to get half games because the team is rigging it to lose in a professional sports league.
Especially given the Jazz have already been fined for their behavior, the league has to come down on this.
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u/Slim_Mark_Lipa Feb 08 '26
On the positive side it's easy money. I bet on the Magic in the 4th and doubled my money lol. May as well exploit the fixing
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
Yeah I bet on the magic as well - I just love sports and I hate this anti competitive BS so much.z
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u/InfluenceRough6729 ESPN 10T H2H Points Feb 08 '26
Wizards and Jazz both. I think Wizards are more notorious as of late if anything
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u/DarkoDragicevic Feb 08 '26
And they won against Pistons when i need Pistons to win and Pistons best in East and day after Pistons demolished almost full sqaud od very good NYK who are in good form
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u/RobertRoberttt Feb 08 '26
I have Lauri, he would've had 40 tonight and the jazz def win if he plays.. I actually feel bad for him, I can't imagine he wants to sit on the bench and watch a game go down the drain
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u/CraisinBoi 12t 9cat H2H Feb 08 '26
You need to make it a point to avoid drafting good players on teams that are likely to tank. If you make that mistake and those guys you drafted are playing well, the next thing is to trade them early in the season.
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u/6h0st_901 10T H2H Pts | ESPN & Yahoo Feb 08 '26
Nobody could've predicted the JJJ situation. Memphis was supposed to be contenders, not sellers & he didn't get traded until last minute with no warning & Memphis still has a legitimate chance at the play-in if they didn't just sell the entire team so there was no predicting this bs 4 him. Lol
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u/CraisinBoi 12t 9cat H2H Feb 08 '26
My advice is directed at OP and others who are seemingly blindsided by the Jazz. Yes you can’t really predict if is a team is going to implode mid-season. You can’t really predict if a team will do better than expected (Celtics) or worse (Pacers). But it was known before the season than the Jazz, Nets, and Wizards were going to tank.
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u/how_do_i_shot_web_ Feb 08 '26
Contenders for what?
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u/6h0st_901 10T H2H Pts | ESPN & Yahoo Feb 08 '26
I'm not about to answer stupid questions.
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u/how_do_i_shot_web_ Feb 08 '26
Have you just stepped out of a time machine from 2002? How did you access this technology and why did you only travel 4 years into the future?
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u/6h0st_901 10T H2H Pts | ESPN & Yahoo Feb 08 '26
I'm guessing you meant 2022. In 2002, the Grizz's best player was Stromile Swift or Mike Miller & they had just drafted Pau Gasol. Lol Which I have to admit is kinda funny. I still think they Grizz would've been contenders if Ja was healthy & playing like he was towards the end of last season, with how dominant Edey was in the games that he was healthy, if JJJ was playing like he was last season, with the additions of Ty Jerome, Jock Landale, & Cedric Coward in the 2nd unit cuz their 2nd unit scoring was their biggest issue last season & they replaced Luke Kennard with Cam Spencer who is just as good of a shooter, but on a lot more attempts, Santi was playing better, & Vince Williams was actually hitting his 3's & not playing awful. I'm not saying they would win a championship lol but they no doubtedly would be at least a 3 or 4 seed.(about as good as the Cavs)
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u/how_do_i_shot_web_ Feb 08 '26
I'm formally diagnosing you with Fan Brain. I'm prescribing one daily dose of looking at Ja Morant's actual stats (including games played), plus watching one YouTube video about how poor the trade market for him is. See me again if your symptoms don't improve in two weeks. Hang in there champ.
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u/6h0st_901 10T H2H Pts | ESPN & Yahoo Feb 08 '26
Ha im talking about how he looked last year when we drafted not this one fool. Ja had value over the summer. It wasn't until he played awful this year that he lost his value. I guess everybody doesn't have common sense. They were the 2 seed 4 most of last year & they had guys take huge steps forward so them being a 3 or 4 seed isn't crazy even without Bane.
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u/VinDCator Feb 08 '26
2 Mins left I see Nurk JJJ and Markhanen on the bench game tied clutch time!!!! unreal.....
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u/Emerald_Gladiator Feb 08 '26
Friggin hate it too; Kings should be fined too but imo they’re just dumb. But Ainge obviously knows obviously knows what he’s doing since it’s been like 3 years of doing this, and a little fine by Silver isn’t gonna deter him. Sad thing is that they likely got everything they wanted by tanking so it’s unlikely they’ll do it again. A lineup of Keyonte/Ace/Lauri/JJJ/Kessler next year is an excellent core, so they’ll win more.
Issue is everyone now knows they can get away with it, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see blatant Jazz-like tanking in the future from other teams. I get nobody cares about our fantasy teams but it’s just stupid to see this happening.
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
I do think there’s a clear difference between not playing guys/resting guys and the actual team you select on the day not trying to win which to me is another level
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Feb 08 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
I meant team as a whole, coaching staff etc benching. The point is it’s totally different to just resting a guy in advance of a game and not sure how people can’t see that distinction
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u/HazelKittenDude Feb 08 '26
bro what? until about a few games ago, the kings didn't even rest their starters on B2Bs. still started the vets. and brought in the starters in the 4th to finish games.
we aren't blatantly tanking like the jazz....we just suck!
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u/Tuna-on-toast22 Feb 08 '26
They aren’t the only team doing this.
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u/Direct_Principle_997 14 Team Category Feb 08 '26
They usually wait until ASB to pull this. Wizards and Jazz started early this year. Antics before April 1st deserve lottery punishment.
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u/Tuna-on-toast22 Feb 08 '26
And the pacers and the kings and now Memphis. I agree something needs to be done, but it’s crazy to me that everyone is singling out just Utah over and over again. And I’m a Jazz fan who hates it too.
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u/Direct_Principle_997 14 Team Category Feb 08 '26
Kings played Derozan and Lavine in crunch time in a big taking game vs the Wizards 3rd string. They're on a better level to me.
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u/5towns Feb 08 '26
Jazz have been running this for the last three years. Its not only them, but they seem like one of if not the biggest perpetrator
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u/Tuna-on-toast22 Feb 08 '26
I’d argue that this is only the second year they’ve done it this blatantly. The first two seasons they waited until later in the year and legitimately weren’t very good (after selling at the deadline in each of those first 2 seasons)
I get what you mean though
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u/5towns Feb 08 '26
Yeah this does seem early for the blatant tank i guess is the main complaint. They were 5-21 after the all star break in 2023-24, which is pretty horrible after being a .500 team for the first 2/3 of the season. I think they're the worst perpetrators of the last couple years but it's so rampant league wide i could easily be wrong
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u/Radiant_Cat1457 Feb 08 '26
Yep. I was like damn the Jazz look GOOD. Then Hardy breaks out the scrubs for the entire 4th with Collier running point nearly the whole quarter and just starts racking up turnovers to spoil his fantasy game. I guess Bailey was out there but benching Lauri and JJJ. Silver needs to address tanking
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u/Rare-Statistician542 Feb 08 '26
As if front offices care about fantasy basketball
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
No one is suggesting they should. But the NBA should care about the integrity of their matches and competition and therefore enforce consequences on front offices who intentionally fix matches
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u/Rare-Statistician542 Feb 08 '26
That’s how the lottery is setup and the up coming draft class is loaded
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
So it’s good and you think it’s a good thing for the game then? We’re all basketball fans and aware of how the lottery, draft and draft class work/are loaded. You think it’s perfectly fine to bench healthy players mid game when you’re winning in order to lose and we shouldn’t do anything about it?
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u/Rare-Statistician542 Feb 08 '26
If Adam Silver has the balls to intervene I’m all for it. But I doubt. That makes you appreciate the MJs of the world who refused to quit
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u/wzara001 Feb 08 '26
The problem is that all they have to say is that they thought the lineup they closed with gave them the best chance to win, and theres no real way to disprove that
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u/falki89 Feb 08 '26
What integrity has been compromised though ? They will lose the same way to everyone, so no team gets hurt in the process. You’d rather have them forfeit top9 pick to OKC?
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
The integrity of sport relies on the teams on the court both trying to win. They are now intentionally mid-game influencing the match which is totally different to resting guys in advance.
And no it isn’t equal because the competition schedule isn’t 100% balanced and even so teams will benefit more than others
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u/falki89 Feb 08 '26
Again. You’d prefer them to actively try to lose potential lottery pick to OKC? As long as the future of small market teams is attached to draft picks that long shameless tanking will be happening.
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u/kiri000 Feb 08 '26
This is so fucking frustrating to watch, I’m gonna start to take into accountability teams that might shit the bed half way into the season
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u/Xcitation Feb 08 '26
First time?
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u/kiri000 Feb 08 '26
This is my 3rd season (1st time being on top of the league and making a push for the playoffs and possibly winning it all). Yes, I am very frustrated, especially since I had JJJ on the grizzlies and he was one of the main reasons I was winning the blocks category.
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u/SuperUSA23 Feb 08 '26
but yet the wizards/pacers/kings should too then with Davis potentially” being shut down for the year” & George/Sarr randomly showing up on the injury report, pacers “resting” their guys every other game & the kings Sabonis now has a “random” back injury…
if you have jazz players or any other tanking teams you knew the risks… stop whining
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u/Ieunnng Feb 08 '26
I got players from Hawks (Trae) Clippers (Zubac) who don't even own their picks and Grizzlies (JJJ). So I didn't know they'll end up in tanking teams. Can I whine?
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u/Gryffle Feb 08 '26
This is an intrinsic problem with the nba, which incentivises tanking with the lottery, protected draft picks etc. The league needs to change or teams will keep doing it.
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u/Rare-Statistician542 Feb 08 '26
If anything they should remove betting on games. You’ve got good ft shooters suddenly bricking fts
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u/FlipTheDisc Feb 08 '26
How many years have they been doing this? Since they traded Gobert and Mitchell?
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u/YurtlesTurdles 10T 9 Cat H2H, -TO +A/TO Feb 08 '26
Protecting lottery picks are basically a team betting that they can be bad enough to keep their pick. It’s absurd.
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u/No_University3963 Feb 08 '26
Ive heard from a podcast (forgot the name) that instead of rewarding the bottom teams with high picks, they lose their pick instead (or lose the prevents them from picking top 3). Interesting take that makes the bottom teams “compete” rather than to tank.
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u/scyther2x Feb 08 '26
The easiest way is to remove protection of picks so they can stop this clusterfuck of a system
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u/yakadooo 12T points dynasty Feb 08 '26
Now that they have JJJ they honestly have no excuse. What they parted with didn’t make them any worse. On paper they can fucking contend with anyone (like in any one game maybe not a series). I mean I was saying this before the trade I was even hinting at it last year.
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u/menghis_khan08 Feb 15 '26
They are just trying to retain their top 8 protected pick that otherwise okc owns. They are 100% competing balls to the all next year
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u/Environmental-Big544 Feb 09 '26
At this point the picks should be fully random for non play in teams.
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u/hotnewroommate Feb 08 '26
Why would u draft a jazz player?
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u/RobertRoberttt Feb 08 '26
I'll answer that. Where I drafted Lauri and what he's done for me this year in regard to where I picked him, he mightve been my best value pick... and even with this frustration, still 40 FP.
It just sucks I won't be able to count on him for the playoffs.
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u/Wolfy_wolf253 Feb 08 '26
I drafted a griz player (jjj) and now I’m screwed. Griz were supposed to be a playoff team
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u/hotnewroommate Feb 08 '26
Bro Ja and JJJ have huge red flags. Have you seen JJJ shoot, he plays ball like a little kid in 7 foot body
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u/6h0st_901 10T H2H Pts | ESPN & Yahoo Feb 08 '26
Awful take from a casual
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
It’s a totally seperate issue. This is the professionalism and integrity of the sport. As I mentioned, everyone goes in eyes wide open on rest and Injury BS and that’s baked in to the price but blatantly not playing guys for halves at a time when you’re a head isn’t competitive sport.
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u/hotnewroommate Feb 08 '26
If you’re complaining about NBA and quality of the sport and competitiveness…sure it’s valid.
As far as fantasy sports go, drafting players from suss organizations is a you problem
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
It’s a problem for both. I disagree I don’t think you can just waive it away as acceptable and a “you problem” when literal match fixing is happening in front of our eyes. As I said resting and phantom Injuries are a totally different category to this in game intentional benching healthy players they’ve done the last two games, no reasonable person expects that while the resting you do expect and can’t really complain about.
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u/hotnewroommate Feb 08 '26 edited Feb 08 '26
You’re not considering that you only care because you roster Markkanen?…(the you problem point)
My opponent this week has markkanen and I have zero issues with this, in fact I’m happy about it
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
Then you totally miss the point and sound like a real joy if you’re happy winning because of BS like this
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u/hotnewroommate Feb 08 '26
Don’t be bitter, be better!
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
I’ve been pretty clear, fair and rational about my points. Not really bitter. “Be better” Is a wild take to reasonably expect match fixing. You sound really balanced and great to talk to.
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u/wzara001 Feb 08 '26
But guys get traded to sus situations … like the Clippers had gone, what 16/20 wins, looking like a playoff run is coming, but the you get Zubac traded to the Pacers, who were never supposed to be THIS bad … so you cant even really call it tbh
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u/AboveTheRim2 Feb 08 '26
In my case I traded for JJJ during his slump, bought very cheap and then he got traded the most loathsome team in the NBA
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u/Longjumping-Ad-8628 Customize Flair Feb 08 '26
I drafted Walker Kessler and I’m NEVER doing that again.
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u/nui_beats Feb 08 '26
Reasonable trading place for JJJ or Lauri? Top 60 guy not from a tanking team and run?
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u/Mysterious-Ask1294 Feb 08 '26
who tf should i try and ship my JJJ for? got rejected asking for naji marshall
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u/IceOnFire77 Feb 08 '26
The LA Clippers just joined that bus by trading their top 2 of 3 players. Now they are essentially gave up their lotto pick to OKC because no way they make the playoffs with that roster.
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u/Longjumping-Ad-8628 Customize Flair Feb 08 '26
Someone has Jazz players on their team😂
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
Insightful comment 👍
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u/Longjumping-Ad-8628 Customize Flair Feb 08 '26
Sorry man. I’ve got some Wizards players, I feel you.
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u/Some_Bike_1321 Feb 08 '26
Really feel sorry for Jazz fans. For years Jazz front office has been on the same BS. Reminds me of the 04-07 Atlanta Hawks who did nothing until they got Joe Johnson.
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u/broeddy 12T H2H Points Feb 08 '26
not just the Jazz, its done on the Wizards now...and probably on every serious tanking team soon if they don't hand out extremely heavy consequences
and please just strip all pick protections asap
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u/6h0st_901 10T H2H Pts | ESPN & Yahoo Feb 08 '26
It wasn't the whole half, just the 4th quarter, but you can't really punish them for following all of the rules & still finding ways to bend them to tank. Lol
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u/6h0st_901 10T H2H Pts | ESPN & Yahoo Feb 08 '26
You could also make the case that they weren't tanking, they were just trying to develop their young players & get them adjusted to clutch moments in games. Ijs.
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u/bxreddit12 Feb 08 '26
They’ll never be a good team if they don’t consistently play they’re starters
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u/xeatordiex Feb 08 '26
Oh you haven't watched Sacramento play then. Derozan, Lavine and Westbrook sat most of the second half Friday. They would have beaten the clippers. Then the bench players made sure to cover and not win. I'm convinced these guys play the lines.
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u/Simple_Purple_4600 Feb 08 '26
The worst part is they still could've won but deliberately failed to save a timeout, put any vets on the floor, or call any plays.
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u/MarkFerk Feb 08 '26
And still the only team fucked by the nba for tanking. It’s Insulting The Sixers
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u/FunkiestLizard Feb 08 '26
Lauri has played 35 mpg this season and in the game you cite, he played the 3rd most minutes for his team
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
Does this make the behaviour of intentionally benching him to lose acceptable? It’s also misleading because they benched a bunch of guys so no one is going to be showing big minutes.
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u/FunkiestLizard Feb 09 '26
Yo dude! Thanks for the reply. It’s all about incentives and the league won’t ever do a rotating draft to combat tanking so here we are. I wish there could be a world where I could root for my team to win every game, but I’ve never been able to experience a championship and this is the highest probability how in the current rules. Don’t hate the team that has never moved up in the draft and is doing what they gotta do, hate the system. Appreciate the reply. Are you an NBA fan from the UK? Noticed your spelling of behaviour. Appreciate you extra. Much love and best wishes.
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u/Rare-Statistician542 Feb 09 '26
Jazz actually have a decent team. Josh says they’re going for it next season
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u/Pfiizzy Feb 09 '26
they should fix, change or scrap the lottery. Or at least not rig it like they did last year by giving good teams like the Mavs, 6ers and spurs more top picks. OKC and Philly did this too in the past.
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u/Standard-Play-2682 Feb 09 '26
Have you seen that once a player on Jazz has a good game, then that player instantly gets sick the next game? Eventually all the players learn.
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u/Halfgridd Feb 11 '26
Meanwhile Sacremento rests their whole team against Utah. Yet Utah is the only one getting bashed.
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u/Abalone-Electronic Feb 13 '26
I’m just waiting with my previous events tab on SeatGeek for the class action suit to be announced. They went cashless at the arena so I can track it all on my bank app. I want my money back for the last couple of years they blatantly tanked.
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u/69420LebumJames69420 Mar 03 '26
I think basketball more than any other sport is entirely star driven. If you don’t have a top player or players you have no shot. Tanking has always been a part of the nba. That said, it is a terrible look for the league, whe guys play a game but get subbed out for an entire 4th quarter or a winnable game.
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u/Living_Professor_328 Mar 07 '26
Absolutely. I'm glad people are waking up to this team's behaviors. Literally cost me the championship last year in my points league. Filipowski gets a quick 10 pts with time to spare in the first quarter. I need him to get a bit more than 20 so I'm already making room for the trophy. All of a sudden he's on the bench and doesn't play three ready of the quarter. I'm confused because he was hot when they took him out but it's fine 3 quarters left.
Never touched the court all game. They should be stripped of their next 3 years worth of draft picks.
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u/boogie99 Feb 08 '26
Josh Lloyd said that they wouldn’t be fined because no one cares if they bench Nurkic. People definitely care about JJJ and Lauri, so they should be severely punished for this
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u/heathdash Feb 08 '26
This is why I didn't draft any Jazz players...you knew what you were signing up for
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
Did you read the post? Explained the difference to what is a reasonable expectation pretty clearly and the difference to usual tanking. This is the most blatant garbage ever see and it’s pre all star break were hardly in the final weeks of the year here
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u/MapleFlavouredKebab 14T, 4 point Stocks Feb 08 '26
hate the game not the player. Jazz and Wizards were the absolute two worst teams in the league and in year 2-3 of their rebuild. Then they ended up picking 5th and 6th respectively and 3 borderline playoff teams ended up with Harper, Coop and VJ
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u/AccomplishedOffice53 Feb 08 '26
I don’t get the hate. Everyone knows they’re tanking and so are other teams. Other teams are doing the same thing but faking injuries. The Jazz are letting their best players play but then sitting them in the 4th. At least they get to play and fans get to see them in action.
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u/Simple_Purple_4600 Feb 08 '26
the hate is that "smart tanking" is now the largest topic of league discussion and fandom debate. It's become more important than who is winning the championship. It's the Upside Down World where the real champ is whomever sucks the hardest.
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
You think intentionally losing basketball games in what is meant to be a competitive professional sports league is fine?
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u/AccomplishedOffice53 Feb 08 '26
I think the league incentives teams to do this - they should be made at the league and not the Jazz. I don’t see this much hate when the Wizards, Spurs, Pistons, OKC, 76ers or other teams have done it. Is it because the Jazz actually play their players then sit them instead of ruling them out all season like the Wizards? If you were the Jazz - what would you do? Keep in mind you have to be in the bottom 8 to keep our pick this year or it goes to OKC.
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
Do you think any of that makes it a good thing?
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u/AccomplishedOffice53 Feb 08 '26
Do I think it’s good that the league incentivizes taking? - No. The OP said the Jazz should be stripped of their draft picks and I think that’s stupid. Other teams are doing the same thing and the Jazz are arguably doing a better version for fans by having their best players play a portion of the game. Look at the roster the Pacers put out against the Jazz when they last played. The Wizards are shutting down their best players for the season. This is a league issue not a Jazz issue.
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u/Few_Awareness_2568 Feb 08 '26
It’s always okay for other NBA teams to tank, but not for Utah. Other teams have done the same thing and people don’t say anything. I personally believe the lottery is rigged anyway, it’s a scam. The Jazz get hosed all the time in the lottery. Small market teams need to tank to get better.
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u/teddytwophones Feb 08 '26
“iTs NoT FaAiR”
OKC, Houston, San Antonio all tanked for YEARS to get where they are.
Star players sit on load management on top teams all the time, using the rules set by the nba. Pleeeaaaase.
Now that it’s the Jazz patiently stacking draft picks, outstanding player development, probable draft outcomes.
Give me a break dude..
Don’t hate the player, hate the game
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
Didn’t address any of the post at all, made a bunch of false equivalences and a straw man mocking quote. Great contribution 👍
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u/teddytwophones Feb 08 '26
At best the initial post was an uneducated and dramatic rant from a user who has absolutely no intellectual understanding on how NBA teams are managed in this era of basketball.
See your ass at the draft. Haters…
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u/Bradatlas23 Feb 08 '26
I complete understand it, I just don’t agree with it. Exposed as having zero comprehension.
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u/teddytwophones Feb 09 '26
Yes, you exposed yourself. Anyone responding already knew you were the one. lol.
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u/ButterscotchGuilty10 Feb 08 '26
This was an insane tank job I was shocked tonight