One of the strategies with tanking teams is usually having their best players sit out. That is especially the case when the season is winding down and teams want the highest pick possible. The Utah Jazz are more than familiar with this and are doing it right now.
The Salt Lake Tribune's Andy Larsen confirmed that five of the Jazz's best players will miss their upcoming game against the Washington Wizards.
This is a crucial game for the Jazz and their tanking efforts. The Wizards are one of their fiercest competitors for the top pick in the upcoming draft. The Wizards also have a three-and-a-half-game lead over the Jazz for the No. 1 pick, so if the Jazz lose this game, it would help their chances of securing top-three odds.
While one would suggest that they go for the worst record, doing that doesn't give them the worst odds. The worst three teams in the NBA all get equal odds for the No. 1 pick, so currently having the third-worst record is all the Jazz need to accomplish their goals.
However, no one will shame them for worsening their record while bettering Washington's. There's something else to consider for this upcoming game.
The Wizards have been better lately, which is good for the Jazz
The Wizards had a surprisingly active deadline for a team as bad as theirs. What's more, they weren't exactly the sellers that many thought they and the Jazz would be.
They may have traded Kyle Kuzma, but it was for Khris Middleton, and they didn't reroute Middleton somewhere else. They also acquired Marcus Smart in a salary dump. Both of those players have extensive histories playing for winning teams. While it might not make sense for the worst team in the NBA to do that, in a certain context, it makes sense.
Like the Jazz, the Wizards have acquired veterans to teach their youngsters winning habits, which could help them become a playoff team again. This has somewhat translated on the court, as they've won two of their last four games while integrating their players.
While this could help the Wizards long-term, it could also help the Jazz short-term. Another loss helps the Jazz maintain their high lottery odds, which they will definitely need with the season getting shorter and shorter.
This is a good opportunity for both sides to get what they want. Besides, no matter what happens, both will likely accomplish what they sought out to do. It'd be more fun if the Jazz had those guys with them, but no one should complain that they don't.