solve tanking using economics

Problem: Teams tank because they're rewarded for doing so.

Answer: Reward them for not tanking.

First cut at solution: teams pick in order of best to worst. Losers and tankers go at the end.

New problem: the rich get richer, and the positive feedback loop means in a few years OKC has AJ Dybantsa and Cam Williams alongside Shae and Chet.

New answer: fix that part, without messing up the incentives.

New solution:

How? When's the latest teams would be incentivized to not tank? I'd say conference finals. Boats > draft picks.

So: teams draft best record to worst, but 4 conference finals teams go at the end. Would actually fix it + way simpler than anything NBA is considering.