NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is sending a clear message to teams tempted to tank: the penalties could soon go far beyond just fines.

In February, the league handed down six-figure fines to the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz for resting key players—the Jazz were penalized for benching starters during the fourth quarter of a close game. But Silver, speaking on Stephen A. Smith's radio show Wednesday, hinted at much stiffer consequences on the horizon.

"If we do see that type of behavior where there's a sense that teams aren't going all out to win, we can actually take away draft lottery balls," Silver said. "Teams have to know it's not just about paying a financial fine—which they may think is worth it in order to get a top pick—but that it'll directly impact their ability to get a top draft pick."

The league's proposed "3-2-1" lottery system, which could be presented to owners for a vote at the end of the month, aims to reshape the draft landscape. Under the new plan, the lottery would expand from 14 to 16 teams, flatten the odds, and introduce a "relegation zone" where the bottom three teams actually have a lower chance at the No. 1 pick than teams ranked 4 through 10.

That last part has sparked pushback from team executives. "That aspect doesn't make sense to me," one executive told Front Office Sports. Silver acknowledged the system is still being fine-tuned, telling Smith, "We're still playing a little bit with the system there."

The timing of Silver's comments is notable. On Sunday, the Washington Wizards won the draft lottery after finishing with the league-worst 17–65 record. Meanwhile, last year's lottery saw the Dallas Mavericks land the top pick with just a 1.8% chance, while no tanking team was rewarded. This year, the story flipped: the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls—the teams that snagged the top four picks—all deliberately altered their lineups in the final weeks to improve their draft positioning.

For fans and teams alike, the message is clear: the days of "tanking for talent" may be numbered. As Silver considers taking away lottery balls instead of just writing checks, the stakes for playing to win—every night—have never been higher.