The Zach Lowe Show Jaren Jackson Jr. Out Indefinitely and a Look at the Tanking Crisis
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Feb 12, 2026 
Fred Katz, NBA reporter and podcaster for The Athletic, joins to break down Jaren Jackson Jr.’s shutdown and medical context. They tackle the growing tanking crisis and practical fixes. They also assess post-deadline fits, from Harden’s Cleveland fit to Vucevic’s effect in Boston and the Knicks’ Jeremy Sochan signing.
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Expect Incremental Fixes, Not Radical Overhaul
- The NBA faces an unprecedented tanking crisis and the league will likely apply incremental 'band-aid' fixes rather than radical reform.
- Zach Lowe expects changes around protections, lottery timing, and giving playoff teams more lottery credit.
Wheel Proposal Means Accepting Random Top Picks
- Severing draft order from win-loss records (the 'wheel') would eliminate tanking but requires accepting top picks sometimes landing with good teams.
- Lowe notes owners resist this because the draft is the primary tool to redistribute talent to bad teams.
Use Existing Shutdown Rules First
- Enforce the league's existing player participation and shutdown rules before changing the draft.
- Fred Katz urges the NBA to investigate suspected long-term shutdowns using independent medical reviews to protect integrity.