What are we, 17 days away from the end of the season? This is the final stretch for every NBA team to get their tanking in.
It’s also that time when the teams at the top of the conference are battling for favorable playoff positioning, which, in a way, helps the tanking teams, because those contenders are pushing just a little harder to win every game. And with that comes a very fun NBA tank watch, and yeah, I need to tell you about it.
© Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWill Late Season Success Fuel Delusion for the Pelicans?
Let’s recap this New Orleans Pelicans season, shall we?
During the NBA Finals, they gave the Indiana Pacers their first-round pick back, which could now turn into a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Then at the 2025 NBA Draft, they traded up with the Atlanta Hawks to draft Derik Queen, sending out the 23rd pick in that draft along with their pick this season.
From there, the Pelicans were hit hard by injuries, never once having their full roster available in a year where losing didn’t even benefit them. Through their first 25 games, they stumbled to a brutal 3–22 record. By the All-Star break, they sat at 15–41, slightly better, thanks to a few key guys returning.
Since the break, though, with the team finally close to healthy, they’ve gone 10–7. Not amazing, but above .500—and at least somewhat respectable.
With nine games left, you could realistically see them finishing this stretch with a winning record, and no real incentive to tank. But here’s the problem: they’re already eliminated from postseason contention, even if they go 9–0.
With their loss last night at the New York Knicks, the New Orleans Pelicans have been officially eliminated from postseason contention.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 25, 2026And honestly, the worst-case scenario might be exactly that, going 9–0. Because then Joe Dumars, who already traded away a potential lottery pick in a stacked draft, might convince himself it was just bad injury luck that kept this team out of the playoffs. That if they simply run it back, this roster has all the talent in the world to make a deep run.
And that kind of thinking? That’s how you end up not selling high on your assets, maybe even doubling down and trading more picks to “fix” a team that isn’t quite there. That’s how you risk crippling both the present and the future, even when you already have enough valuable pieces to build something real around Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen for the long term.
woke up & remembered we got b2b wins ? pic.twitter.com/jEU4GVk0PF
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 20, 2026 © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesUh-Oh… Can the Bulls Still Make the Play-In?
Nightmare-inducing words include “Bulls” and “Play-In” in the same sentence.
While the Western Conference has pretty much locked in who’s playing postseason basketball, and who isn’t, the door in the East is still slightly cracked open.
The Chicago Bulls, currently sitting as the 12-seed at 29–43, have 10 games left. Which means… there is a world, somewhere out there, where the Bulls could, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, still make the Play-In.
The only reason this unfortunate delusion even exists is because of the absolute freefall from the Orlando Magic. Dealing with major injuries to their stars and starters, they’re now on a six-game losing streak, dropping from the 6-seed all the way down to the 10-seed, the last Play-In spot, in what feels like the blink of an eye.
Final from Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/QJBwVNDN3Y
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) March 25, 2026Now, picture the ugliest scenario: the Magic go winless over their final ten games, while the Bulls go undefeated in that same stretch. Suddenly, the Bulls would leapfrog them in the standings and sneak into the Play-In tournament.
Is it likely? Not at all.
But the Bulls are one of those teams that just find a way to end up in the Play-In. And until I see that little “o” next to their name in the standings, I’m not sleeping easy.
© Chris Nicoll-Imagn ImagesOne Man’s Tank, is Another Man’s Opportunity
Whilst tanking is ugly, benching or shutting down NBA superstars and all, it does open up opportunities for other players. I mean, someone has to be on the court, right?
If I had to pick three players, in no particular order, who’ve benefited the most from that increased opportunity, here’s who I’ve got:
Will Riley (Washington Wizards): From opening night through the end of January, Will Riley played 39 games and started just once. He averaged 15 minutes a game and under six points per night.
Since then, though, he’s played 25 games, started about half of them, and is now averaging 15 points per game. He’s had multiple 20+ point performances and is quietly playing his way onto an All-Rookie team.
And honestly, my favorite part of this whole run? His mom hyping up everything he does on social media.
I’m his mom but yes, yes he is. t.co/0oL3e87lqp
— Tracy Hooks Riley (@tracyhooksriley) March 4, 2026Ace Bailey (Utah Jazz): A top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Ace Bailey initially looked like he was falling behind the rest of his class. With more established players ahead of him, the offense just wasn’t being run through him.
But once the Utah Jazz leaned fully into the tank to protect their top-eight pick, they handed Ace the keys, and he’s delivered.
Since the All-Star break, he’s averaging 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, plus a steal and a block per game. He’s shooting 42% from three on nine attempts a night, with three 30+ point games and six 20+ point games in just 13 outings.
Ace Bailey is tied for the most games by a teenager in NBA history with 30+ PTS & 5+ 3PM. pic.twitter.com/EiHyJ9tT39
— Real App (@realapp) March 24, 2026Julian Reese (Washington Wizards): I could’ve gone with someone like GG Jackson or Ben Saraf here, guys who’ve logged more games during this tank, but the flashes from Julian Reese have been too insane to ignore.
He’s only played six games with the Washington Wizards, and two of those came against the Jazz. In those two games? He dropped 18 points and 20 rebounds in one, then followed it up with 26 points and 17 rebounds in the next.
Just like his sister, Angel Reese, Julian is an absolute menace on the glass, and if this is what limited opportunity looks like, the Wizards might’ve found something real.
Julian Reese in win vs. Jazz:26 PTS17 REB2 BLK1 STL12-16 FGOnly rookie with multiple games of 15+ PTS, 15+ REB this season. pic.twitter.com/zBGQgTC4o1
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) March 26, 2026Hence then, the article about nba tank watch will the magic force the bulls into the play in too late for the pels stars of the tank was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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