Out of curiosity/ignorance, why do they flip a coin rather than going through the tie-breaker protocol?
That'd seem like the fairest way, and it's a slight discouragement towards tanking.
The league isn't really interested in discouraging tanking.
Why?
I imagine the league is interested in the best product (ie, better competition).
Their number 1 goal is obviously make money, and their 2 goal is probably increase the fanbase (because that's the best/smartest way to make money)
Discouraging tanking makes the league more watchable.
Teams like Philadelphia are grenading their fanbase.
Their best bet is probably to get rid of 2 teams to increase competition. Increased competition will reduce tanking AND make the game more watchable.
Think about if you get rid of PHI and MIN. Send Karl-Anthony to the Lakers, Wiggins to Phoenix, Okafor to Brooklyn, Embiid to the Knicks, Noel to the Pelicans, and Lavine to the Kings.
Add the rest of Philly/Minnesota's upcoming players to those teams.
Throw in Ingram and Simmons (maybe include Denver and MIL/ORL/WAS). You get the idea.
Which teams still want to intentionally lose after that dispersal?
Sure, 2 teams is a lot of money that the NBA would be gambling with, but they obviously would pick the 2 smallest markets/worst money makers, I just used 2 of the worst teams as an example
Think about the final product after the dispersal though. How couldn't it make more money, especially with the NBA/basketball becoming so popular outside the US?
What would be the 2 smartest teams, CHA and OKC?
Edit: Imagine Durant and Westbrook going to the 2 worst teams?