Utah Jazz's tanking plan just got more expensive

The league fined the Jazz for holding forward Lauri Markkanen out of games, specifically their game against the Washington Wizards on March 5, "as well as other recent games," the league said. Markkanen hadn't suited up for the Jazz since Feb. 22 due to "injury management" for his lower back. Further violations by the Jazz would result in a fine of $250K.

Remarkably, that back recovered well enough for Markkanen to return to the lineup Wednesday night — after the team was fined. He played 28 minutes in the Jazz's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, moving well enough to finish the game with 14 points.

Markkanen is subject to the NBA's player participation policy that took effect last season. Those new regulations affect how and when teams can rest "star players," defined as anyone who made the All-Star or All-NBA teams in the past three seasons. That includes Markkanen.

While no such regulations exist for non-star players, the Jazz may have drawn this fine tanking too blatantly. The team listed nine players on the injury report for Sunday's game. Four weren't listed as injured, just out with "injury management" or "rest."

But the fine made a difference. Even though the Jazz lost their seventh straight game, they played a competitive game against the Grizzlies, leading with just over a minute to go. Not coincidentally, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Markkanen were all back in the lineup.

The "star player" provision means most tanking efforts can happen without breaking league rules. At least in one case, the NBA is trying to slow down tanking by making it expensive.