The question isn't why the NBA would try to stop the 76ers from tanking. The question is why the league hadn't tried sooner.

This is, after all, a franchise that signed Kenny Thomas to a seven-year, $50 million contract in 2003; that signed Brian Skinner to a five-year, $25 million deal in 2004; that signed Samuel Dalembert to a six-year, $63 million contract in 2005; that waited at least two years too long to trade Allen Iverson for fear that fans would stop showing up to games; that signed Elton Brand to a five-year, $82 million contract in 2008; that hired Randy Ayers as its head coach in 2003 and Eddie Jordan as its head coach in 2009; that selected Evan Turner with the draft's No. 2 overall pick in 2010; and that traded a passionate basketball player (Andre Iguodala) for a passionate bowler (Andrew Bynum) in 2012.

-- Philadelphia Inquirer