‘That’s no secret’: NBA team escapes punishment over tanking; $200m drama finally ends – Daily

The Washington Wizards have escaped any penalties after their alleged 'tanking' was revealed by one of their young guns.

It comes as the Detroit Pistons finally secure their man after a drawn-out contract saga, while two NBA veterans are heading to China.

All of this and more in the latest edition of NBA Daily.

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WIZARDS ESCAPE BAN AFTER PLAYER'S TANKING ADMISSION

The Washington Wizards and guard Bub Carrington have reportedly escaped discipline from the NBA following his stunning admission about the team's tanking last season.

Carrington recently spoke to WUSA 9, where the 2024 No.14 overall pick was honest about the direction Washington elected to take during the 2025-26 season.

"We haven't been told to be the best version of ourselves," Carrington said.

"We were held back because we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa.

"That's no secret."

The strategy ultimately paid off for Washington, who secured the No.1 overall pick and selected Dybantsa out of BYU.

Despite Carrington's comments, The Athletic's Sam Amick reported the NBA will not hand down any punishment.

"The NBA will not discipline Wizards guard Bub Carrington (or the team) for his candid comments about tanking," Amick reported.

Washington finished last season with a 17-65 record but now has an interesting roster as it continues its rebuild.

Dybantsa joins a group featuring Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson and Anthony Davis heading into the new campaign.

PISTONS SECURE THEIR MAN

It was one of the most drawn-out and talked-about contract sagas of the NBA offseason, but the Detroit Pistons finally have their man.

Jalen Duren has agreed to a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed deal to remain in Detroit, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Charania reported the $200 million offer had been on the table for two weeks, after the Pistons previously offered deals worth between $170 million and $190 million throughout the summer.

Duren recently skipped Pistons media day amid the contract standoff before also missing the start of training camp.

But with the drama now over, there were plenty of reactions to the massive deal.

Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor was strong in his assessment of the deal and whole process.

"All that drama just to take the deal," O'Connor wrote on X.

"$200M guaranteed is too hard to pass up of course.

"But unfortunately for the Pistons, they still need to split up Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson.

"Two total non-shooters will not win a title and that has to be the goal for the Cade era."

ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel went down a slightly different path, questioning what the contract standoff could mean for Duren's future in Detroit.

"Now, the big question with Jalen Duren is whether he puts all of this behind him or if he requests a trade out of Detroit at the first chance he gets," Siegel wrote on X.

Charania recently spoke on the apparent fracture between Duren and the Pistons during negotiations, admitting there was a clear "dent" formed between the two parties.

"There's clearly a dent that formed between the player and the team in this situation," Charania said on ESPN.

"Now you move forward, and you try to mend the relationship… and that process started today."

Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff was much more straightforward when speaking about the All-NBA Third Team big man returning.

"That's our guy and he's been our guy," Bickerstaff said.

"We are happy to have him back."

NBA VETERANS SIGN IN CHINA

After being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies, D'Angelo Russell has found a new home with the Shanghai Sharks.

Russell, who has played more than 650 NBA games after being selected with the second pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, will depart the league for the first time in his career.

And he won't be the only familiar NBA face heading to Shanghai.

Three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee is also set to join the Sharks, giving the Chinese powerhouse two experienced pieces for the upcoming season.

The Sharks are the reigning Chinese Basketball Association champions, with Russell and McGee now looking to help the club go back-to-back.