just turn a profit by making the playoffs or winning
enough to draw fans.

Like the Hawks for example.

But the owners/Silver take issue with teams getting
too bad in order to get legitimately good.

Its stupid as shit.

Owners don't like the lost revenue from playing uncompetitive
teams and the bad publicity that comes with tanking. They don't
want to break the illusion that every team is trying.

They need to leave the shit alone.