Report: 85 percent chance intentionally fouling more severely punished next season

Youth basketball coaches may not like it, but it sounds like the 'hack-a' strategy of intentionally fouling poor free throw shooters like DeAndre Jordan will soon come to an end.

Citing a league source familiar with discussions, CBS Sports' Ken Berger reports that "A rule change that would punish teams for intentionally fouling so severely as to eradicate the scourge from NBA games already is on the unofficial agenda for the competition committee's July meeting in Las Vegas."

Berger adds that the source estimates the chances of a new rule being implemented by next season at about 85 percent.

Under the current rules, off-ball fouling is only punished in the game's final two minutes, when any such fouls result in two free throws and possession.

Perhaps that rule could be extended throughout the game to deter intentionally fouling a player without the ball, or perhaps an obvious intentional foul of any kind - even on-ball - could be punished more severely.

On Sunday, commissioner Adam Silver said he remains torn on the issue, which has been a hot topic of debate in recent years.

The strategy, famously dubbed 'Hack-A-Shaq' because of its use against Shaquille O'Neal in the 1990s and 2000s, was a key component in the Clippers' first round series against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich frequently employing it against Jordan.