Adam Silver is not a fan of 'The Process,' denies pressuring 76ers' owner

It comes as no surprise that the Philadelphia 76ers' strategy of repeatedly tanking in an attempt to collect as many high lottery picks as possible is not a plan being praised by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

"Am I fan of that strategy? Put it this way: No. But does that mean that it's not acceptable under the league rules? It doesn't," Silver said on FiveThirtyEight's "Hot Takedown."

Philadelphia has been a bottom-three team in the league over the past two seasons and currently sits last with a horrific 1-28 record.

With rumors circulating that Silver attempted to thwart "The Process" by pressuring Sixers owner Josh Harris to hire Jerry Colangelo, the commissioner made sure to label those reports as pure hearsay.

"Those reports are not correct. Josh Harris, who's the principal owner of the 76ers, decided on his own that he needed to change course," Silver said. "He and I had many conversations along the way about the utility of the strategy that he was following. And he came to the conclusion once this season began, and he saw how his team was performing on the floor, that he needed to change his strategy."