Adam Silver believes the public perception of tanking is a bigger issue than what teams are actually hoping to accomplish.

"I absolutely don't think any team is trying to lose," Silver said in an interview with ESPN's Andy Katz for "Outside the Lines."

"No player is going out there to lose," Silver continued. "In terms of management, I think there's an absolute legitimate rebuilding process that goes on. It's so hard to win in this league, and it's so complex.

"I think what's happened in the case of Philadelphia -- their strategy has been reduced into a tweet. This notion 'be bad to be good.' ... When it gets reduced into a headline, I understand the reaction."

The Philadelphia 76ers have a 2-23 record and have drafted players with pre-existing long-term injuries each of the past two seasons.