ESPN Draft Article - Abolish Draft

[boscel33]

Um, what the heck is this?  One of the worst ideas I've seen altogether:

http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/12912177/nba-draft-abolish-draft

[D.o.s.]

I think this is a really interesting concept, and that the small market teams would never agree to it. If I'm a top-15 rookie, I'm taking a 2 million dollar paycut to play for the Lakers instead of the Timberwolves.

For the non insiders: Abolish the draft entirely, and then:

Turn draft season into a rookie free-agency period: Each team will have a rookie salary exception at its disposal. Teams would be free to negotiate with any incoming rookie player during this period, and can choose whether to use their entire exception on one player, or divide it among several players (as long as they each draw at least league minimum salary).

Below is an example of how this year's rookie exception distribution would work, with the current rookie scale salaries for the corresponding draft position listed for the sake of comparison.
1   MIN   $4,753,000   $5,758,910   16   BOS   $1,520,300   $1,526,111
2   NYK   $4,252,600   $4,319,183   17   MIL   $1,444,200   $1,439,728
3   PHI   $3,818,900   $3,484,141   18   NOP   $1,372,000   $1,353,344
4   LAL   $3,443,100   $3,196,195   19   WAS   $1,310,300   $1,266,960
5   ORL   $3,117,900   $2,965,839   20   TOR   $1,257,800   $1,180,577
6   SAC   $2,831,900   $2,821,866   21   DAL   $1,207,500   $1,122,987
7   DEN   $2,585,200   $2,677,893   22   CHI   $1,159,300   $1,065,398
8   DET   $2,368,300   $2,533,920   23   POR   $1,112,900   $1,007,809
9   CHA   $2,177,100   $2,389,948   24   CLE   $1,068,400   $950,220
10   MIA   $2,068,100   $2,245,975   25   MEM   $1,025,700   $892,631
11   IND   $1,964,800   $2,102,002   26   SAN   $991,600   $863,837
12   UTA   $1,866,500   $1,986,824   27   HOU   $963,000   $835,042
13   PHX   $1,773,200   $1,871,646   28   LAC   $957,200   $806,247
14   OKC   $1,684,600   $1,756,468   29   ATL   $950,200   $777,453
15   BKN   $1,600,200   $1,641,289   30   GSW   $943,300   $748,658
               

[Tr1boy]

Um, what the heck is this?  One of the worst ideas I've seen altogether:

http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/12912177/nba-draft-abolish-draft

can you expand. i dont have insider

[Eddie20]

The proposal

Get rid of the draft: Not just the lottery, not just the weighted system -- just get rid of the draft altogether. We have to shift the incentive system to sound management principles and franchise building that has vision and purpose. That can't happen as long as we offer free whiffs at top-tier talent by virtue of being terrible in the prior season.

Turn draft season into a rookie free-agency period: Each team will have a rookie salary exception at its disposal. Teams would be free to negotiate with any incoming rookie player during this period, and can choose whether to use their entire exception on one player, or divide it among several players (as long as they each draw at least league minimum salary).

Inevitably, bad teams will decry the advantage good teams have, so we can weight the system and size of the exception by the reverse order of the season-ending standings, with non-playoff teams receiving the highest 14 exceptions. Below is an example of how this year's rookie exception distribution would work, with the current rookie scale salaries for the corresponding draft position listed for the sake of comparison.


Rookie Exception System
PICK   TEAM   CURR. ROOK SCALE   PROP.ROOK EXCEPT.   PICK   TEAM   CURR. ROOK SCALE   PROP. ROOK EXCEPT.
1   MIN   $4,753,000   $5,758,910   16   BOS   $1,520,300   $1,526,111
2   NYK   $4,252,600   $4,319,183   17   MIL   $1,444,200   $1,439,728
3   PHI   $3,818,900   $3,484,141   18   NOP   $1,372,000   $1,353,344
4   LAL   $3,443,100   $3,196,195   19   WAS   $1,310,300   $1,266,960
5   ORL   $3,117,900   $2,965,839   20   TOR   $1,257,800   $1,180,577
6   SAC   $2,831,900   $2,821,866   21   DAL   $1,207,500   $1,122,987
7   DEN   $2,585,200   $2,677,893   22   CHI   $1,159,300   $1,065,398
8   DET   $2,368,300   $2,533,920   23   POR   $1,112,900   $1,007,809
9   CHA   $2,177,100   $2,389,948   24   CLE   $1,068,400   $950,220
10   MIA   $2,068,100   $2,245,975   25   MEM   $1,025,700   $892,631
11   IND   $1,964,800   $2,102,002   26   SAN   $991,600   $863,837
12   UTA   $1,866,500   $1,986,824   27   HOU   $963,000   $835,042
13   PHX   $1,773,200   $1,871,646   28   LAC   $957,200   $806,247
14   OKC   $1,684,600   $1,756,468   29   ATL   $950,200   $777,453
15   BKN   $1,600,200   $1,641,289   30   GSW   $943,300   $748,658
TOTAL:   $57,589,100   $57,589,100

Notice how the rookie exceptions are more heavily weighted toward the top of the draft; this is to account for the diminishing talent level the further down the traditional draft we go. In other words, we're still giving the worst teams the best financial device to lure the talent (money available), but they still have to convince players to sign there. For example, a team like the Knicks can offer a player like D'Angelo Russell $800,000 more than the Sixers can, but maybe Russell thinks the Philadelphia 76ers to be a team with clearer direction and vision, not to mention a style of play that he finds more amenable. It would be on the Knicks to convince him that signing with them comes with more perks, and not just more money.

Players have more choice in the matter, and teams should have to work hard to gain their services.

Will there be players who'll rather play for Miami for $2.2 million than in Detroit for $2.5 million? Of course, but the idea is that as a team like Miami signs better talent, it'll improve and eventually get smaller exceptions. In other words, while forgoing $300,000 in exchange for a more scenic location is an easy decision, you'll see very few, if any, prospects make that same switch from, say, the Detroit Pistons to the Los Angeles Clippers, who could only offer about $800,000 versus the Pistons' $2.5 million. Remember: Most draftees have never seen a dime of professional pay. In most cases, the need to secure their financial future will outweigh the need to live by the beach.

Another likely objection will be the idea that this system favors successful teams. That's the idea. Players want to be on winning teams. The system should encourage teams to try to build winners.

But players also want playing time, so the argument that a top-five talent will sacrifice money in order to play for the Golden State Warriors doesn't take into account that he probably won't play much because of the Warriors' stacked roster. Since playing time is the best marketing campaign for a future contract, it wouldn't make sense to sacrifice current dollars just to get into a situation that will dampen your chances at playing time and future dollars.

The beauty of the rookie exception system is that it keeps in place many of the features of the current draft like trading futures, including protections, while not guaranteeing anything. For example, the Hawks and Nets have a pick swap this year; in the rookie exception system, they'd have an exception swap, with Atlanta getting $1.6 million to spend versus Brooklyn's $777,453. The Hawks should be rewarded for pulling one over on the Nets, but that doesn't guarantee they'll be able to convince a player to sign there.

What this system does is quickly separate savvy front offices from bumbling ones. You'll know right away which teams struggle to build attractive enough situations to get players to sign with them, especially if they leave money on the table. Inept general managers will have nowhere to hide when their teams are perennially at the top of the exception list and are unable to make anything happen despite having so much cash at their disposal.

[Tr1boy]

The proposal

Get rid of the draft: Not just the lottery, not just the weighted system -- just get rid of the draft altogether. We have to shift the incentive system to sound management principles and franchise building that has vision and purpose. That can't happen as long as we offer free whiffs at top-tier talent by virtue of being terrible in the prior season.

Turn draft season into a rookie free-agency period: Each team will have a rookie salary exception at its disposal. Teams would be free to negotiate with any incoming rookie player during this period, and can choose whether to use their entire exception on one player, or divide it among several players (as long as they each draw at least league minimum salary).

Inevitably, bad teams will decry the advantage good teams have, so we can weight the system and size of the exception by the reverse order of the season-ending standings, with non-playoff teams receiving the highest 14 exceptions. Below is an example of how this year's rookie exception distribution would work, with the current rookie scale salaries for the corresponding draft position listed for the sake of comparison.


Rookie Exception System
PICK   TEAM   CURR. ROOK SCALE   PROP.ROOK EXCEPT.   PICK   TEAM   CURR. ROOK SCALE   PROP. ROOK EXCEPT.
1   MIN   $4,753,000   $5,758,910   16   BOS   $1,520,300   $1,526,111
2   NYK   $4,252,600   $4,319,183   17   MIL   $1,444,200   $1,439,728
3   PHI   $3,818,900   $3,484,141   18   NOP   $1,372,000   $1,353,344
4   LAL   $3,443,100   $3,196,195   19   WAS   $1,310,300   $1,266,960
5   ORL   $3,117,900   $2,965,839   20   TOR   $1,257,800   $1,180,577
6   SAC   $2,831,900   $2,821,866   21   DAL   $1,207,500   $1,122,987
7   DEN   $2,585,200   $2,677,893   22   CHI   $1,159,300   $1,065,398
8   DET   $2,368,300   $2,533,920   23   POR   $1,112,900   $1,007,809
9   CHA   $2,177,100   $2,389,948   24   CLE   $1,068,400   $950,220
10   MIA   $2,068,100   $2,245,975   25   MEM   $1,025,700   $892,631
11   IND   $1,964,800   $2,102,002   26   SAN   $991,600   $863,837
12   UTA   $1,866,500   $1,986,824   27   HOU   $963,000   $835,042
13   PHX   $1,773,200   $1,871,646   28   LAC   $957,200   $806,247
14   OKC   $1,684,600   $1,756,468   29   ATL   $950,200   $777,453
15   BKN   $1,600,200   $1,641,289   30   GSW   $943,300   $748,658
TOTAL:   $57,589,100   $57,589,100

Notice how the rookie exceptions are more heavily weighted toward the top of the draft; this is to account for the diminishing talent level the further down the traditional draft we go. In other words, we're still giving the worst teams the best financial device to lure the talent (money available), but they still have to convince players to sign there. For example, a team like the Knicks can offer a player like D'Angelo Russell $800,000 more than the Sixers can, but maybe Russell thinks the Philadelphia 76ers to be a team with clearer direction and vision, not to mention a style of play that he finds more amenable. It would be on the Knicks to convince him that signing with them comes with more perks, and not just more money.

Players have more choice in the matter, and teams should have to work hard to gain their services.

Will there be players who'll rather play for Miami for $2.2 million than in Detroit for $2.5 million? Of course, but the idea is that as a team like Miami signs better talent, it'll improve and eventually get smaller exceptions. In other words, while forgoing $300,000 in exchange for a more scenic location is an easy decision, you'll see very few, if any, prospects make that same switch from, say, the Detroit Pistons to the Los Angeles Clippers, who could only offer about $800,000 versus the Pistons' $2.5 million. Remember: Most draftees have never seen a dime of professional pay. In most cases, the need to secure their financial future will outweigh the need to live by the beach.

Another likely objection will be the idea that this system favors successful teams. That's the idea. Players want to be on winning teams. The system should encourage teams to try to build winners.

But players also want playing time, so the argument that a top-five talent will sacrifice money in order to play for the Golden State Warriors doesn't take into account that he probably won't play much because of the Warriors' stacked roster. Since playing time is the best marketing campaign for a future contract, it wouldn't make sense to sacrifice current dollars just to get into a situation that will dampen your chances at playing time and future dollars.

The beauty of the rookie exception system is that it keeps in place many of the features of the current draft like trading futures, including protections, while not guaranteeing anything. For example, the Hawks and Nets have a pick swap this year; in the rookie exception system, they'd have an exception swap, with Atlanta getting $1.6 million to spend versus Brooklyn's $777,453. The Hawks should be rewarded for pulling one over on the Nets, but that doesn't guarantee they'll be able to convince a player to sign there.

What this system does is quickly separate savvy front offices from bumbling ones. You'll know right away which teams struggle to build attractive enough situations to get players to sign with them, especially if they leave money on the table. Inept general managers will have nowhere to hide when their teams are perennially at the top of the exception list and are unable to make anything happen despite having so much cash at their disposal.

how does ESPN allow such idiotic idea up their website?

[Beat LA]

Um, what the heck is this?  One of the worst ideas I've seen altogether:

http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/12912177/nba-draft-abolish-draft

While I agree that the draft lottery should be altered, this is idea is beyond ridiculous, although it's not surprising coming from espn.  If such a system was ever implemented, here's what we'd be looking at, lol -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLySXTIBS3c

No thank you .

[Eddie20]

It's kind of crazy, but I like it. However, I think that the salary each team allotted should be decreased by a certain percentage if that team is in a state without income tax. Also, we have 3 first rd picks next year, plus a bunch of 2nd rd picks, so in theory we could combine all of that salary and blow Ben Simmons away with an offer.

[Tr1boy]

I have a different idea. Adding to the draft already in place

What about allowing the teams picking in the Lotto to get a 3rd round pick . This pick can't be traded,  no guarantees.   

Who knows ,  you have one more chance to luck out

[Eddie20]

I have a different idea. Adding to the draft already in place

What about allowing the teams picking in the Lotto to get a 3rd round pick . This pick can't be traded,  no guarantees.   

Who knows ,  you have one more chance to luck out

It's actually better for them to be free agents and land with a team that offers the best chance at making a roster (see Phil Pressey).

[PhoSita]

Fun idea, I guess, but you might as well contract at least a third of the league.

The smallest market teams would basically have to rely on higher paid veterans getting dumped by teams making room for star rookies, and otherwise hope to find stars among the less heralded players in each draft class -- i.e. mid to late 1st round talents.

Sure, it would militate against teams retaining the same poor management structure year after year, because poor management would no longer be "rewarded."  But it would also stack the deck even harder against the least glamorous markets, and give even more of a crutch to the biggest market teams.

[hwangjini_1]

it is an interesting idea.

for those who oppose it, please write more than "idiotic" "sucks" or whatever. i would like to see what exactly and precisely makes this so terrible.

at the same time, what benefits does this provide that would make it more desirable than the current system? all systems have inherent flaws, are this system's flaws less telling than the current system?

i would like to hear everyone's opinions on this. i think this could be an interesting discussion here at cb.

[PhoSita]

how does ESPN allow such idiotic idea up their website?

You read it and we're talking about it.

[Tr1boy]

it is an interesting idea.

for those who oppose it, please write more than "idiotic" "sucks" or whatever. i would like to see what exactly and precisely makes this so terrible.

at the same time, what benefits does this provide that would make it more desirable than the current system? all systems have inherent flaws, are this system's flaws less telling than the current system?

i would like to hear everyone's opinions on this. i think this could be an interesting discussion here at cb.

Response

Um, what the heck is this?  One of the worst ideas I've seen altogether:

http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/12912177/nba-draft-abolish-draft

While I agree that the draft lottery should be altered, this is idea is beyond ridiculous, although it's not surprising coming from espn.  If such a system was ever implemented, here's what we'd be looking at, lol -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLySXTIBS3c

No thank you .

[PhoSita]

This system would be great news for fans of the glamour teams -- particularly Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.

Rest assured, as soon as your franchise has to rebuild, you will get one of the top 5 prospects in the following draft class to sign with your team.

As for Milwaukee, Sacramento, Utah, Minnesota?  Best of luck.

[Tr1boy]

how does ESPN allow such idiotic idea up their website?

You read it and we're talking about it.

I know. I wasted one minute of my life reading this bs