Hoops

A crazy idea to stop NBA teams tanking for pick 1

I like it Speed44

I also dislike teams who tank. I have suggested before on here about a post-All-Star game ladder to determine the #1 pick.

After the ASG, everyone's records are kept. When the season is over, the teams out of the playoffs, their records are tallied (post-ASG records) and the team that performed best since the ASG, but missed playoffs, will get the #1 pick and so on.

I know that currently, that would probably reward some very good Western teams (OKC for example), but I think it would stop teams from tanking and also the make-the-stars-sit-out-the-final-two-weeks syndrome that those tanking teams often do.

Also top teams playing the tankers during late season games, would have to face some pretty hungry lineups, rather than some D-League scrubbers.

Yes, I understand there are plenty of flaws there, especially teams on the bubble of the playoffs, purposely missing the playoffs but getting a good enough record for the top pick etc, but at least it would hopefully eliminate the 14 win teams from happily aiming for 14 wins.

Possibly, also depends on trades, free agent signings, the draft is only one way to recruit talent, not the only way.

Obviously not a perfect idea, just threw it out there to see peoples thoughts

The lower/middle teams not getting top prospects is one issue

The very high wage of top picks another issue

Top teams potentially staying at the top for ever, less parity is another

So yea plenty of issues, but current system is also very flawed

What ideas do people have?? be interested to see if there is a really good system out there to beat tanking, i just hate teams who are not trying to win.

wouldnt middle of the road teams stay middle of the road teams?

Well @ Jonno, it certainly could be an improvement on the tattslotto style balls in a barrel system they currently use, nice try I like thinking outside the square (or in this case the sphere)...

Another thing i forgot to mention in the original post is having the contract value of the rookies initally very high also means it will be harder for super teams to be put together, due to salary cap, if you have a high(ish) draft pick on your roster, meaning the 'max' players like LeBron, Irving, Love could be more spread out amongst the league and wont be on the same team very often, meaning more markets get a 'max'player

A case where this is particularly useful is the Heat, (also the cavs when the lost LeBron or post Jordan/Pippen Bulls)

They were among the top teams, but lose LeBron and can re-sign guys like Wade and Bosh over the cap using bird rights, so therefore have enough room to keep there top pick, pick #5 based on last years ladder, which is where Dante Exum was picked, but could have taken anyone apart from Wiggins, Parker, Embiid, Gordon, which if they get a nice piece keeps them more competitive in the short and long term.

If they still wanted Napier who they drafted who they can draft lower and cheaper, they could trade down, get a useful player and a later pick for the pick #5 which also could help them stay better.

I personally would rather reward the Heat for trying hard and winning, encourage them to win even more each season for the higher pick and doesnt give incententive for teams like the 76ers to tank, as they would have to trade for a top pick and the higher they finnish the better the pick they will have to trade back to the top team

In most cases id imagine top picks get traded to a non-playoff team with cap space.

or in some cases a team may break up roster if they want to take a new direction and keep a high/expensive pick, which puts the good players from that roster on the market for other teams to trade for/sign.

Yea true about top teams getting the top talent being a issue, but this is why i valued the contracts high, so in most cases the top team wouldnt be able to draft and sign the top talents unless they break up there team to create the cap space, which would force them to trade the top picks to lower teams with cap space, which is how the bad teams get talent and get better, but given its a trade and often more than 1 team will be making an offer for the top pick the top team will atleast get something ok back and be more rewarded for winning and keeps teams trying to win and finish as high on the ladder as possible.

Yea if $30 mil too high, maybe start with $15-20 mil for pick 1 and work your way down, its probably over paying alot of prospects, but right now a guy like Wiggins is underpaid compared to many players, so im ok with paying the player.

but teams have the option of passing on the pick if they dont want to pay the player or trade down to a lower/cheaper pick,

nothing stopping a team trading a 1st rounder for a 2nd round pick or something if they view none of the prospects as worthy of the price tag.

Btw the 2nd round stays the same as is now as far as contracts, price of players go.

Exactly,

but sadly still happens way too much.

Yea helps winning teams that dont tank rebuild and bring in fresh talent when there older stars age/leave, the Bulls are a great example, would also help reward this great Spurs era and coach Pop when Duncan, etc retire as they would be able to get an elite young talent join them and keep there other good players interested in staying.

I just hate rewarding losing, would rather make/keep the strong teams strong.

Atlesast that way everyone is going 100% trying to win, as moving up 1 spot on the ladder gives you a better draft pick, so you never have the games at the end of the season when players are 'rested' and teams not trying as they know they cant make playoffs so may aswell move down and improve draft pick stuff that goes on now.

A 192 cm shooting guard is a welcome addition.Good 3 point shot