DOUG

Your turn: How does the NBA fix tanking?

May 21, 2015, 1:30 PM | Updated: 1:30 pm

...

Earlier this week, I asked you for your opinions on what needs to happen to the draft lottery. Here’s a sample of some with varying degrees of opinions.

I love the idea. It’s the way the draft lottery used to be. The worst place to be in the NBA is a #9 or #10 seed. Those teams have no chance to win the lottery since they are given few ping pong ball combinations, making a rebuild difficult. Moreover, 82 games have proven those teams have too many flaws to be a championship contender, let alone a playoff team. Your idea destroys all incentive to lose.

A little extreme, but if you change the numbers to bottom three for five years, maybe I’ll convert.

This is crazy but if you have a hard salary cap, it just might work. Championship teams will be naturally closer to the cap so they could offer very little versus a team like Minnesota. It would also force GMs to scout players years in advance to time out salary cap space for the better drafts.

I also like how it tests the incoming rookie. The rookie says, “I just want to win,” and then signs a contract with Philly. A true winner would accept a low deal with the Spurs or Warriors. If you want to win, you must accept less money and fewer minutes. All the popularity is in the high-profile teams. So, would a rookie accept a big contract to small-market Sacramento with no chance of winning and limited endorsement potential, but plenty of playing time?

I think the idea of no draft is brilliant because as long as there’s a hard cap, the market would control the spending. However, it would never happen for one simple reason: marketing. The NBA is never going to give up the stage as the only piece of entertaining sports television at the end of June. The NBA Draft is the only element of sports that the NFL hasn’t taken over. In a league that needs flash, the NBA Draft easily fulfills that role.

I’m sticking with my idea. Keep the draft lottery exactly how it is in terms of odds of winning and the 14 ping pong balls. However, the team with the best winning percentage from the time they are eliminated from the playoffs until the end of the regular season gets the most lottery combinations. If your team keeps losing, they have less chance to secure high pick.

It’s a myth that winning the lottery automatically means a franchise is now relevant. Great teams are built through great drafts. That doesn’t mean high picks mean great drafts. If a team drafts Darko Milicic with the second overall pick, did they really win the draft lottery? The draft lottery does not directly lead to a positive team rebuild. Good drafts do. The lottery in its current form only leads to tanking.

Doug

Houston Astros starting pitcher Corbin Martin throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first ...

Doug Franz

Diving deeper with the D-backs on the trades they made

I talked to different members of the Diamondbacks’ front office tonight. It was made clear to me they never looked at themselves as a typical seller.

5 years ago

The Arizona Diamondbacks from left, Jon Jay, A.J. Pollock, Nick Ahmed celebrate the team's 7-1 win ...

Doug Franz

Facing a daunting September, D-backs need to get hot in August

The Diamondbacks desperately needed their April domination to create a buffer for their collapse in May. They might need the same in August for September.

6 years ago

Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado (13) celebrates in the dugout his home run off Chicago White Sox's...

Doug Franz

Get Manny: For a playoff berth, D-backs need to go after Machado

The Arizona Diamondbacks are wasting time. Every day Manny Machado is in another team's lineup is another day playing a game of chicken the D-backs will lose.

6 years ago

Arizona State's Kimani Lawrence (14), along with Colorado's McKinley Wright IV (25) and Namon Wrigh...

Doug Franz

ASU’s NCAA Tournament resume pokes holes in selection process

If Arizona State is included in the NCAA tournament field, the system is flawed. If ASU is not included in the field, the system is run by hypocrites.

6 years ago

(Matt Layman/Arizona Sports)...

Doug Franz

Thoughts from Newsmakers Week, Day 3: Majerle and Anderson in studio

GCU coach Dan Majerle, Suns President/CEO Jason Rowley, Suns VP of Basketball Ops James Jones and ASU AD Ray Anderson joined Doug & Wolf on Newsmakers Week.

6 years ago

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)...

Tom Kuebel

Kerwynn Williams plays through pain and brings stability to the offense

Kerwynn Williams provided a bright spot in the Cardinals backfield and helped propel the team to their sixth win of the season by beating the Titans 12-7. 

6 years ago

Your turn: How does the NBA fix tanking?