***NBA Draft Thread***

[Frak]

Some of the best players in the NBA are foreigners, been true for decades.

I didn't say they weren't. In fact, the influx of foreigners in the past 10-15 years, starting with Dirk and Ginobli, has really helped the game IMO. What I'm saying is that the draft sucks because all these teams don't have roster spots, so they draft some foreigner with "potential" just to stash him away for a few years and hope they hit the lottery. The NBA needs to figure something out, because that was ridiculous last night.

 

[rebecacy]

I didn't say they weren't. In fact, the influx of foreigners in the past 10-15 years, starting with Dirk and Ginobli, has really helped the game IMO. What I'm saying is that the draft sucks because all these teams don't have roster spots, so they draft some foreigner with "potential" just to stash him away for a few years and hope they hit the lottery. The NBA needs to figure something out, because that was ridiculous last night.

So you don't like the strategy, esp. since DG did not get selected? My point is the strategy works, that's why they do it.

 

[ZJohnson]

I would love to see DG here in PHX. That would also mean if he goes down to the D-League he will be with the Energy.

 

[Frak]

So you don't like the strategy, esp. since DG did not get selected? My point is the strategy works, that's why they do it.

My point is that there should be some sort of framework to deal with this. Has nothing to do with DG. Even the announcers thought that it was getting ridiculous. I watch the NFL draft and even in the 7th round, they are drafting for need and depth. In the NBA, they just take a bunch of flyers on guys that may never step foot in the U.S. Just IMO, they need to have a stronger connection to D-League teams and treat it like MLB does the minor leagues. Then they have their young players go there to develop and only have contributors on the NBA bench.

 

[MNCyGuy]

THAT'S why the NBA draft is a joke and only weirdos like Blum enjoy it. After the first round, it gets so stupid with foreigners that it doesn't make any sense. They either need to eliminate the second round or give teams a couple more roster spots for a practice squad, where players can go down to the D-League and back up still keeping an NBA salary.

Problem with that is that most of the NBA isn't profitable as it is. Even if they could, I doubt most franchises would bother to sign guys just to pay them to develop in the D-League.

An interesting idea would be to drop the 1st round/2nd round format and do separate 1-round collegiate and international/D-league drafts.

 

[CyJack13]

THAT'S why the NBA draft is a joke and only weirdos like Blum enjoy it. After the first round, it gets so stupid with foreigners that it doesn't make any sense. They either need to eliminate the second round or give teams a couple more roster spots for a practice squad, where players can go down to the D-League and back up still keeping an NBA salary.

Why should players who aren't good enough to stick in the NBA get paid an NBA salary?

 

[CyJack13]

Problem with that is that most of the NBA isn't profitable as it is. Even if they could, I doubt most franchises would bother to sign guys just to pay them to develop in the D-League.

An interesting idea would be to drop the 1st round/2nd round format and do separate 1-round collegiate and international/D-league drafts.

Don't know how that would reasonably work. Would the same team get the number one picks in both drafts?

Really this year is mostly an anomaly due to the fact that it was the weakest crop of college players to come out in about 20 years and the fact that there is probably going to be a lockout next year. It makes a lot of sense to grab the rights to a Euro who has some potential and let him develop for the next couple of seasons. The vast majority of guys picked in the second round will never be more than an 8th or 9th guy on a good team, and those guys are not hard to find better. It makes more sense to draft a foreigner with potential and hope you hit the lottery.

 

[MNCyGuy]

Don't know how that would reasonably work. Would the same team get the number one picks in both drafts?

Really this year is mostly an anomaly due to the fact that it was the weakest crop of college players to come out in about 20 years and the fact that there is probably going to be a lockout next year. It makes a lot of sense to grab the rights to a Euro who has some potential and let him develop for the next couple of seasons. The vast majority of guys picked in the second round will never be more than an 8th or 9th guy on a good team, and those guys are not hard to find better. It makes more sense to draft a foreigner with potential and hope you hit the lottery.

Yea, I'm not sure how you'd end up divying up picks. Separate lotteries?

 

[rebecacy]

My point is that there should be some sort of framework to deal with this. Has nothing to do with DG. Even the announcers thought that it was getting ridiculous. I watch the NFL draft and even in the 7th round, they are drafting for need and depth. In the NBA, they just take a bunch of flyers on guys that may never step foot in the U.S. Just IMO, they need to have a stronger connection to D-League teams and treat it like MLB does the minor leagues. Then they have their young players go there to develop and only have contributors on the NBA bench.

The announcers are laughing to cover up for their lack of homework. The teams are not pulling names out of a hat. They do scout internationally and they have a clear strategy that you either don't like or can't understand.

 

[MNCyGuy]

The announcers are laughing to cover up for their lack of homework. The teams are not pulling names out of a hat. They do scout internationally and they have a clear strategy that you either don't like or can't understand.

There were some absurd ones. The Lakers taking that D-League was pretty inexplicable.