The NBA draft took place last Thursday night, with free agency set to open this coming Sunday. However, a proposal put forth by the Rockets to the league’s competition committee in April suggests that the NBA should consider flipping those two big events on its offseason calendar in the future.
As Zach Lowe of ESPN.com details, the idea of having free agency open before the draft takes place – which the NFL already does – has the support of a number of executives around the NBA, including several prominent general managers. However, it had never been formally put on the table until the Rockets proposed it this spring.
“As a staff, we have been kicking this around for a couple of summers now,” said Rockets executive VP of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, who presented the idea to the league’s competition committee. “Is there a better way?”
Lowe’s piece, which is worth checking out in full, lays out a handful of reasons why it might make sense to flip the order of free agency and the draft. For one, teams could be better positioned to address positional needs in free agency and then draft the best player available.
A new-look calendar also might help stimulate trade activity during the draft — under the current system, clubs are often hesitant to complete deals in June that compromise their cap outlook prior to the start of free agency.
Additionally, under the current format, teams that miss out on top free agent targets often panic and give big contracts to lesser players in order to use their cap space. If the draft took place after free agency, teams who don’t sign their top targets could preserve cap room for potential draft-night trades.
According to Lowe, it’s not clear exactly what Houston’s proposal looks like. It may involve opening free agency in late June, with a draft around July 10 and the start of Summer League about a week after that. Lowe suggests that people around the NBA are worried about pushing events back into August, which is typically a quiet period on the league’s calendar — however, he notes that the Rockets’ proposal addresses that issue by including a two-week window in late August and early September in which no team would be allowed to complete any transactions. In other words, execs would still get a little vacation time.
While it’s unlikely that the NBA will make any significant changes to its offseason calendar anytime soon, Houston’s proposal is one worth keeping an eye on in the long term.
It makes sense to have the draft first so you have a better understanding of what your team needs are.
Wouldn’t that be the other way around? If you have free agency first, you’d know what your needs are during the draft.
No. The draft is somewhat out of your control. Unless you have the #1 overall pick then your subject to whoever is left once you pick. So if I’m a team with multiple needs then I would first like to fill a need via the draft so I get what I want at a cheap price, without having to compete with other teams over dollars. Doesn’t that make the most sense?
Example…Dallas Mavs need rebounding. They COULD’VE gone with Bamba. If they had, then they wouldn’t have to dip into the FA marketplace where a good rebounder/rim protector can cost you 3x what Bamba would cost on a rookie scale contract.
No it makes no sense whatsoever. Free agency is out of a team’s control too. It is completely in the player’s control. LeBron is going where he wants, even though several teams are lined up to get him. With the draft, there is enough of a pool for a team to get whatever they want regardless. Even if you have to upset the mock drafters and take someone a few picks higher than people thought. You might not get exactly the player you originally thought of, but you can get someone relatively similar. With the draft, let’s say the Clippers originally wanted Collin Sexton. Well, they missed out on him because the Cavs got him. So they go to the next name on their list and draft SGA. The step down is not that much and it might not even be a step down at all. With free agency, the teams that miss out on LeBron are going to be settling for a much larger step down. If they get anyone at all.
As much as the rookies are hyped, all draft picks are unknown quantities. In your example, the Mavs have no real clue if Mo Bamba can even be a good rebounder/rim protector. The hope is there, but there is no real proof. But they have proof that someone
like Greg Monroe or Alex Len can play in the NBA and be a good interior player. They might not have the upside of an unknown quantity, but they have a far superior floor. Plus, signing a Monroe or Len is not going to prevent you from drafting Bamba because quite frankly they aren’t good enough to build a team around.
I agree, it would prevent a situation like the Cavs are in where they don’t know what LeBron gonna do. It also would let teams get their GM’s in place before draft
Exactly. A draft pick won’t be going anywhere unless you trade it. Free agents leaving can mean the need for a rebuild and if the draft has already taken place, it postpones the rebuild another season.
At least make the option deadline before the draft. That seems like an obvious solution that just makes too much sense. At least know who’s leaving before bringing in more players.
free agency then draft is the best idea. would you rather draft a small or power forward then pass on lebron . or sign lebron then draft a point guard.
Or just sign players with a TEAM option instead of a PLAYER option. Teams did most of this FA stuff to themselves.
I like it. Hope they make it happen.
And what exactly stops players like LeBron from holding out in Free Agency until after teams have made all their moves at the draft? Therefore holding up much of the Free Agent market?
Not much would stop individual players holding out, but at least there would be more players that teams could be sure were going to be available if those players were allowed to declare free agency before the draft.
This has been a discussion topic for a few years. Houston bringing it up is nothing new. My opinion is that it should stay the same. Draft night is the 1st opportunity to make changes to your team/future contract outlook since the prior trade deadline. That allows a last chance to set up for free agency ahead. If you aren’t a good enough organization to plan ahead, and identify players that can help you in the draft, and figure out your rosters, then maybe the people in charge should be reevaluated themselves.
Agree with formerlyz, if ain’t broken why change it, is been like this for ever so, the teams should know how to deal with it, but any changes will send a bunch of teams haywire.
I can’t believe the owners let it happen the current way. Let these prima donnas tell the world what they are doing….then have the draft. Why should Cavs be sitting/waiting on LBJ. Stupid. The man with the gold makes the rules…..except in the NBA.
Just because players opt out doesn’t mean they are leaving their teams. Moving FA/Draft night doesn’t solve problems. If I’m a team with a relatively high pick and I have glaring needs and I identify players that can fill those needs then I would rather make that choice in the draft and satisfy a need at a controllable rookie class contract vs filling in FA first and then left to have to draft for a need and that need may not be worth the pick slot I have.
There are more good reasons to have FA signings first then the draft, but the players (via their union) probably like having the draft out of the way first. That way players have a more complete team-by-team picture to make decisions with. Also they can better measure how thrilled they are to be campaigning with their existing team again.