NBA Draft Ridiculousness

The NBA is amazing television. From amazing superstars, to dramatic buzzer beaters, excellent post-game interviews....everything about the NBA is greatness. But it's so flawed in so many ways, and none more than the ridiculousness of the Draft Lottery. We focus on that today, as the NBA Finals gets under way, and focuson on the history of the Lottery System, and ways the NBA should change this immediately.

The Lottery System was started in 1990, when the league switched from the ever so scrutinzed envelope system to the ping pong ball system. Before that, it was a coin flip system that was an absolute joke and most believe even that was a scam as Olajuwon was drafted by the Houston Rockets from the University of Houston. The Rockets averaged 43.5 wins from 1978 to 1983, when most believed the "invented" the tanking season, so they would have a chance to draft Olajuwon with the #1 overall pick. The Rockets only won 14 games in '82-'83 and won the rights to draft him. He would eventually lead them to 4 Conference Finals titles, and 2 NBA titles, and a HOF career, and arguably the best defensive Center since Bill Russell.

Starting in 1985 the NBA reacted to the accusations of fraud in the system and went to a more diverse system where they used envelopes to draw from the worst 3 teams in the league, to determine the 1st - 3rd overall picks; the remaining picks were lined up according to Win-Loss records. However, most argue and most will agree that it was still fixed when the rights to draft Patrick Ewing from Georgetown, fell to the New York Knicks. Everyone knows that the Knicks, Lakers, Celtics rule the ratings empire within the NBA and this made a logical choice as the Knicks had been a joke since the early '70's. Starting in 1990, the ping pong ball system we know today was implemented...but was that the right move, or just add to the debate of fraud and a set up system? The debate of the "frozen envelope" still rages to this day and though Ewing never led NY to a title, he is considered one of the most dominant big men of the 80's and 90's and one of the Top 20 players of all time.

Now here is where the fun and nonsense starts:

In 1990, with the start of the draft lottery system, the #1 pick went to the New Jersey Nets. Though he didn't become the dominant PF of the 90's as he was predicted, Derrick Coleman was a beast in college and some believe it was set up again that he went to the Nets to help balance out the power in the Eastern Conference (if you remember, the Pistons, Celtics and Bulls were dominants teams then).

In 1991, with the 3 yr old teams in Charlotte and Miami, and doing nothing to help ratings, the league "awards" the 1st overall  pick so they can draft Larry Johnson. The big, powerful, uber-talented PF from UNLV. He would quickly become a dominant force to be reckoned with in this league.

1992-the Magic had been a joke since joining the NBA in 1989, so it was finally time to 'reward' them. They "win" the lottery and get the rights to draft SHAQ. You may have heard of hm? He may have only played there 4 years, but he quickly became the face of the league and led the team to the Finals.

1993-the league must really like what Shaq can do with ratings, and with MJ retiring, I guess they felt the need to have star power in the Eastern Conference. They award them the #1 pick again, to draft Michigan supestar Chris Webber (they are idiots though and quicly trade him away). Could you have imagined a team with Penny, Webber, Nick Anderson and Shaq? They keep that team, Shaq never goes to LA.

1994-who knew the league still had a team in Milwaukee. No one knew then, or does today. Which is why the league gave them the rights and hoped it would transform their team. It didn't. Glen "Big Dog" Robinson had a great nickname, great moves in the post and star power...but never really became the name in the NBA liked they hoped.

1995-with the Rockets winning back to back titles, and the balance of power shifting to the Western Conference, the league awards the #1 pick to Golden State who then take Joe Smith. Good role player, but never really helped balance out the league.

1996-Shaq is going to LA and the league needs star power in the East. How about Allen Iverson to the 76ers? Perfect fit for a team in desperate need of a lift.

1997-you'll love this one. At this point, the San Antonio Spurs were a nightmare. Sure they had David Robinson, and he was great for the city, and a perfect ambassador for the game...but they needed somethign else. Here's Tim Duncan for you and this should help combat the 8 titles in 10 years by the Eastern Conference. Small market. low ratings? Let's give that city something to get behind 100% and follow in depth and bring storylines and marketability to a small market.

1998-Shaq & Kobe in LA? Well maybe M.Oluwakandi (hahahhaha) could help the other LA team. It doesn't. But hey, the NBA can only do so much. The teams still have to scout and coach well.

1999-Jordan retires, Pippen leaves, Jackson goes to LA. The Bulls win the lottery and get to choose Elton Brand of Duke. Not the impact they had hoped and envisioned, but was supposed to.

2000-The NJ Nets were a joke of a franchise and giving them the #1 pick to take Cincy's Kenyon Martin was supposed to bring some fanfare and maketability. He helped them get to back to back Finals appearances and did bring back respectability to that franchise.

2001-MJ is in the front office with the Wizzards, let's give them the #1 pick as a thank you for what Jordan had done for the league. Too bad they blew it on Kwame Brown and missed out on: Tyson Chandler, Jason Richardson, Shane Battier, Joe Johnson, and oh, some guy named Tony Parker. Again, the league's front office can only help so much.

2002-Houston kept basketball in the limelight with Jordan's absense in the mid '90's. Let's repay them and give them the #1 pick to take Yao Ming. You put him with Steve Francis and Cuttion Mobley and Glen Rice? That's a pretty solid roster.

2003-And this is the year that is compared to 1985 and the shenanigans and rumors are flooding the Internet. Cleveland has been a joke of a sports town for decades and there hasn't been a major sports title there in 50+ years. How do you help them out? How about the next great player, who just happens to be from Akron, 20 minutes away?

2004-The league still feels bad for the Magic as they lost Shaq to the Lakers; Penny to injury and have been a joke since the mid 90's. Let's give them the next great Center to come in the league: Dwight Howard.

2005-It's time to help out the Bucks again. But again, as all too common, they drop the ball and take Andrew Bogut???

2006-This young, up and coming team had Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon and TJ Ford. With down attendance and hits against the city and fanbase, they needed something big for this team after losing Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter recently. Let's help them out and give them the #1 pick. Too bad they dropped the ball and take Andrea Bargnani???

2007-The Western Conference is legit so teams are falling behind. We give the #1 pick to Portland and they drastically fail by taking Oden over Durant. Oops.

2008-Where have Chicago Bulls been since the glory days of the 90's? They had averaged 19 wins a year in the 6 years after the "legends" left. Then they won 47, 41, 49 and seemed to be up and coming. What would it take to help get them to prominance? A superstar in Derrick Rose.

2009-Again, with all the hoopla around the success of the LA Lakers, we help out the Clippers. They don't fail this time and take Blake Griffen. Even though he sits out his entire 1st year, he has developed into the superstar we all knew he would.

2010-John Wall to the Wizzards after the fiasco of G.Arenas and Crittenton.

2011-Feel bad for the Cavs? I mean LeBron deserted them for Miami and left them with nothing. Let's give them Kyrie Irving to re-build around.

2012-The NBA owned the New Orleans Hornets and needed to sell. They traded Chris Paul and had nothing else there. Let's get them someone to market around: Anthony Davis of Kentucky; they sell the team to the Saints' owner (Benson).

This shows a trend over 20+ years that the league has a huge investment in each team. There is a reason why they play 82 games, and then 4 rounds of playoffs with 7 game series. They need the ratings, attendance and marketability of each franchise, even the small market ones. You do that by trying to push parity as much as you can and try to alleviate dynastys. With all the new hoopla regarding players "teaming" up like the Heat, Celtics...they need to find a way to combat that and give teams a chance that no player wants to go to: Bucks, Cavaliers, Wizzards, Bobcats, Pelicans. NBA players want to play in NY, LA, Miami, etc. Here is how you fix that, with changes to the draft, and we will save the contract and free agency changes to another day.

1)Get rid of the lottery all together. You are the only franchise that has it, and it's a joke. You pick like you play: worst team picks first and all the way to the NBA Champion picking last at #30. You want to lose games to get the best pick? OK. Who cares. You're attendance will suffer, sponsorship dollars will go down and that is on you. Not to mention, it's hard to get a coach to buy into that.

2)You have 5 rounds of the Draft, and High School players are eligible. If you can go to war at age 17, you can go start your NBA career. However, I don't care if you are the next Kobe or LeBron, you MUST play 1 year in the NBA DL. This will help you mature physically and mentally. Also, having 5 rounds enables teams to take "flyers" and "risks" on European players, and high school players they can develop over time.

3)Have the Draft after the season is officially over. Why do you have it in June when players don't become free agents or can opt out until July 1st? Makes no sense.


Jason S. Vicknair