Assuming the NBA is committed to bringing to all 30 teams back for a resumption, it should separate into two tournaments. One includes the 16 teams that would’ve made the playoffs, with the purpose of crowning a champion. The other 14 teams then play to win the draft lottery.
On the surface, a tournament to decide the draft order seems silly. We understand. But the NBA has already turned its lottery into a huge event with wide interest. Fans openly root for their team to lose during the regular season because it enhances their chances of the No. 1 pick. In my tournament, fans get to cheer victories that will lift their team up the lottery standings. If it adversely affects the worst of the worst like the Warriors (15-50), T-Wolves (19-45) and Cavs (19-46), tough luck. They shouldn’t have been that bad.
The format is flexible, subject to time constraints. It could be a round-robin style, or a best-of-seven series. Eventually, though, the entire draft order will be determined by the results of this tournament.
The obvious flaw is motivating players to compete for a lottery position. For some players, the reward is drafting a player who could eat up their minutes next season and serve as a replacement. But it’s not much different than asking players to serve as tune-ups for the playoff teams. Perhaps Adam Silver can add monetary incentives, which isn’t far-fetched considering the commissioner proposed a $1 million prize for each winning player of a mid-season tournament.
Thinking outside the box is required at times like this.
Stefan Bondy
Copyright © 2020, New York Daily News
Poll
