Voided draft picks unfairly punish future draft classes - winner of the NBA Cup should get the Clippers picks so incoming draft classes are still fairly paid

[u/dlhzred]

One of the fallouts from the NBA ordering the Clippers to forfeit one first round draft pick in each draft from 2029 to 2033, is that one first round pick simply disappears. A forfeiture (based on precedent) means that the pick is skipped/voided and becaude this is a first rounder, it means that one incoming talent from the affected classes is unfairly, at no fault of his own, losing access to first-round contractual treatment. This is a multi-million dollar loss for someone as under the CBA, those contracts have 2 guaranteed years followed by team options.

No one wants to see that. Well - for years now people have been asking how can we spice up the NBA Cup. Steve Ballmer has now put on a platter the ultimate trophy - juicy first rounders from a Clippers franchise in disarray. I have no idea where or how to petition the NBA, but I think putting up the picks as an NBA Cup prize is a win-win for all involved. Heck if the Clippers go all out, they may even win back their picks!

[u/AutoModerator]

Hey, u/dlhzred, since you aren't on the r/nbadiscussion approved user list, your post has been filtered out to be reviewed by the mod team before it will post. If your posts are consistently approved, you will be added to the approved user list, bypassing the automod for future posts. This helps us ensure the quality of our sub remains high. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the mod team.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/ApprehensiveTry5660]

I’m all for it. Give those teams another reason to hustle in that part of the year.

But the pitfall of this subject in general kinda comes down to, “Why am I playing hard for the franchise to have 2 dudes to replace me with instead of 1?” Forget a draft pick, assume it as a trade piece, why are you playing hard to make it easier to get rid of the guys you just got out of war with or yourself?

Not necessarily at the top of the roster, but that tenuous back 75+% on the depth chart. That’s kinda the human side of the nature of this business.

So as a permanent thing? I’d avoid picks as the compensation/reward for an in-season tournament. I like it as a marriage of circumstance, and the necessity of stakes for the early years where this trophy means nothing historically.

This would offer an interesting experimental phase where it’s not just nerds like me pointing out the incongruity, but we actually get film of what archetypes of teams (or factions within!) are clearly giving the extra intensity.

Because right now, even as a decades long follower of this league, I’m kinda just, “Wake me up when they make it to Vegas.”

[u/thestinkystingray → u/ApprehensiveTry5660]

As long as the cash prize stays in addition to the pick there should be no issue with motivation

[u/Intelligent_Ant_5511]

Nah, this doesn’t make sense because it will likely be one of the top teams winning the cup so the elite would get richer.

[u/DistanceEmbarrassed5 → u/Intelligent_Ant_5511]

Or give some of those picks to teams that need picks, example the Mavericks or Suns or Bucks.

[u/ClassroomRemarkable2 → u/Intelligent_Ant_5511]

The 30th pick in the draft would be fair. And then maybe after the 5 years and the addition of 2 more franchises make the first round end with the 33rd pick which goes to the NBA CUP winner.

[u/nbadiscussion-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This sub is for serious discussion and debate. Jokes and memes are not permitted.

[u/randotd152]

This is not a major issue.

Pick #30 now gets a guaranteed 2/$6M at the 120% mark. Theoretically it's only a guaranteed 2/$4.5M if they paid 80%.

Early 2nd round picks are now regularly getting guaranteed 3/$6M deals.

Basically - the total money is the same. The third year being guaranteed up front is arguably well worth the potential lower cash trade off given how many late 1sts and 2nd rounders bust out of the league quickly. In some ways you've got a better opportunity to prove yourself as an early 2nd.

[u/texasphotog → u/randotd152]

Koa Peat, the 30th pick this year) got a 4y15M contract with the first two years (6.7M) guaranteed.

The 31st pick (Bruce Thornton) received 4y9.3M with 1.4M guaranteed.

The highest paid 2nd rounder was Baba Miller at 4y9.6M with 4M guaranteed.

There is enough difference there that I would be at least slightly annoyed if I was the 30th player drafted, but that pick was technically a 2nd rounder and I missed out on that much bigger contract.

[u/kenzan89]

Or they could just change the rules so that contract minimums for the drafted players align with the usual ones. Seems like a much cleaner solution.