Time for a weighted draft?

[mjs34]

Looking at how things are likely to play out in Minny again, and looking at Milwaukee, and possibly Cleveland, is it time to address a change in how the draft works.

I am thinking there may have to be a built in bonus for teams in the northern middle US. These cities are never on the radar for the premium signings, whether that be star players in the off season or waived or bought out players during the season. The cities are usually forced to overpay their FA's just to keep them.

I am not sure exactly how it may work, but something that bumps their draft spot on an annual basis 5 spots might have the effect needed. The NBA is going to have to come up with a system to continually stock these teams with better talent to make up for the losses and over paying they sustain in todays system. You can't restrict players from wanting to play in a bigger market or warmer climate, but you could make up for that by offering up higher or more picks in the draft. Teams like the wolves would then have a better opportunity to stay competitive.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

SJM, I think the league wants to move every team not named Miami/LA/New York/Brooklyn/Chicago/Golden State to new cities overseas.

[Phenom]

Let teams designate their top 2 or 3 star players. If these designated players want to leave via free agency then, the original team can make a qualifying offer for star players, but the max that the player can get from anyone else should be 60% of that QO for a minimum of 3 years. Make them earn their pay scale over again with their new team. At the same time those teams that sign Kevin Love for 60% still have a cap hold equal to 100% of the Wolves qualifying offer to their designated star. It will be a form of poison pill contract that prevents super teams from getting a bunch of guys at 60% scale. On top of that there should be a compensatory pick system for teams that lose these players via free agency that awards them a pick after the lottery or maybe even earlier than that.

[mjs34]

Let teams designate their top 2 or 3 star players. If these designated players want to leave via free agency then, the original team can make a qualifying offer for star players, but the max that the player can get from anyone else should be 60% of that QO for a minimum of 3 years. Make them earn their pay scale over again with their new team. At the same time those teams that sign Kevin Love for 60% still have a cap hold equal to 100% of the Wolves qualifying offer to their designated star. It will be a form of poison pill contract that prevents super teams from getting a bunch of guys at 60% scale. On top of that there should be a compensatory pick system for teams that lose these players via free agency that awards them a pick after the lottery or maybe even earlier than that.

Pretty good idea. I think the union would blast the 60%, but the league could allow the drafting team to pay much more, and have it not count against the cap or tax levels. Maybe the NBA could pick up that difference like they do for minimum level players. I like the idea of a compensatory pick.

[Phenom]

I like that idea too. Give teams the power to pay their designated players even more and give them a tax break at the same time.

[TAFKASP]

This problem will eventually take care of itself. Between players all moving to big market warm weather teams and people running small market cold weather teams like Taylor does there will be no market for small market teams. I've reached the point where I just don't give a damn anymore, I won't spend a penny on this team or any of it's products.

It's pretty much like Baseball anymore, the big market teams that are run well are in the hunt every year. The small market teams have to build everything just right in order to have a small window where they can maybe compete with the big market teams, then start the process over.

In the NFL and NHL it doesn't much matter where you are, if the team is run well and coached well you can win and compete for titles. Someday the NBA is going to have to deal with that issue. MLB will not simply because old people love baseball no matter what for some odd reason.

To Glen Taylor, thank you for saving the team for Minnesota, damn you for ruining it with your management choices ever since.

[A Friendly Flatulence [enjin:8907904]]

What would helpful to ensure teams don't go on playoff droughts like the one we are currently experiencing would be to add weight to the # of consecutive years of missing the playoffs(each year a teams odds increase X amount based on years out of the PO's). To ensure that teams that are often out of the playoffs will get a little extra help in landing the top prospects.

The MLB doesn't have a salary cap which is one of the reasons that parity in the MLB is not what it should be.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I don't think you guys have been paying attention to baseball lately... Tons of young stars are getting locked up early with long years, reasonable money ensuring that the team keeps its talent. Farm systems are getting even more important every year. A's, Rays, Pirates, Rockies and Orioles are all bottom half of the league in payroll. Nine of the top payroll teams didn't make the playoffs last year. MLB is fading OUT buying talent. It'll happen here and there, but there aren't going to be cases of super teams because franchises are able to lock up young talent for 6-10 years.

NBA is completely different.

[TAFKASP]

What would helpful to ensure teams don't go on playoff droughts like the one we are currently experiencing would be to add weight to the # of consecutive years of missing the playoffs(each year a teams odds increase X amount based on years out of the PO's). To ensure that teams that are often out of the playoffs will get a little extra help in landing the top prospects.

My problem with these types of plans is it rewards owner/executive incompetence. The Wolves aren't a mess because they never had a shot at good assets, they're a mess because they pissed them all away. My plan would be if a team goes more than five years out of the playoffs the owner is put on notice and fined with the fines increasing with each passing year. Should they reach a Timberwolvesesque 10 years out of the playoffs the team is put up for sale at a discount, not a huge discount, but not market value either.

This team is a reflection of Taylor's mismanagement. The skills and instincts that made him rich do not carry over to team ownership. Bring the pain to bare upon the responsible party.