Poll question: A two-day NBA Draft?
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Poll question: A two-day NBA Draft?
The league is exploring the prospect of expanding its annual June draft from an all-in-one-night format to a 48-hour affair. The sooner the better as far as we're concerned ... but I want your take
Can you think of any downside to turning the NBA Draft into a two-day extravaganza every June?
Us, neither.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday that the topic was revisited at a leaguewide meeting of general managers.
It is indeed feasible, I was subsequently told, that the new format could be instituted in time for the 2024 draft just seven months and change from now.
And why not?
The public absolutely loves the draft and would naturally enjoy the prospect of watching this highly anticipated annual infusion of new talent spread across 48 hours. Teams that have been complaining for years behind the scenes that their second-round selections are too rushed after all that goes into Round 1 would have more time to make those selections. Players selected in the second round would also get much more attention and coverage than they do now.
As a stubborn traditionalist I’m reflexively resistant to change, but I’m truly struggling to see any drawbacks here. At a time when summer league play has never been more popular and when every two-way contract gets dissected like it’s a pivotal transaction, I am also very dubious about anyone currently shouting that "nobody will care" or "who would watch that?"
I don’t buy it.
It’s the NBA. The modern basketball public cares about every little thing when their team is involved.
But you tell me. Let’s do an Instant Reaction poll. Vote here to tell me if you do or don’t like the idea of a two-day NBA Draft and please expound in the comment section if a yes-or-no vote isn’t enough for you.
I’ll keep the poll open through Saturday:
Poll question: A two-day NBA Draft?
I voted no, because I think we already have a 2 night format already with the lottery presentation to determine 1st round draft order. It's hard to get hyped for a prime-time draft event for just the second round when players selected there are unlikely to amount to long-term valuable players for the organization that is drafting them. We've seen how GMs trade 2nd round draft picks to other teams with reckless abandon, oftentimes throwing them into trades just to dump salary. How are fans supposed to hold 2nd round draft picks in high regard when most GMs don't treat them as valuable assets.
Having a two-day draft will prevent second round draftees (the likes of Jalen Brunson and Manu Ginobli for starters) from being relegated to 'so-what' status