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The NBA Draft is one of my favorite nights of the year, and it’s awesome to see how so many lives change forever in the course of one evening.
There is not much about the event that I would suggest changing. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, however, recently offered one idea that may cause ripples around the league.
According to veteran reporter Marc Stein, the Mavericks owner believes that the NBA draft could be improved by “expanding” from two rounds to four.
While there is some merit to the idea, I’m not so sure this is a good idea. Even though many talented players go undrafted each year (you can see our list from 2022) and eventually crack rotations in the NBA, more rounds may not be the answer.
Here is why: Undrafted free agents gain a sense of autonomy that drafted players cannot have.
For example, when he turned pro in 2016, former Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet turned down multiple opportunities to hear his name called in the second round so that he could control where he landed (via The Athletic):
“There was at least one team — maybe more — that wanted to draft VanVleet. He knew this scenario was a possibility. Unless a team that presented a solid opportunity for VanVleet to make an impact in the NBA wanted to choose him, VanVleet and his representation were going to discourage those teams from taking him, even though the decision ultimately belonged to the team. VanVleet preferred to become an undrafted free agent, controlling his ultimate destination.”
VanVleet chose to sign with the Raptors, eventually signing a four-year deal worth $85 million. Toronto gave the guard an opportunity to develop his game at the highest level, and he has already earned an NBA championship and an NBA All-Star appearance.
If the draft were four rounds, who is to say the Raptors would have been the team to eventually land his services?
Austin Reaves, who took a path quite similar to the one laid out by VanVleet, also got to control his destiny when he went undrafted and then signed a deal with the Lakers in 2021. It worked out for him, too. During his first year in the league, he got to prove his value while shining for one of the most storied franchises in sports.
It’s a good thing that undrafted players get to sign wherever there is a mutual interest, and expanding the draft would not allow for such opportunities.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
HoopsHype’s Yossi Gozlan wrote about his predictions for Philadelphia next season:
“In limited minutes, the numbers on their pick-and-roll are just as strong as initially expected. Now that they have better personnel around them, they have more options in how they finish plays. They have more shooters to kick off to when doubled, and both are still excellent foul drawers, at least in the regular season. And even when Harden and Embiid aren’t on the floor together, they have so many versatile combinations to maximize production. They have the tools to have one of the league’s best offenses this season.”
You can read his full analysis here.
Shootaround
— The NBA is reportedly following the WNBA’s lead with a midseason tournament
— Tyler Dorsey could be a sleeper to break out for the Mavericks after a strong EuroBasket performance for Greece
— Celtics Wire’s Justin Quinn looks at five potential EuroBasket standouts who could provide depth in the NBA
— HoopsHype’s Frank Urbina looked at traded NBA draft picks that turned into gold