To Fix Philadelphia 76ers, NBA Should Expand Draft

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Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum speaks during the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

To Fix Philadelphia 76ers, NBA Should Focus On Draft Expansion

We’ve seen the headlines. “Sixers Hire Colangelo at recommendation of NBA Commissioner”. “Agents Refuse To Allow Their Players To Work Out For 76ers”. “Sixers lose another one.”

But trying to change the course of the Philadelphia 76ers in the middle of a seven year rebuild seems short sighted on the parts of the ownership, as well as the NBA. You see, the problem isn’t with the Sixers. The problem is with the NBA draft.

What’s that I say? The draft? Yes, and here’s why. Of just the NCAA tournament, 64 teams compete for the national championship. Let’s say each team has 2 seniors graduating (on average). That places 128 players into the mix for the NBA draft. The NBA meanwhile has 30 teams, and just two rounds for their draft. That leaves 64 hopeful and well trained young men left behind, outside of the NBA. Some of those young men are indeed worthy of NBA consideration. Some of those young men simply need a chance to train and to be coached up and an opportunity.

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But in today’s NBA, there is no avenue for them to realize that dream. That is, not until the Philadelphia 76ers opened the door for them.

You see, it’s not about tanking at all. It’s about playing the odds. The Philadelphia 76ers see the 64 players left behind, plus the hundreds of other players from the NIT, small colleges, and European leagues who are not assessed as an instant plug-and-play-in-the-NBA kind of guy, and give them an opportunity. Why? Economics. The NBA has constrictive rules for contracts of their elite players – which forces teams who sign veterans to fall as their production wanes – or find a team like the 76ers who might be willing to absorb the expensive contract.

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