The NBA Playoffs Rock.
I feel that the NBA playoffs is one of the most underrated times of the year. The regular season can feel so monotonous at times but the playoffs never fail to give some great moments. Monday Night was one of the best nights in history, the Knicks insane comeback and my Nuggets game winner. While I was loving watching the games I couldn’t help but feel that something was missing. It sucks we get robbed of watching some of the best players in the NBA compete in the playoffs because their team is out of it. How awesome would it be to watch Wembanyama in these playoffs? The NBA is a players league so the best way to market your players isn’t to have them sitting at home its to make sure your stars can be seen on the biggest stages.
Then I had an idea, what if after the season each playoff team could draft a player whose team didn’t make the playoffs for their playoff run. Now per usual with my hypotheticals they can be disproven with, teams would tank, 1 seed wouldn’t matter, this would be tampering, no team on earth would agree to this, yadadada. Thats the point of a hypothetical, its probably not gonna happen but it makes you think. And when you think about it, this idea would rule. Who is first off the board, Steph or Wemby? Do you draft based on talent or team chemistry? Does Draymond get picked up? I will do my best to help answer any of these same questions you might have
So lets say the draft goes Lowest team, 8 seeds up to 1 seeds, the draft order would go
1.Heat
2.Pelicans
3.76ers
4.Lakers
5. Pacers
6.Suns
7.Magic
8.Mavericks
9.Cavs
10.Clippers
11.Bucks
12.Timberwolves
13.Knicks
14.Nuggets
15.Thunder
16. Celtics
And the best available players are
East
Hawks-Trae Young, Dejounte Murray
Bulls-Demar Derozan
Hornets- Lamelo Ball
Pistons-Cade Cunningham
Wizards- Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole
Nets- Mikal Bridges
Raptors-Scottie Barnes
West
Spurs-Victor Wembanyama
Warriors-Steph Curry, Draymond Green
Kings-De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis
Grizzlies-Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson jr
Rockets- Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green
Utah Jazz- Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton
I believe the draft would go like this
1.Heat- Steph Curry
2.Pelicans- Victor Wembanyama
3.76ers-De’Aaron Fox
4.Lakers- Jaren Jackson Jr.
5. Pacers- Domantas Sabonis
6.Suns-Ja Morant
7.Magic- Trae Young
8.Mavericks- Dejounte Murray
9.Cavs- Alperen Sengun
10.Clippers- Lauri Markkanen
11.Bucks- Draymond Green
12.Timberwolves- Scottie Barnes
13.Knicks- Mikal Bridges
14.Nuggets- Demar Derozan
15.Thunder- Cade Cunningham
16. Celtics- Lamelo Ball
Now look at this draft and tell me this doesn’t rule. The Heat with Steph Curry to give the Celtics a run for their money, De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Maxesy backcourt in Philly, Domantas Sabonis back with the Pacers, Knicks get another Villanova boy to pair with Brunson, Hart and DiVincenzo, Bucks add Draymond to help their toughness, we get to see the next basketball great Wembanyama paired with Zion and the Pelicans.
All we want to see is the best players in the world compete. The NBA All star game includes all the best players but no one is competitive, this is a way to see the best players go head to head giving their best. This also makes each round way more competitive with the 8 seeds having a chance instead of watching easy 20 point sweeps by the higher seeds. I know the NBA committee is big UTAP fans so I expect them to read this and consider this option for next years playoffs.