Draft Hot Take: NBA vs MLB

Like I promised last week here is my take on the differences between drafting in the NBA and the MLB and which franchises do it best:

Drafting in professional sports is one of the most difficult things to do; or I should say one of the most difficult things to do successfully. Every year professional sports around the country host a draft consisting mainly of college athletes and in some leagues international athletes and possibly high school kids. Each league has their own draft intricacies and expectations of the players who are drafted. Today I am going to dive a little deeper into the NBA and MLB drafts.

One of the biggest differences in the MLB draft compared to other drafts is that it takes place during the season, while all other drafts take place after the Championship game or series. Another huge difference is the expectations of the players a franchise drafts. In the MLB most draft picks will spend years in the minors and sometimes, in the end, they might not even work out. There are obvious exceptions to these statements, for instance, Bryce Harper was drafted 1^st overall and has completely changed the Nationals franchise. You also have guys like Albert Pujols who was drafted in the 13^th round and will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Unlike most sports, the MLB draft can be a complete crap shoot from the beginning to the end. Some of this has to do with the fact that teams can draft high school kids in the draft. These kids dominate at their young age but may not end up progressing as expected.  This is one of the reasons that drafting in the MLB is one of the most important aspects of a franchise. You have to invest money into a farm system and scouts.

When you look at MLB franchises, some of the best at drafting talent are the Braves, Yankees, Astros, and Dodgers. Now developing the talent is another factor all together. For example, this year the Yankees are right in the thick of the playoff race when they were supposed to be a few years away from competing. Their success is due to how they drafted and then developed those players. The White Sox are another franchise that is loaded with young developing prospects, but they acquired those players from trades and are setting up for the future that way. There is no “right” way to win a World Series but in my opinion the Royals (who drafted Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alex Gordon, and Danny Duffy in the first three rounds of the MLB draft) have a very good model to follow.

 

Switching gears to look at the NBA draft which takes place a few weeks after the NBA Finals. The expectations of NBA draft prospects are if you are a lottery pick, which means you are drafted in the first 14 picks, that you are expected to be the face of a franchise and possibly turn said franchise around. Players like LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan were all taken within the top 3 picks of their respective drafts and they have completely turned around franchises and cities. The 2017 NBA draft was loaded with players who could alter a franchise and are expected to turn teams around. Most of them should be sophomore’s in college and that is absolutely insane but that’s how talented they are. 

If you are drafted out of the lottery, but in the first round, you should be a solid starter or solid role player off the bench. Some players that come to mind who fit that script are Manu Ginobili, Sam Cassell, Kyle Korver, and Michael Finley. All of these guys were drafted late in the first round and even in the second round. They all had extremely valuable NBA careers and even helped their franchises win NBA Championships. Thinking about some of the best drafting franchises in the NBA the Spurs immediately come to mind. After taking Tim Duncan first overall in 1997 they have not had a pick in the top 20. Since ’97, the Spurs have made the playoffs every year, made the Western Conference Finals 10 times, and won the NBA Finals 5 times, all without having a pick in the top 20.  That is astounding. Two of their best players in the last fifteen years are Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Ginobili was drafted in the 2^nd round with the 57^th pick and Parker was taken in the first round with the 28^th pick. I believe the Spurs are one of the best franchises in all of sports when it comes to drafting players and developing them. 

Every sport has different expectations for their draft and the players taken in that draft. One thing is universal, if you do a poor job of scouting and drafting your franchise could be in the cellar for a long time. If that happens, as a general manager you may be looking for a job sooner rather then later.

NBA Draft 2017

The NBA Draft is on Thursday June 22^nd in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center; (home of the Nets who will not be relevant for the next decade) that much we are sure of but after the start it could be complete mayhem. This is the first year I can remember with so many questions and trade rumors swirling around the draft, there really is no consensus #1 guy. We have already seen the #1 overall pick traded from the Celtics to the Sixers, with the Celtics getting the #3 pick and future picks.  Most people have Markelle Fultz going #1 but what if the Sixers traded for the #1 pick to take Lonzo Ball, who the Lakers covet at #2? If Lonzo is gone do the Lakers trade the #2 pick and some of their young prospects for Paul George? There are a number of All-Star caliber players being mentioned in trade rumors: Paul George, Kevin Love, Carmelo Anthony, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, and Kristaps Porzingis just to name a few. Now, I know that there are always rumors leading up to the draft but this year is different. You hear more rumblings from players and NBA analysts.

There are so many teams in the lottery that have major holes that could be filled through the draft or through trades. For me this draft is loaded with a few franchise type players and a number of All-Star type players. Point guards Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, De’Aaron Fox, and Dennis Smith; and wing players Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum, Malik Monk and Jonathan Issac could all be corner stone guys for some of the franchises in the lottery. All of these players are ready to start and have tremendous potential. But if you are the Lakers, trading for Paul George is an extremely intriguing option even if it costs you the #2 pick. George is arguably a top 10 player in the league and something the Lakers have been missing. If the lottery teams do this right they could set themselves up for a bright future. The Sixers have “The Process” with Ben Simmons last years #1 pick, Joel Embiid the 2014 #3 pick, and the #1 pick in this years draft. The Celtics lost to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals this year and have the #3 pick in the draft and the Kings have the #5 and #10 picks for a franchise that has been lost in turmoil for years.

My team, the Timberwolves, have the #7 pick and have a young core of players that could challenge for the Western Conference in the near future. Being at #7 they are on the fringe of getting one of those top flight prospects. However, I hope come Thursday the Wolves trade Ricky Rubio and the #7 pick to move up into the top 5. I do not remember the last time being this excited for an NBA draft and come Thursday I will be sitting on my couch taking it all in.

Come back next week for my take on the art of drafting and building a team through the draft in today’s NBA.