For many NBA teams, it’s time to plan for the offseason. Whether your team is looking forward to the draft or looking forward to free agency it’s all fun. For the teams that look forward to the always coveted NBA draft, it comes with risks and of course, rewards.
One of the major risks in the draft is the fact that scouting isn’t always perfect. Sounds simple but it really isn’t. For every LeBron James, there’s always a Sam Bowie. Though a Bowie is unlikely it is always a big risk. The reason? Poor scouting. With scouting, you may not see the real flaw in his game or you may not find out about a chronic knee injury that ruins their career and wastes your draft pick. Of course, there will always be the sure fire players (the Lebron James or the Kobe Bryant‘s) but there is always the risk that is associated with selecting someone with huge praise.
Though it sounds crazy but there’s a risk that is also a reward. Don’t get me wrong, selecting foreign-born players could prove to be beneficial but the risk is still there. Often times, when a European (or foreign born) player enters the draft they often have a contract with their club overseas, meaning they can’t enter the NBA until the contract is completed. So, if the team picking is a team that could make the playoffs with a quality selection they may have to hope for a great free agency.
Now, for teams that don’t mind waiting for the player, it can be beneficial to both the team and the players. Ricky Rubio is a key example. Though it took him a full 2 seasons to make it to the NBA, he has played well and has averaged 10 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds per game in his career. In the 2015 NBA Draft, players like Mario Hezonja (Spain) and Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia) could be the same effect for some teams.
No matter how you cut it, the NBA Draft is a thing of beauty. Whether your team is selecting the next Michael Jordan or your team is selecting the next Kwame Brown it’s a fun thing to watch. Here’s to hoping your next draftee is the next float and not the next sink!