Mentioned a month ago, the idea of extending the Draft over two days, rather than one evening, is well within the league's pipeline. “ We are working on it. This is something we must continue to work on with our networks ESPN and ABC which broadcast the Draft, and of course the players association “, Adam Silver confirms today.
This potential development defended by the big boss of the league is motivated by the desire to highlight all of the selected players. And to prevent certain future great talents from going unnoticed when they are selected.
Give value to the second round
“ To me, it seems unfair for the players selected in the second round to still be on the air at 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time. I stick to the players that come to mind, (Nikola) Jokic (41st choice in 2014 in the middle of an advertisement!), Draymond Green (35th pick in 2012) obviously. These are just two examples that I have in mind, All-Star, MVP caliber players, as second rounders in the Draft », Develops the commissioner.
For this one, and at a time when the league is also considering the idea of expanding with two additional franchises, “ the talent is so vast today and the interest (public) so big ” that ” both towers deserve prime time “.
Beyond the economic or marketing dimension, “ the other advantage » for Adam Silver would be “ to give more time for the announcers, the media to have a better understanding of who these players are, a little more time between picks to talk about who they are and why they make sense for these teams “.
Give GMs more time to make the right choice
And, ” more important again “, this would give league GMs additional thinking time to take stock after the first round. “ Ok, here we are, we got the player we were hoping for, we didn't get him. Let's reassess our needs », Takes the manager as an example, evoking potential surprises in the first round.
Remember that as it stands, each team has five minutes in the first round and two minutes in the second to select their young talents. Enough to complete an entire Draft after about four hours.
But this format could therefore evolve from the next edition, currently scheduled for June 27, i.e. a month and a half after the traditional Lottery (May 12).. “ I think we're getting there. We are working on it with our partners to ensure that it makes sense for everyone. But to me it seems obvious », Adam Silver positions himself again
