Consequences of the new, tighter CBA include…
A number of teams are trying to trade into the later parts of the first round — and there are teams there willing to move those picks — then draft a European player not ready for the NBA and stash him overseas for a few years. All to save money.
It’s one of the things you can count on him this draft. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com and Marc Stein of ESPN lay it out.
There are several picks in the late 20s "to be had," one exec says. With nine teams lacking first-round pick, strong market for them, too.
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) June 26, 2014
Something to watch tonight: Hearing we could be in for high number of international picks in the 20-to-30 range of this once-vaunted draft
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 26, 2014
Reason being: Lust for cap space & luxury tax concerns could limit number of teams willing to take players in that range or buy those picks
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 26, 2014
Motivation to trade late-first is to avoid using a roster spot -- and guaranteed contract -- on player who won't play. Stay classy, CBA.
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) June 26, 2014
The second round of the draft — particularly late in the second round — has long had some of this. Teams take a flyer on a guy who may never come over to the NBA (and may never be good enough) but that they don’t have to pay, or even pay to develop. In the first round we’re talking guaranteed roster spots and contracts, so if the player stays overseas you save a little of that money.
Which means during the draft tonight, at around pick 20 or so start to watch for trades that mean nothing. Yes, there are teams like the Knicks trying to get into the first round to get their guy (P.J. Hairston or Tyler Ennis) or even move up in the first round to make their star happy (the Heat chasing Shabaz Napier).
But mostly what you’ll see is a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.
