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Could The NBA Draft Expand Beyond 2 Rounds?

By Mark Vandeusen

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the full first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Last week, the Indiana Pacers purchased the D-League Fort Wayne Mad Ants.  What does that have to do with the potential expansion of the NBA draft?

Out of 30 NBA franchises, 19 of them now have their own D-League affiliate:

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It may not be too long before every NBA club operates its own D-League squad:

In turn, this would likely lead to a longer draft.  Via NBA.com’s David Aldridge:

"And once every NBA team has its own D-League team, the assumption is there will be a need for more players to fill out those rosters — and the need to expand the Draft by at least a round, maybe two.“If everybody’s going to have a D-League team, that’s eight more positions that everybody’s going to get,” one longtime GM said over the weekend. “Maybe you go to five (rounds) the first year to allow everybody to stock the teams, and then the next year, you go down to four.”"

Aldridge also states that “at least a few” NBA general managers think draft expansion is possible “in the next few years.”

In 1988, the draft was cut from seven rounds down to three, then to just two in 1989.  Should it head back in the other direction, the rookie salary scale would obviously have to change.  Currently, only first-round picks have guaranteed contracts.  Aldridge writes:

"Another general manager proposed that players taken after the second round of an expanded Draft have so-called “two-way” contracts, similar to those used for some players in Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League. Such contracts pay salaries based on whether the player is in the major leagues or the minors."

Might we see something along these lines?

Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler points out that “the biggest impediment for the D-League’s growth currently is its salary structure,” noting D-Leaguers who make between $13,000 and $25,500 might pull in $75,000 to $150,000 playing overseas.  Kyler also mentions the issue of many D-League cities being a great distance away from their parent ballclubs.

Regardless, D-League president Malcolm Turner told Aldridge “There’s no doubt about it, 30 for 30 is our number one priority.”

Once that happens, an expanded NBA draft won’t be far behind.

Next: Draft Lottery Not Changing Anytime Soon

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