How the NBA can make a mid-season tournament major success

What about the middle-of-the-road teams and the tankers?

If a Cinderella run does happen, fear not. They would also have perks at their disposal that are in line with the reality of their teams. Because the benefits discussed above are almost certainly ineffective for them. The first of them could be a boost to their lottery odds.

Let’s say a 5% boost on landing a top 4 pick. That seems good enough for the tankers. What about the play-in and borderline playoff teams? Well, if they don’t own a first-round pick that year, they can be awarded a pick at the end of the first round. It is similar to how compensatory picks work in the NFL. If they do own a pick, that pick would be lottery eligible (have a chance to land in the top 4), and at worst, pick at 15, just outside the lottery.

That could be a significant jump if a team were to pick in the 20s. So, there you have it. The winning team could select from one of the following options: tax relief, an exception similar to the DPE, a lottery pick odds booster, and lottery pick eligibility.

I acknowledge that this sounds a little gimmicky. But it also sounds fun. And at the end of the day, that is the purpose of a tournament of this nature. Inject a little fun and excitement into the dog days of the season. Where all 30 fan bases are engaged, having fun, and having a shot at winning something.