Vivek Ranadive has ideas for fixing tanking. (USATSI)
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In a Q&A with Vivek Ranadive, majority owner of the Sacramento Kings, Ranadive discussed the subject of tanking and his solution for it. It's a radical system that's less aggressive than the so-called "wheel plan" and features a tournament for the 8th and final playoff spots in each conference.
One of the last questions that Gladwell asked the commissioner was what one change he would make to the league if he had a magic wand and could change anything he wanted instantly. The commissioner said he'd increase the age limit. What would your one magic wand change be?
That's the V Plan. Do you want me to tell you the V Plan?
I would love to hear about the V Plan.
So, basically, we have this issue with how the draft happens and people allegedly tanking. So when I was flying back from the conference, someone looked at me and asked, “Hey, have you thought about this?” People have come up with different ideas -- this idea of The Wheel, and this and that. And so I thought about it and I came up with a solution that I believe will solve most of the issues, and I call it the V Plan.
There's two parts to it. Part one is that you freeze the draft order at the time of the All-Star break. Then, everything [pertaining to the current lottery system] remains the same, but it's frozen based on the standings at the All-Star break. Then there's no gain in not playing at the highest level for the remainder of the season. That's part one.
Part two is that at the end of the season, the top seven teams from the Eastern Conference and the top seven teams from the Western Conference make the playoffs. Then for the eighth playoff spot, the remaining eight teams have a sudden-death, college-style playoff in a neutral venue, like Vegas in the West and Kansas or Louisville in the East. (Note: This idea is similar to Bill Simmons' "Entertaining as Hell Tournament,” first floated here and was discussed by Silver in his chat with Gladwell at the Sloan Conference.)
That would inject such excitement into the league. Teams would no longer be incentivized to lose. Their fans would have something to hope for, like a Cinderella team that got into the eighth spot. It would solve most of the issues that we're facing with the way the draft happens right now.
via Q&A: Kings owner Vivek Ranadive - TrueHoop Blog - ESPN.
The first part is easy, and not a bad solution. You have a half-season to tank, then you can start getting better. This has a few advantages. If your star player blows out his knee, you can secure yourself a good pick, then make a trade at the deadline to try and make the playoffs and compete. I'm on board with that one.
As far as the tournament option, Simmons' idea is always met with excitement from fans. It has to be collectively bargained though, and that could be a problem. Additionally, a lot of teams just want to be done after all their misery. Even if the Sixers hadn't traded away Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner, would you really want to put them through having to play an extra game? I think taking maybe the final four teams in each conference would be a better plan. It's shorter, would get the team within reasonable reach, and spare us having to watch the Lakers again.
Either way, with an owner on board such change, you can see that the future of the NBA in regards to the draft lottery and tanking is going to change some way, some how.
Basketball Hot News
Report: Steve Kerr the ‘frontrunner’ for Knicks coaching job next season if he wants it
Steve Kerr confirmed his interest in one day becoming an NBA head coach, after his name became attached to a position with the Knicks that doesn’t yet exist.
Mike Woodson is currently at the helm in New York as the team tries to make a late-season push for the playoffs, but few believe he’ll be back in that position next season.
Phil Jackson, in his new role as president of basketball operations, will want to fill the coaching ranks and the front office with his guys — people he trusts to execute his plans, and likely those he has worked with in some capacity in the past.
That makes Kerr a fine choice to patrol the sidelines in New York next season, and reportedly, he’d be the leading candidate to do so if in fact that is where his interest lies.
From Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today:
If indeed TNT analyst and former NBA guard Steve Kerr, who played for three of Jackson’s championship Bulls teams, wants to coach, he is the front-runner, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
But one other name to consider, if Kerr doesn’t end up as coach: Derek Fisher, who could end up with the Knicks either as a coach or front-office executive.
The Knicks need to install someone as head coach who will follow the front office plan, and be an extension of Jackson, both in terms of team culture and his long-term vision. Bringing in a first-time head coach like Kerr (on a long-term deal) would immediately help to accomplish that.
As for Fisher, he’d simply be another cog in the machine who has extensive experience winning titles with Jackson in Los Angeles, and thus would be an addition that also makes sense once his playing days are finished.
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