Making the #1 draft pick non-tradable will NOT Solve the problem of the PBA



PBA is feeling some pressure somewhere. The Standhardinger trade could go down as the most damaging trade in the history of the league.

You can already feel that with how cold the fans are, today. There is a big chance that if I try to ask 10 people on a random street if what is the current conference of the league, only three to four of them will be able to tell me that it is Commissioner's Cup.


So, the league will try to make solid moves to make sure that, that trade will not happen again.

According to reports, the loudest new rule is regarding the #1 overall pick. Of course, that was the source of a lot of controversies in the last few years.

According to reports, the proposal to make #1 picks non-tradeable, and it could even be the top 3 picks, is getting grounds in the PBA board.

The report from Spin.ph added that the restrictive window could be as long as two-to-three years. 

Will it be very effective?

The answer is a big big no.

Why?

That restriction can easily be avoided.


The order of the picks for the draft is determined after the season. So, the worst team in the Philippine Cup can still trade there pick after the Philippine Cup to other teams because there pick is not yet the official #1 pick!

Like, even if we have that rule today, Columbia Dyip can still trade their 2018 1st and may still end up with a laughable return. 

So, what is the point if the #1 pick can still end up with the conglomerates of the league? 

Even if they improved the restriction by not allowing the worst two teams in the previous season to trade their current 1st round picks, that can still be circumvented.

Like, Columbia may not be allowed to trade their 2018 1st this season because they were the worst team last year, they can still trade their 2019 1st! And that pick has an 80% chance of landing in the top 2, right?


Don't be fooled by that rule-proposal. It will not prevent the trades that will damage the league. The top picks can still end up with the top teams.

So, what is the better rule?


Easy, don't allow the top 3 teams in the previous season to trade for the top 3 picks. Of course, it is way better if it will be the top 5 teams that they will restrict.

If we have that rule last year, San Miguel, Ginebra, and TNT will not be allowed to trade up for the top 3 picks of the 2017 draft. 

And with the way the season is going this year, it could be SMB, Ginebra, and Magnolia that will be not be allowed. 

The league will be better if Bobby Ray Parks will end up with Blackwater or Columbia, and play there for at least three seasons. 

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