The Hawks face a dilemma. The timing of the NBA draft and free-agent signing period can be difficult — especially for a team reshaping its roster.
With the draft held first, a team in the position of the Hawks does not have an opportunity to fill holes with proven players before turning to the amateur ranks. The Hawks have only three players with guaranteed contracts next season. Three other players have non-guaranteed deals. Days after Thursday’s draft, a short turnaround, comes the start of free agency Monday.
Many in the NBA look with envy to the NFL, where the order of player acquisition is reversed. This year, NFL free agency began March 12. The draft was held over three days more than a month later, April 25-27. The Falcons had needs at defensive end and cornerback going into the offseason. After losing cornerbacks Dunta Robinson, in a salary-cap move, and Brent Grimes, to free agency, the Falcons used their first two draft picks on defensive backs. There were able to do so, in part, because they signed veteran defensive end Osi Umenyiora on March 27.
The Falcons made several minor transactions after the draft to adjust the roster before the start of training camp. In 2008, the Falcons signed running back Michael Turner as a free agent. They were able to go into the draft with one need filled by a proven player who spent five seasons as a starter.
The NFL has moved back its draft to May 8-10 next year, giving teams even more time in free agency.
The Hawks enter Thursday’s draft with four selections, Nos. 17 and 18 of the first round and Nos. 47 and 50 of the second round.
The current order of player acquisition also impacts an NBA team’s ability to trade draft picks to create more salary-cap space. Teams enter the draft without knowing the exact salary-cap figure, the luxury tax or even the entire list of free agents who will be available. Players can activate early termination options and teams can decide not to offer qualifying offers — all after the draft. Some in the NBA contend that teams would draft and trade differently if the order of acquisitions was reversed.
Steve Kerr, TNT analyst and former general manager of the Suns, doesn’t see the current system as an issue.
“I’ve heard the argument that maybe free agency should be first and then the draft, and I think that makes some sense, but I don’t really think it’s a huge deal,” Kerr said. “Especially these days, most of the players coming into the draft are so young that I think you are really drafting for the future, and free agency is for the more immediate future, next year and the year after.
“Draft-wise I think you are really looking ahead and get a guy who projects to be a good player. Think how few players contribute at a high level in their first year.”
The current system works for teams that are able to draft an impact player. Kerr cited the Pelicans, who took Anthony Davis with the first overall selection and then signed free agent Ryan Anderson last season. The moves helped the Pelicans establish an inside-outside game.
There are other potential issues. It is not uncommon for a team to draft a player and shortly after, perhaps following an introductory news conference, trade his rights because of the salary cap. It can make for an unsettling situation for a fan base. Here today, gone tomorrow.
The Mavericks hold the 13th pick in the draft and, according to reports, likely will trade the selection so that the player won’t count against their salary cap. The $1.7 million cap hold for that selection could prevent the team from pursuing a marquee free agent or necessitate the trade of a veteran. If the draft followed free agency, it would allow a team such as the Mavericks to build a roster more effectively.
Some argue that NBA teams would be better served with a two-week free-agent period after the end of the finals followed by a July 1 draft.
Hawks general manager Danny Ferry said he does not look at player acquisition in elemental terms.
“You look at your overall roster and your overall program and where you are and the decisions you have to make for now and going forward,” Ferry said. “I don’t think you look at the draft as singularly as it relates to everything else you are doing.”
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