I remember the idea. It was reasonable, but I still feel it favors the teams that already have huge advantages in Free Agency.
No the NBA Science Thread was when I came up with that random formula for ranking players all-time. I had LeBum #3 and this was back in 2013
Regarding no draft, I think the idea of any team(s) having huge advantages in FA is overblown. Seriously if you had to make a list of teams that have yuge FA advantages, what would it look like?
- Miami. cHeat with Rat are always players for every big name FA but that's kinda because they've earned it
That's about it. One could argue LA but who has LA signed since Shaq (either LA team)? I mean the Lakes might at some point become a top FA destination but they're gonna have to earn that
So who else can you really say has a huge advantage in FA? Warios obviously hit the jackpot with KD but, again, they had to put in the work to even be in the position to land him. Warios, cHeat, none of these teams were giftwrapped anything, like, say, a #1 overall draft pick which was decided behind closed doors.
A no draft "free rookie" system would force teams to actually work to become attractive landing spots for young players rather than the current system which just rewards ineptitude. Every season it's the same teams getting the top picks, zero progress being made. And when progress is made, like expected with the Wolves, it's because the front office finally gets serious and makes serious front office moves.
In any case, a free rookie system would sort itself out because there's only so much money and playing time a team can possibly offer. Look at a guy like Jaylen Brown who's been buried on the C's bench. I'm not sure when he's due for an extension but if it were right now, do you like his chances of getting a max? I mean he might get it if some team has money to burn but how would you compare his negotiating position to say a Kristaps Porzingis (who was actually taken lower)? Jaylen entered the league a year later but unless he becomes a starter and wins MIP this season then his status going into year 3 will be faaaarrrrr lower than KP's is right now
So while the successful franchises will have a natural advantage, as they should, there will still be a value (from a rookie's perspective) in some weak rostered non-yoff team