02-13-2026, 11:28 AM
What about having a designated portion of cap that is specific to drafting new players that starts off equal between all teams. Each team bids an amount to acquire a draftee and the highest amount gets the player. You can spend it all to get a really great prospect or split it between other players.
But for trades, instead of trading picks you trade amounts of this special cap space, so you give another team a certain amount of space that they can then use (and thus have more to offer draftees than other teams).
Seems like this would reward skilled front offices, removes any tie to record determining draft placement, and doesn't affect small/big markets differently. Rebuilding teams can acquire this space to get young players but without depending on lottery luck.
But for trades, instead of trading picks you trade amounts of this special cap space, so you give another team a certain amount of space that they can then use (and thus have more to offer draftees than other teams).
Seems like this would reward skilled front offices, removes any tie to record determining draft placement, and doesn't affect small/big markets differently. Rebuilding teams can acquire this space to get young players but without depending on lottery luck.