It is important to first understand why there is an NBA draft before we can understand how it works. This draft exists to maintain competitive balance in the league.

To be successful in the NBA, all teams need to have an exciting roster. Every franchise has the chance to sign new players through the draft. As a result of sharing equal odds to acquire new talent for all the teams, the parameters of the draft have been formulated.

In the NBA draft, players who didn't play the previous season are selected. They can be former professionals from other leagues or college players. For international players to qualify, players must be at least 19 years of age and one year from their high school graduation.

Therefore, all selected players will be rookies the following season. We'll talk about the variables later in the post that determines the order in which drafts are presented.

NBA lottery

The NBA Draft Lottery takes place before draft night. The order of picks of who will be choosing first is determined by the draft lottery. Teams that make up the lottery are those who missed out on the playoffs during the season.

A draft lottery is just what it sounds like, a lottery. The number one overall pick is determined by drawing out balls from a machine. The purpose of this method is to ensure that every franchise stands a chance at the top pick, which was previously guaranteed to teams with the worst records in the league.

Those franchises with the worst record draw the most balls and are selected one by one. You stand a chance to make the first selection on draft night if you win the draft lottery.

NBA Draft Combine

A few days before draft night, the NBA draft combine takes place. In a combine, prospects' measurements are taken to provide accurate data to potential employers.

Additionally, the draft combine is set up so that both potential employers and players can make their cases. As part of their physical testing, players are required to play without the basketball as well as with it. Prospects can see their stock rise or fall during the combine similar to NBA player futures.

In many trades, picks are attached to them, which means that on the draft night you could well pick in the lottery even though you reached the playoffs the year before. The NBA draft is one of the most exciting events of the year due to trades, free agency, and salary cap manipulations.

NBA trading system

Players are selected either from their university teams or their national teams. Teams begin drafting training once they know they will be in the drafting stage. A draftee has the right to select a team from among those that are interested in him. The team will allow him to practice and see if it suits him or not. A trading system guide from his agent would help him make the right choice most of the time.

Players become team assets once they sign with a team. A team must match the value of a new player it wants to get from another team. It's for this reason that you might have been confused when the Lakers traded almost half of their team for one player. A team can match the value of a player they want with players, draft choices, money, and even coaches.

NBA trades have a salary cap, unlike soccer or baseball, where you can pay whatever a star player wants. It was created by NBA officials to make sure teams do not buy championships. Think about what it would be like if the Lakers could spend three or four times as much as the Celtics can. It wouldn't be much fun to watch the game. To maintain competitiveness, the NBA has established this system.