Controversial Spurs-inspired rule change risks ruining the NBA

With rumors that the NBA is considering drastic moves to curb tanking, many see it as a response to the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs lucked into a potentially generational run of lottery talent, selecting Victor Wembanyama first overall in 2023, Stephon Castle fourth in 2024, and Dylan Harper second in 2025.

That could set San Antonio up for the next decade while also leading to a major rule change. The proposed change would prevent teams from drafting in the top four back-to-back seasons, an outrageously dumb rule that would do far more harm than good.

Not all top-4 picks are created the same, and one team ending up with a top-four pick in a weak draft would be excluded from a high pick in a much better draft. That is going to make it much harder to rebuild through the draft.

Even the Spurs, who have a terrific draft record, would have struggled under that rule. They would have still been able to draft Wembanyama but would not have been able to select Castle.

Yes, they might still have been able to select Harper, but they were actually the fourth-worst team the year they drafted Castle. Under the proposed rule change, their pick would have been far worse, which might have resulted in the Spurs' rebuild lasting at least one year longer.

The NBA's proposed "Spurs rule" is incredibly stupid

The NBA has been on a parity kick since it passed its much-criticized collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA was meant to punish big-spending teams, i.e., big-market teams.

However, mid-market or small-market teams might suffer too. The Denver Nuggets were forced to dump Michael Porter Jr. And while they were better for it, teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and, yes, even the Spurs eventually might not be so lucky.

All three teams built through the draft, especially the Thunder and Spurs. Even with both teams having stellar draft records, it took lottery luck and several years of being awful before they got great.

The NBA risks shooting themselves in the foot

If the NBA implements the "Spurs rule," it won't hurt those two teams, at least not in the near future, but for teams such as the Utah Jazz, they still have to build through the draft.

Free agents aren't lining up to sign there, and stars aren't trying to force their way there. Heck, they rarely even tank. But the only way for them to become a true contender is to get a top 20 player, possibly two, and the only way that's happening is through the draft.

However, if this potential rule becomes a reality, then they would have to hope that any top four pick they land is an absolute star in the making. Otherwise, they may have to wait six years for three bites at landing a surefire prospect. That would be an overcorrection to what happened with the Spurs.

The Spurs' lottery luck shouldn't lead to a rule change

The right move is to have a three-year limit for a team to draft in the top four and then have a one-year freeze.

The goal shouldn't be to punish bad teams. Instead, motivate them to try and improve after several years spent in the lottery.

Just look at the Detroit Pistons. They had the worst record in the NBA for back-to-back seasons, somehow missed out on a top four pick both times, and now have the best record in the East.

Of course, they did select Cade Cunningham first overall in 2021, but after failing to land high picks, they changed course. The Spurs just got lucky by landing Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper in consecutive drafts. The NBA shouldn't overreact to that.