There are 30 NBA teams, and 16 make the playoffs each year. Unfortunately, the parity amongst playoff appearances is far from equal. Although there are numerous teams in the league, a select few compete regularly for conference and league championships. For example, the Golden State Warrior franchise is innovative, takes educated risks, and consequently they have been to the NBA Finals six times in the last eight years, winning on four occasions.
Unlike with the Golden State Warriors, there are four (4) areas that the less successful teams in the league neglect that would make them more competitive. The necessary adjustments can be made with planning, and everything can be done within the salary cap. All non-playoff teams that comply could become contenders in two seasons or less baring injuries by numerous key players. Here are the areas that NBA GMs need to upgrade.
1) Poor Payroll Management
Too many GMs are paying "star" players max contracts and it is coming back to bite them because of a little thing called the salary cap. The players that receive $30M or more consume a minimum of 25% of the total cap allowance. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers had three players that received $118.13M last season and the team's salary cap was only $112.5M. The Lakers were forced to pay a luxury tax for Lebron James', Anthony Davis', and Russell Westbrook's salaries alone.
Furthermore, the Lakers did not make the playoffs. They could not afford to pay ANY high quality free agents, and it showed. They did manage to get a player, Malik Monk, who performed above his pay scale. Consequently, this season Malik Monk signed with another team because the Lakers could not afford to keep him.
Also, after seeing four different players sign $200M contracts during the off-season I can say with confidence that those GMs (Bulls, Pelicans, Nuggets, Bullets) dropped their balls. I am certain that they would NOT make the same decisions if they were spending their own money.
2) Illogical Player Selection
Every year there are players that go to the NBA combine and excel in drills, or show exteme athleticism, which vaults them upwards on the draft boards. That is a good thing for those players that did not have the benefit of playing in high profile programs (ex: Damian Lillard/Weber State). Furthermore, the NBA GMs have a fetish for drafting "one and done" players strictly on perceived potential. This rarely works.
In addition, youth is overrated in the NBA. I have been both young, and I am now much older than every NBA player, and I can make a bold statement that applya here as well. I would never follow behind myself at 19 years of age. My 25 year old self would also obliterate the 19 year old version on the court. In fact, no one rational over 25 would EVER follow behind their 19 year old selves. Therefore, expecting a 19 or 20 year old to "turn around" an organization just does not translate in reality. When was the last time a rookie made 1st team All-Pro? When was the last time a rookie led his team to the NBA championship and won? Enough said.
Furthermore, every year several players 21 and younger are selected as NBA lottery picks. In addition, the length of the average NBA career is only 5 years, so most of the players drafted will be "former NBA players" by age 25. Therefore, using cap monies on young proven free agents is a more practical approach to building a solid and competitive rotation.
3) Ineffective G-league Utilization
Each NBA team has a G-league affiliate where they harbour talent, reaclimate rehabilitated players, and give young prospects an opportunity to play against other professional newcomers and fringe veterans.
These teams can still do those things but better if they were set up like a NBA "JV" team. Meaning this, they can fill their roster with their actual draft picks as well as older (hardship juniors - 5th year seniors) unsigned draft picks. Ironically, several 1st and 2nd team All-Americans as well as proven high IQ Final Four participants go undrafted every year. They can be signed to two-way contracts and their preseason play can determine which roster they begin the season on. Better players make a better team not greater "potential". Can anyone say Fred Van Fleet?
4) Stop Agent Manipulations
Agents make money when they get players signed. The higher the client's salary, the more that the agent makes. Currently, top agents are selling organization "ham" at "prime rib" prices. This could never happen if the GMs had a greater understanding of "leverage", and/or an unwavering ability to say "no".
For example, what would have happened if the Chicago Bulls had told Zach Lavine's agent to test the market? The Bulls would have an option to match the offer. NBA teams have not jumped at the "opportunity" to trade for Kevin Durant and his $192M contract. Who would have paid Zach Lavine $214M after his recent lackluster playoff performance? The Bulls had the "leverage" advantage, but did not utilize it. The Bulls paid the motherload, but did not get better.
Finally, every GM should discontinue the final year "player option". The option to keep a player should be the organizations, not the players. This would help orgznizations to avoid the final year balloon payments that are crippling NBA teams. Look how the $47M (Westbrook), $47M (Harden), $41M (Wall) salary obligations decimated their teams' chances of really being competitive.
If NBA GMs makes the adjustments listed in this post, then long term success is inevitable. By not over paying for "star" players they will be able to add several veterans that play really well. Believe it or not, Russell Westbrook's salary could literally pay the salaries of the 93 lowest paid NBA players all by itself. Many of these 93 athletes could "make noise" in the NBA if they just got an opportunity. Look what Malik Monk did last year, and how Fred Van Fleet became an All-star when their organizations took a chance on them.
* Instead of guessing or trying to please fans these NBA GMs can use the Player Valuation Numeric (PVN) to make wise roster decisions every time. If you would like to learn more about the PVN, then click the picture below.
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