Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy doesn’t like the way that the NBA draft is held, but he doesn’t have the usual complaints. Unlike most people who think that the worst team should just automatically get the first pick, Van Gundy thinks that every team should have an equal shot at getting the first overall pick. He likes the idea of the draft lottery, but feels all 30 teams should be involved.

Van Gundy’s logic behind this proposal? He thinks there are teams that are losing intentionaly to get the number one pick. Considering the worst team doesn’t even secure the first pick, I have to simply laugh this off. We may give athletes a hard time for being overpaid and not trying, but no one likes losing all the time, especially not professional athletes. There can’t be a team out there that is determined to lose just to get the first pick, we didn’t even see that in the NFL when teams were trying to earn the first overall pick to get Reggie Bush.

Van Gundy said “I never quite understood why losing is rewarded, other than [for] parity.” Really Jeff? Because I’m about 100% sure you just answered your own question. What fun would it be if the team that won the NBA title then landed the first overall pick? Theoretically under this situation you could be seeing Greg Oden or Kevin Durant landing with the Mavericks, and really, who outside of Dallas wants to see that?

Van Gundy was confident enough to present this idea to the NBA where he “wasn’t taken seriously.” That has to be a slap in the face. Not only does your idea suck, it sucks so bad it isn’t even taken seriously. Just worry about keeping your team healthy for the playoffs Jeff, and leave the draft up to the guys in the league office.