Why are there only 58 picks in the 2024 NBA Draft? Closer look at reason behind reduced slots
The NBA will welcome a new set of players in its annual rookie draft. This year’s draft will have a reduced number of picks for the third straight year. Unlike the typical 60 picks divided into two rounds, the draft will only feature 58 selections, making the two-night event shorter, in terms of number of call-ups, than expected.
The 2024 NBA draft will have few picks because of the previous tampering violations committed by the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns.
The league forced the two squads to forfeit their second-round selections for engaging in early negotiations with free agents.
In the 76ers’ case, this will be their second straight year without a second-round pick after they were found to have prematurely engaged in free agency talks with Danuel House Jr. and PJ Tucker in 2022.
The NBA’s investigation at the time stemmed from James Harden’s $47.4 player option, which he activated to give Philly cap space flexibility to sign House and Tucker in the 2022 offseason. One year later, Harden and Tucker were traded to the Los Angeles Clippers after a public controversy between Harden and 76ers general manager Daryl Morey.
On the other hand, the Suns were forced to give up their 2024 second-round pick after taking part in a free agency discussion with center Drew Eubanks before the permitted date of talks in last year’s offseason.
The Denver Nuggets originally owned the second-round pick before being acquired by the Orlando Magic and the Suns.
2024 NBA Draft will be a two-night event
Unlike the usual one-night event, this year’s draft will be divided into two nights, with the first night exclusively for the first round on June 26 before continuing to the second round on June 27.
Defying the odds in the lottery, the Atlanta Hawks will be taking the first overall pick, while the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons will be drafting their respective rookie in that order.
The first-round draft will be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, before heading to ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in Manhattan for the second-round picks.
Previous occasions of reduced draft picks in NBA history
Aside from the past two years, the last time this happened in the NBA draft was in 2004, when the Minnesota Timberwolves forfeited their first-round pick due to illegal contracts with former top pick Joe Smith.
The Timberwolves also gave up their 2001 and 2002 first-round picks as the league’s punishment, rendering the draft to only feature 59 selections.
In this decade, tampering has been the main cause of the forfeiture of draft picks as the league cracks down on premature discussion between free agents and teams in the offseason.