Should NBA D-League teams still hold open tryouts?

Many NBA D-League teams hold open tryouts that allow anyone to tryout for a roster spot on a D-League team. A spot at an open tryout can cost you upwards of $100-$200, and while the rewards of a D-League roster spot are appealing, the odds are stacked against you.

Upside & Motor asked two writers, Ashley Docking and John Bauman, to write short opinion pieces in favor of and against these tryouts.

Tryouts build community and find gems
Ashley Docking (@SmrtAsh)

The lack commitment to the NBADL due to salary constraints (something that  should be addressed in upcoming CBA negotiations) creates an atmosphere where different players are coming in and out as often as I hit the liquor store on weekends. These high level players can make bank overseas and if they do lobby for a NBA roster spot in the D-League, it’s usually a one-and-done situation (although there are a bunch of  players who have returned to the NBADL after a reprieve overseas).  Where does that type of shuffling leave the local fan base?  Well, it leaves them in a blind date situation every fall. Getting to know a whole new squad.

So, if finding a rosterable player at open tryouts every year means giving the fans a connection to the team at the beginning of each season, I’m all for it.  The open tryout participants anchor the team in the community, provide storylines and help generate ticket sales early in the season. From there you hope the product hooks the fanbase after the feel good narrative of “playing for the home team” has gotten them in the door.

In Toronto last year, the Canadian content angle was a big motivator for the marketing minds of the 905 organization.  They were actually accused by local reporters of playing solely to Canadian’s patriotism by bringing in the likes of Sim Bhullar and Nick Wiggins. For what it’s worth I don’t think that they would bring on players if they weren’t able to hoop.

In addition to the name value of the aforementioned pair, the walk-on guys, Ashton Smith, Keanu Post, and Walter Picthford were media draws and targeted by local writers. Two of the three (Smith and Post) remained with the team the entire season (although Smith was briefly waived and re-signed).

As an expansion team, in a market that is just recently getting behind basketball culture being the norm, it was a massive bonus to have local names and familiar faces for fans to root for. There are three new teams this season and two relocating, it remains a factor.

Now, like an tenth grader writing an essay, trying to hit a word count, ahem… In conclusion, if none of the above matters to you, then what should is that the open tryouts are a chance to uncover a forgotten talent, or a diamond in the rough. Some of these guys can straight up ball.

Local Fort Wayne legend Ron Howard for example or Raphiael Putney (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) or maybe a slightly more notable name for you NBA-only folks, Jonathon Simmons. All products of the open tryout.

The NBA is such an exclusive organization.  It’s a hard place to stick and there are so many who don’t make it. The open tryouts are a reminder that sometimes when you bet on yourself and take a shot, it pays off.

Tryouts are watering down the league
John Bauman (@bauman_john)

This past weekend, the Greensboro Swarm held an open player tryout on the campus of UNC-Greensboro.

Per Adam Johnson of DLeagueDigest, the Swarm have 170 people registered for the open player tryout.

I’m not a fan of any D-League team holding an open player tryout for 170 people. D-League rosters are set at 12 players (with only 10 active), so 170 people doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

I understand this is a source of revenue for teams and it drums up interest for teams in the communities they play. It’s also worth noting that the D-League national tryout, held Sunday, August 14th in New York City, featured great competition among a really strong selection of players. I understand all those sides of the argument, but I still don’t love the concept of the open-player tryout.

The NBA D-League is fighting two major battles as it looks to continue to grow – how to grow in popularity and how to gain legitimacy. I’m not in favor of pitting one of these goals against the other.

D-League tryouts make it seem like anyone can try out and make a D-League roster, where in reality, it is incredibly hard to find a spot on one of the 22 teams in the league for the 2016/17 season. Maybe these tryouts made sense a few years ago, but the D-League has grown since then and can do better.

I’d like to see a rebranding of these events to rename the open player tryouts as fantasy camps or NBA D-League experiences. Allow basketball players and basketball fans from the communities that the D-League teams reside in to come in, meet some of the players, coaches and front office staff and play some basketball. If there is a diamond in the rough, pull him aside and call him in for a private tryout the next weekend. But this rebranding would more accurately reflect what the “tryouts” are, so that you keep the community engagement, but keep the legitimacy of the D-League and its teams.

D-League tryouts are a good idea that needs updating. Call it what it really is, so that the D-League doesn’t eat at its own credibility as a professional basketball league, while trying to reach out into their communities and grow.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.

Next: The pursuit of versatility is hurting specialization