OT - Sacramento Kings Crowdsource NBA Draft Information
Interesting idea in trying to gather the most information for the draft from all available sources. Will be interesting to see if this is a publicity stunt of sorts or if they are really valueing the input of these NBA fans. With their new owner Vivek Ranadivé being a hardcore analytics guy I think this is more about the novel information.
My $0.02: The start of the video explores how much the 8th pick will help them immediately. The Western Confernce is stacked right now, the Kings are very young, and they are going to suck next year regardless of who they draft or trade the pick for. Near the end it seemed like the GM was more thinking towards getting the player with the highest upside. Sactown is not a destination city and the only way for them to get an eiite franchise player is through the draft. I think it is better to swing for the fence and strike out, giving yourself the opportunity to hit a HR next year, rather than hitting a double and being a bubble team with no chance of championship contention.
but my guess would be they really aren't getting anything from these fans that will be put into use that hadn't already been kicked around in one form or another by the front office.
I liken them to interns. They there is a 0.1% chance they uncover and new information. The most intereting thing to me is that 4 of them will be in the room on draft night, where their input could actually mean something.
i like this a lot. cool show
I Ithought this was very interesting. Obessive fans with too much time on their hands and some level of expertise with Microsoft Excel would certainly unearth some useful information that NBA front offices would not have otherwise considered. I know, personally, that some of my most inspired work came through via passion for a sports team. It'd be like showing Brady Hoke and Nuss and Mattison some of our best MGoDiaries and opening their eyes.