The NBA Needs To Stop The ‘Wrong Hat’ Ridiculousness On Draft Day

 

According to the NBA rulebook, trades can’t go through until the league’s year starts in a few weeks. This also means that prior to this start, trades won’t be recognized by the league.

This fact leads to lots of controversy every year, during the NBA draft. This year was no different. Fans hated that drafted players had to wear the wrong hat, even though everyone knew that they won’t be playing for said team.

Take De’Andre Hunter as an example. When he was announced as the fourth pick in the the 2019 NBA Draft, he was handed a Los Angeles Lakers hat. Hunter won’t play a minute for the Lakers, but will suit up in Hawks colors instead. The number four pick went to New Orleans as part of the Lakers deal that brought Anthony Davis into town. The Pelicans though, traded the pick to the Atlanta Hawks. That’s why the Atlanta Hawks basically decided who the 4th pick will be, only that Hunter wasn’t able to rep the team’s colors.

On top of it, the Hawks weren’t even allowed tweet about it.

 

https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1141858356438687744

 

The internet came to the conclusion that this rule is nonsense and agreed that the NBA needs to make a change as soon as possible.

 

Text from NFL coach: “Gotta get the NBA to change the ‘trade rules’ so they don’t keep sending these kids up there with wrong hats on – embarrassing.”

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 21, 2019

The NBA should simply list all of the actual trades as they take place and put the correct hats on these first-round picks. There will be at least 10 guys in the wrong hat tonight as a result of trades that don't become official until later.

— Greg Logan (@GregLogan1) June 21, 2019

The NBA Draft either needs to move back or the new league year needs to move up or we just need to stop being silly with the wrong hats.

The NBA is usually very conscientious and on top of things but this is ridiculous. #NBADraft19

— Collin Brennan (@Cbrennan_USAT) June 21, 2019

One thing the NBA could learn from the NFL is acknowledging the traded picks. Having the wrong hats on players kinda takes from the moment.

— Captain N (@nickmitch89) June 21, 2019

Yes, this NBA thing of not announcing trades and kids wearing the wrong hat is stupid, but for goodness sake someone please tell the "wrong" teams to stop tweeting out the picks.

— Dave Heller (@dave_heller) June 21, 2019

NBA gotta fix their draft, sending these kids up there in the wrong hats and having the wrong team draft them is just stupid

— Ethan (@EthanVaughn147) June 21, 2019

The league year in the NBA should start before the draft does. That way you don't have to have players wear the wrong hats on the biggest day of their lives. Makes sense to me, no?

— Sean (@SeanPBB) June 21, 2019

The @NBA has some bad rules. They should start the league year ahead of the draft to allow trades. The whole draft and trade thing just doesn’t seem right. There are more kids up there wearing the wrong hat than the right one.

— Michael W (@GBisTitletown) June 21, 2019

The @NBA has to change this whole proposed trade stuff before the night of the draft. No one wants to see a new draft pick wearing the wrong hat.

— Wes Crochet (@WesKCrochet) June 21, 2019

One thing I’ll never understand about the NBA draft is why they can’t have pick trades in real time like the NFL draft? Do we really need these kids looking like idiots in the wrong hats?

— Mr. S (@stays_in) June 21, 2019

The nba needs to formally announce these trades or put the draft off. Half these guys will be getting the wrong hats and it’s confusing af to follow what team is picking which player

— Sean Fox (@s_fox1019) June 21, 2019

https://twitter.com/AdelTWL/status/1141888401907621888

I hate how the NBA gives them the wrong hats in the draft. The trade is already done

— Swan (@blackswan_420) June 21, 2019

It's so dumb to have these kids put on the wrong hat on the stage. Just give them the right hat like damn it ain't hard!!#NBADraft #NBA #NBATwitter

— Universal Sports Hub (@SportsHubU) June 21, 2019

They got these dudes up here wearing the wrong hats. NBA is a joke.

— Jay (@jaybizniss) June 21, 2019