ESPN broadcaster Scott Van Pelt has named his biggest problem with the NBA Draft – newly selected players wearing the wrong team’s hat moments after entering the league.
The problem comes with the chaos of the draft, with teams trading their picks and prospects with little time for the league office to adjust.
That leaves prospects getting a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wearing the hat of a team they will not play a game for.
The problem happened a few times on Wednesday night, including 10th overall pick Khaman Maluach, who was visibly crying while wearing a Houston Rockets hat.
Maluach is headed to the Phoenix Suns, as the team acquired the pick in the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade.
‘I’m gonna scream about the hat situation,’ Van Pelt said on ESPN’s airwaves during the ‘SportsCenter’ broadcast that immediately followed the first round.
ESPN broadcaster Scott Van Pelt has named his biggest problem with the NBA Draft
Several players wore the wrong team’s hat for a photo-op with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (pictured is Liam McNeeley in a Phoenix Suns hat after being traded to the Charlotte Hornets
‘The league’s too smart to have the moment that they’ve waited their whole life for be a picture in the wrong hat. It just doesn’t make sense. I don’t know why they can’t fix it.’
The Washington Wizards selected Florida phenom Walter Clayton Jr. with the No 18 pick, only to deal him to the Utah Jazz moments later.
Clayton, and who he was traded for, Will Riley, both took photos with Silver in the wrong team’s hat.
The move that thoroughly upset Van Pelt happened one more time during the first round with Liam McNeeley wearing a Suns hat despite the pick being traded to the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the evening.
The hat problem has seen historic moments, like both Kobe Bryant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander donning Hornets hats on draft night, with neither basketball great playing for Charlotte in their careers.
That problem has rarely occurred in the NFL, with similar deals being made. However, league representatives have handed draftees their hats to wear seconds before shaking hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The NBA has not commented on the hat dilemma or how it plans to avoid the problem in the future.
