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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the media Sunday and, when asked about a possible expansion of the NBA Draft, said that the league has had “very, very preliminary discussions with the Players Association” about the possibility, according to SB Nation’s Kristian Winfield:
Adam Silver on expanding the NBA Draft to 4 or 5 rounds: "We've thought about it. ... We've had very, very preliminary discussions with the Player's Association about that."
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) June 3, 2018
Considering the NBA’s recent push in making it a more viable developmental league, t’s likely that any additional rounds added to the draft would be targeted at G League rosters.
Any changes to draft rules must be negotiated in collective bargaining. It remains to be seen how the Players Association would feel about allowing additional players to be drafted each season. Currently, undrafted players have the freedom to work out with and attempt to join any team that expresses interest.
In 1989, the NBA Draft moved from seven to two rounds. Before last season, the NBA added two-way contracts. Excluding time spent before and after the G League’s season begins and ends, players on two-way contracts can spend up to 45 days in the NBA while spending the rest of the season in the G League. As of the 2017–18 season, players earn $75,000 while they are in the G League and roughly $204,000 if they spend 45 days in the NBA.
Last season, the Blazers had two players on two-way contracts; Wade Baldwin IV and C.J. Wilcox.