Hello everyone. I have been thinking about this system since last year when the new structure was announced. I think integrating an NBA-style draft system into Valorant champions tournaments could provide a more structured and fair approach to team formation, eliminating concerns around players being dropped all of a sudden and providing a more equitable distribution of salaries. Here are some steps that could be taken to implement such a system:
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Establish clear rules and guidelines for the draft process, such as how teams will be formed, how players will be evaluated, and how salaries will be determined.
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Set up a centralized platform or organization to manage the draft process and oversee the VCT.
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Create a pool of eligible players who can be drafted, based on factors such as their in-game performance, past tournament experience, and other relevant metrics. This can go per region (Pacific, EMEA, etc..).
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Conduct a draft event, similar to the NBA draft, where team owners or managers can select players to join their team. This can be an anticipated live event just like an annual NBA draft.
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Once teams are formed, establish a salary structure based on the performance of the team and individual players, with incentives and bonuses for achieving certain milestones or winning tournaments.
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Monitor the performance of the teams and players throughout the season and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that the draft process and salary structure remain fair and effective.
This implementation with an NBA-style draft system could help create a more professional and competitive environment for Valorant champions tournaments, while providing a more structured and equitable approach to team formation and player compensation.
Sample use case:
Let's say the next VCT is scheduled for the year 2024, and the first pick of the draft belongs to the team EG. EG had the worst record in the previous tournament, so they get the first pick in the draft in Americas.
During the draft event, team managers or owners from various organizations will take turns selecting players to join their team. The order of the draft will be based on the teams' performance in the previous tournament, with the worst-performing teams getting the earliest picks. The team with the worst record may not necessarily get the first pick, but rather the first pick is randomly selected from the bottom three or four teams.
For example, let's say the draft order is as follows:
- EG
- KRU
- MIBR
- C9
EG, as the first pick, may choose the player they believe will be the best fit for their team. KRU, as the second pick, may then choose the next best player, and so on.
As time goes on, the talent pool of Valorant players will continue to grow and improve, with new players constantly entering the scene. By using a draft system, the competition is spread more evenly throughout the teams, which ensures that the tournament is more competitive and exciting for viewers. Also, just imagine 2 teams in VCT Champions like Sentinels vs PRX for example, with both teams having their region's newly drafted #1 picks going head to head against each other. Players can potentially build a legacy and teams can foster sustainability.
Overall, implementing an NBA-style draft system in a Valorant champions tournament could help create a more competitive and professional environment, while ensuring that the most talented and deserving players are distributed more equitably across all the teams.
*Update: read people saying teams will just tank for last place, well we can implement a structure like:
- Custom Draft Lottery: Instead of automatically awarding the top draft pick to the worst-performing team, a lottery system can be implemented to determine the order of the draft. This reduces the incentive for teams to intentionally lose games in order to secure a higher draft pick, since they cannot guarantee that they will receive the top pick.
- Reverse Standings: Another way to discourage tanking is to order the draft based on the reverse standings of the previous season, but with a twist: the team with the worst record may not necessarily get the first pick, but rather the first pick is randomly selected from the bottom three or four teams. This creates a level of uncertainty and reduces the incentive for teams to tank.
- Penalties: Teams that are caught intentionally losing games or engaging in tanking behavior can be penalized, such as being fined, losing draft picks, or facing other sanctions. This creates a strong disincentive for teams to engage in tanking.
- Incentives: Instead of punishing teams for losing, leagues could provide incentives for teams to perform well, such as bonus draft picks or prize money for reaching certain performance thresholds.
I would love to get insights and feedback from everyone, feel free to comment down below! Thank you.
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