2023 Testimonials
Thank you to all of those who attended the 2023 Mock NBA Trade Deadline Competition!
Read more about the competition in the news:
To deal or not to deal: ASU hosts mock NBA trade competition, ASU Law student organizes event to give students nationwide firsthand experience
ASU Law to host mock NBA trade competition in November, Student-run event is the first of its kind at ASU
“I decided to start this competition to provide students with an opportunity to learn front-office operations in a way that provides them feedback from real NBA professionals. The goal is for passionate and driven students to leave the event with a better understanding of the NBA, tangible results to share, and a new network of NBA and student contacts.”
Kyle Goodier
Event President, Founder, & Concurrent JD/Masters Student
Featured Judges included:
- Jesse Held, Director, Basketball Information and Research, Phoenix Suns
- Sean Kiely, Basketball Strategy Analyst, Portland Trail Blazers
- Yale Kim, Salary Cap and Basketball Admin, Phoenix Suns
- Dave Lewin, Assistant GM, Boston Celtics
- Samer Jassar, Director of Basketball Strategy and Analytics, Milwaukee Bucks
- Asjha Jones, Director of Basketball Strategy and Planning, Portland Trail Blazers
- Brian Dameris, Bally Sports Analyst; Former Director of Basketball Development, Dallas Mavericks
- Ryan Milne, Manager, Basketball Analyst & Insights Lead, NBA League Office
- David Morway, Former NBA GM & Long Time Senior Executive, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Utah Jazz (NBA)
- Seth Partnow, Director of North American Sports, StatsBomb
- Eric Pincus, Salary Cap Strategist / Capologist, Bleacher Report
- John Ross, 15-Year NBA Video Coordinator, CEO of GET IN THE GAME 101
- Buddy Scott, Basketball Strategy Analyst, Boston Celtics
- Keith Smith, NBA Salary Cap Analyst, Spotrac
- James Kopanidis, Basketball Operations, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Jeff Siegel, Senior Cap Specialist, Klutch Sports
"In its first year, the competition offered students a unique opportunity
to immerse themselves in the operations of an NBA front office during a
trade deadline, where they made key roster decisions and gained
practical experience. As a judge, it was exciting to watch these talented young people grapple with all of the complexities of the CBA and the Salary Cap in an effort to improve their teams roster. Hopefully, this event will continue to be an avenue for students to showcase their skills for many years to come."
David Morway
Former General Manager, Indiana Pacers
“Not only to somewhat learn what a front office executive does during the trading deadline, but to make connections with people in the league. It’s an incredibly competitive industry to try and get into. Anytime jobs are posted, we get inundated with applications. So if you have something that you can point to that says, ‘I did this (the mock trade deadline competition),’ it certainly helps.”
Jesse Held
Director of Basketball Information and Research , Phoenix Suns
“I’d love to eventually work my way up to being a GM, and I think this is a great opportunity to meet judges who are working in the industry as well as fellow competitors who are interested in the industry. You’re also gaining a lot of experience in kind of a simulated environment of how hectic it is, how you need to know the NBA salary cap and be able to talk to scouts. It’s a lot of fun.”
Zach Anne
2L, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona Sate University
“In my opinion, this is one of the more valuable competitions you can participate in if you want to be a general manager or involved in basketball operations."
Aaron Hernandez
Assistant Dean, Allan "Bud" Selig Sports Law and Business Program, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona Sate University
Photograph above: Eric Pincus, an NBA salary cap expert and instructor at Sports Business Classroom, is part of the judging panel at the Mock NBA Trade Deadline Competition held at the ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in downtown Phoenix.
"There are very few opportunities in sports that allow undergrads and grad students the ability to display their basketball analysis and knowledge in front of some of the best basketball minds. I wish they would have had this when I was a student in the MSLB program.”
Ryan Milne
Manager, Basketball Analyst and Insights Lead - League Operations NBA League Office
"As a judge for the ASU NBA mock trade deadline competition, I was thoroughly impressed by the participants’ strategic depth and understanding of basketball operations, showcasing the potential future
leaders of sports management and analytics.”
Sean Kiely
Basketball Strategy Analyst, Portland Trail Blazers
"The Trade Deadline Competition at ASU provides an excellent opportunity for aspiring basketball professionals to be immersed in a simulation of what it’s like to be in an NBA front office as the trade deadline approaches - analyzing rosters, negotiating trades, managing future payrolls, and so much more. I wish I had the opportunity to participate in something like this when I was in school!”
Buddy Scott
Manager, Salary Cap and Basketball Strategy, Boston Celtics
"The Trade Deadline Competition at ASU was professionally run and packed with action. The students got to experience what it’s like to be an NBA front office at a peak time of year, including the pressure of a deadline. Beyond that experience, the ability to network with NBA executives is a priceless experience budding front office hopefuls can’t really get anywhere else.”
Keith Smith
Salary Cap Analyst, Spotrac
