November 13, 2024

Breaking into the world of sports: ASU Law hosts NBA Trade Deadline competition

Exciting strategic discussions filled the air at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. It was the second annual NBA Trade Deadline Competition on Nov. 8 and 9, where 130 students from 40 different collegiate programs nationally had the opportunity to step into the shoes of NBA executives and experience the complex decision-making process involved in team-building and player transactions. 

The event is designed to mimic the trade deadline frenzy and simulate the high-stakes world of NBA front offices. It featured 15 NBA executives, including Jeff Siegel, a representative from Klutch Sports Group in Los Angeles. He returned to judge for a second year. Siegel praised the mock trade event for allowing students to learn the intricacies of NBA front-office operations. 

“This event is really interesting because it gives students a chance to understand the fundamental aspects of trade negotiations, salary cap management and roster construction,” Siegel said. “It’s a fantastic learning experience, and it also provides valuable networking opportunities for the students.”

Here’s how it all went down — students teamed up, were assigned an NBA team, created and negotiated player trades, managed salary caps and identified ways to improve their rosters. 

One ASU Law group of six was tasked with managing the Golden State Warriors. During their presentation, the group said they focused on capitalizing on player value, adding young talent and improving interior defense. 

For one of the team members, Travis Abraham, a first-year Master of Sports Law and Business (MSLB) student, participating in the mock trade event was something he had been excited about since hearing about it last year. Abraham said growing up his passion fell behind sports and numbers, and he sees this type of hands-on experience as critical for his future career. 

“When I first heard about this event last year, I knew I wanted to participate. It’s a great opportunity to get a taste of what’s to come in the real world of salary cap operations,” he explained. “We wanted to take this mock trial seriously — not just for the judges, but for ourselves. It’s all about practice and refining our skills.”

Abraham who has dreamed of working in sports since he was six years old found the MSLB program at ASU Law to be the perfect fit for his career goals. It combined his love for law, sports and analytics.

“This is a huge opportunity to apply what we’ve been learning in the classroom in a real-world setting,” he said.

Cameron Johnsen, also a first-year MSLB student, shared a similar sentiment. He is a former athlete with a passion for the business side of sports and is eager to break into the industry to work in the back-end operations that drive teams and leagues.

“There are so few opportunities like this,” Johnsen expressed. “The sports industry is a niche space, especially in the front office, and getting hands-on experience like this is invaluable. We can engage directly with professionals and receive feedback that can shape our future careers.”

The mock trade event was organized by Kyle Goodier, an ASU Law student graduating in the Fall. Goodier is looking to break into the NBA himself upon graduation, and said he drew inspiration from a similar event he participated in at another school a few years ago. 

“I saw the opportunity to create something like this here at ASU and thought it would be a great way for students to get hands-on experience in a field that is often difficult to break into,” Goodier said. “Having an education is one thing, but nowadays employers want to see candidates doing things differently to gain real-world experience. This event is a perfect way for students to stand out when the time comes.”

For many participants, this was more than just a competition, it was a chance to gain insight from people in the industry and build the skills necessary to succeed in the highly competitive sports business world.

Written by Crystal Jimenez