Hello, I'm glad that you asked.
A youth team system would be probably the best solution, yes. Let me explain.
We all play this browser game of basketball, because most of us are fans of the game. This is why we choose this simulation of a own team. And i think, that most of us play it, or want to play it, as a simulation. Now here's the point, if you want to simulate your own sports team, it's a huge fun factor, to implement or develope your own youth players. This indentifies you with your team.
But in this game, you get punished for being succesfull, by basically cutting out the whole "own youth development" because of a draft system, that makes no sense in the structure of a online game. Why is it necessary to choose between winning games and etsablishing your own players?
Obviously the creators thought back then, that a copy of the NBA system would be a smart thing to do, as most of the basketball fans are fans of the NBA as well.
BUT, the draft was created to work in a closed system like the NBA, where some rich dudes own their own teams. In this game we have a open system with relegation and promotions. It makes basically no sense at all, to give the worst team/manager an advantage via a draft system. It just cuts a big fun part of games like this for many players.
So yes, i'd prefer youth teams or something similar. Let everyone decide themself if they want to develope future team (not franchise btw) -legends, coming from a youth program, playing the whole carrer for one, my own team. Dont punish players for winning.
Thanks