[Basel A]

Originally Posted by Mike Schreiber

Here's an odd scenario that seems legal and sketchy albeit highly risky if actually planned. Team A seeds first and picks Team B who is far better than the 16th available robot that is not in top 8, Team B declines and therefore no other alliance can pick them. Team A picks Team C as no 1 pick and D as no 16. Before the first match Team A uses backup coupon to swap Team B in for Team D (who isn't actually broken) since B was very well ranked but not in top 8 they are now the back up bot. Obviously a huge gamble with in-picking etc.

There's nothing that stops a team from declining right now and still playing as the back up. Should there be?

Well, there's the rule quoted about 3 posts up...