NBAPA wants LOWERED not raised age limit

[RandygoCuse]

I used to be against the age limit as I couldn't understand how it could be fair to keep someone from pursuing a career they want when people are willing to take him on. And it truly isn't fair. However, from the NBAs perspective, making kids wait as helped raised the overall level of play in the NBA. Make no mistake, the 2 year rule is essentially protecting team management from themselves. But if it makes the NBA better, I see why the rule is in place.

 

[longislandcuse]

I used to be against the age limit as I couldn't understand how it could be fair to keep someone from pursuing a career they want when people are willing to take him on. And it truly isn't fair. However, from the NBAs perspective, making kids wait as helped raised the overall level of play in the NBA. Make no mistake, the 2 year rule is essentially protecting team management from themselves. But if it makes the NBA better, I see why the rule is in place.

You can't go straight from high school to the NFL because you're not physically ready. I think we're seeing that more and more in the NBA with the rise of NFL Tight Ends playing positions 3-5. Lowering the age limit is idiotic.

 

[cuseincincy]

If they want to follow the baseball model I'd have no problem with it. Sure it'd make it tougher on college basketball coaches but so what? Let them feel some of the pain that college baseball coaches go through not knowing if a kid they got a commitment from is going to get drafted and if they do get drafted then you have to re-recruit them to stay. Let the players assume some risk in their decision to go pro or to go to college (in the business world we call that "skin in the game"). We're only talking 60 players a year getting drafted. During the most recent 11 year period (1995-2005) that high schoolers could get drafted only 39 were drafted. I have no idea how many declared but weren't drafted but it can't be many. But once they decide on college by a certain date, they have to stay for 3 years. This would likely result in more declaring as I'm sure there are many who thought they'd go for a year or twon and then declare. But the schools have to get something out of it too. And the NCAA has to use their head (wishful thinking) and allow kids to decide to go to college even if they've been drafted. The current rule is idiotic in that if they declare they can't go back to school even if they don't get drafted. What moron decided that was good for anyone? Buyer beware for the NBA. For every Lebron or KG there are 5-10 Kwame Brown's or Sebastian Telfair's. I believe in baseball they have right up to the first day of classes to decide if they are going pro or not.

What I like most about this is the person who would hate this the most is PayCal. Can you imagine if on the first day of classes Towns, Lyles, Booker and Ulis all decided to sign their pro deals instead of going to UK? Of course they'd still be the best team in the country as he'd have the Harrisions, Lee and Dakari locked up for 2 more years in addition to Poythress and Cauley-Stein for this year.

 

[RandygoCuse]

If they want to follow the baseball model I'd have no problem with it. Sure it'd make it tougher on college basketball coaches but so what? Let them feel some of the pain that college baseball coaches go through not knowing if a kid they got a commitment from is going to get drafted and if they do get drafted then you have to re-recruit them to stay. Let the players assume some risk in their decision to go pro or to go to college (in the business world we call that "skin in the game"). We're only talking 60 players a year getting drafted. During the most recent 11 year period (1995-2005) that high schoolers could get drafted only 39 were drafted. I have no idea how many declared but weren't drafted but it can't be many. But once they decide on college by a certain date, they have to stay for 3 years. This would likely result in more declaring as I'm sure there are many who thought they'd go for a year or twon and then declare. But the schools have to get something out of it too. And the NCAA has to use their head (wishful thinking) and allow kids to decide to go to college even if they've been drafted. The current rule is idiotic in that if they declare they can't go back to school even if they don't get drafted. What moron decided that was good for anyone? Buyer beware for the NBA. For every Lebron or KG there are 5-10 Kwame Brown's or Sebastian Telfair's. I believe in baseball they have right up to the first day of classes to decide if they are going pro or not.

What I like most about this is the person who would hate this the most is PayCal. Can you imagine if on the first day of classes Towns, Lyles, Booker and Ulis all decided to sign their pro deals instead of going to UK? Of course they'd still be the best team in the country as he'd have the Harrisions, Lee and Dakari locked up for 2 more years in addition to Poythress and Cauley-Stein for this year.

I'm in favor of the 2 year rule, but I agree with you on a couple points. The NBA shouldn't base their rules on what is best for college kids and that it is silly that kids out of high school can't go to college if not drafted (to the best of my knowledge this holds true even if they don't sign with an agent.)

 

[Madbiker]

It makes for a good bargaining chip for the PA. Trade it for something valuable rather than just give it away. Negotiating 101.

 

[shandeezy7]

I don't understand how that could be legal or enforced. Indentured servitude for three years when the schools could push you out the door at any time and coaches can come and go as they please?

Is it really all that different from football, which was challenged in the court system by Maurice Clarett?

 

[NKR1978]

Is it really all that different from football, which was challenged in the court system by Maurice Clarett?

I think it's just as wrong for football. Actually its worse for football because there's nowhere else for football players to go. At least basketball is played around the world.

 

[shandeezy7]

I think it's just as wrong for football. Actually its worse for football because there's nowhere else for football players to go. At least basketball is played around the world.

But it's not illegal, at least in the court's eyes

 

[SUGIANT]

Baseball does it and no one seems to mind.

BAseball has an extensive farm system that has been built up over decades. Basketball has nothing like that. Going straight from HS to the PRos in BB hurts the players IMO. But I tend to be opposed to not allowing them to do what would seem to be their right to do.

 

[OrangeFoo]

I don't understand how that could be legal or enforced. Indentured servitude for three years when the schools could push you out the door at any time and coaches can come and go as they please?

Make the scholarship a three year commitment on BOTH sides, you leave early you pay the money back. That way a player is committing to the school not the coach and kids who blow up can go pro as they will have the cash to pay back the scholie. Of course there are edge cases like someone trying to fail out to get out of the scholie or transfer situations, etc...

 

[NKR1978]

Make the scholarship a three year commitment on BOTH sides, you leave early you pay the money back. That way a player is committing to the school not the coach and kids who blow up can go pro as they will have the cash to pay back the scholie. Of course there are edge cases like someone trying to fail out to get out of the scholie or transfer situations, etc...

Why though? What will happen to the kid if he decides to go play in Europe? Will the school sue him? I really don't understand how this could be enforced.

 

[Knicks411]

Why though? What will happen to the kid if he decides to go play in Europe? Will the school sue him? I really don't understand how this could be enforced.

Yeah the idea of someone having to pay money to not go to college anymore; that one doesn't really fly with me

 

[Fireball Jr.]

1. The baseball model only works because they have a real minor league system that develops players.

2. The NBA should develop a one or two tiered minor league system... but I think the NBA likes to have the NCAA market / develop the kids, and the NCAA is fine with it as well as it benefits them.

3. As for the players wanting it dropped -- its merely posturing on their part. They know it's what Silver wants, so by widening the gap, they can get more of something else they really desire.

4. I think the 2 year rule is the best solution, with an NBA board selecting up to 2 players annually for early entry out of high school. Works better for both the NBA and NCAA

5. Ironically in this age of early entry, while the quality of NCAA basketball is suffering, the quality of NBA Basketball may be at its highest level in 10 years.

I've been watching pro hoops since the early '60s, I'll go so far as to say the quality of NBA ball may be at its highest level ever.

 

[jncuse]

It makes for a good bargaining chip for the PA. Trade it for something valuable rather than just give it away. Negotiating 101.

It's a hot issue amongst college fans.

But in the end this news story is as simple as you stated. PA widens the gap on an issue they don't have any real interest in and are willing to trade away in the end.