How can the NCAA tell an NBA team they must renounce their rights on a player just because the player didn’t like where he was picked ?
Why do you see it as the NCAA telling an NBA team they must renounce their rights on a player?
Its the NBA draft, not the armed forces draft, they can't force the kids to play professionally. All they can do is create consequences for their failure to do so. Why does the NCAA feel that it needs to be complicit in limiting players options by declaring them ineligible?? Other leagues give teams a calendar year to sign the players they've drafted or their rights lapse. Even if they came back to school subject to the drafting teams rights, that at least gives the player the option to say a second round salary isn't worth sacrificing my free college education and the college experience over, if they are so inclined.
The idea that they have to have been invited to and participate in the combine for any of this to apply makes it a joke.
Real Reform would include the following:
1. NBA changing the collective bargaining agreement so that high school graduates or 18 year olds are eligible for the draft, which I acknowledge is outside of the NCAA's control.
2. Give players the ability to enter their name in the draft, be drafted, not sign and choose to return to school regardless of whether they were invited to or participated in any draft combine.
3.
Maybe limit a teams rights in a player to one calendar year (or two) post selection so that they are eligible to be drafted again at some point if they chose not to sign.
4. Continue to develop the G league as a viable option for kids that want to pursue professional basketball but don't truly have an interest in college education.
