Minnesota Sports Forum

Apparently Ben Simmons has a TV piece coming out where he roasts the NCAA for the whole student athlete, no pay, 1 and done system that has re-sparked the debate about the minimum age requirement. I wanted to see everyone's thoughts here. Personally I'm fine if they lower it to 18 so long as those 18 year olds come into the league making the league minimum and earn a bigger paycheck. Everyone brings up the Lebron's, Kobe's and KG's, but there were many more who never amounted to anything and it's frankly stealing money to get on a rookie pay scale as a high pick making millions before you even prove you are worthy of a roster spot. I'd do a 3 year RFA exception contract for the league minimum for anyone entering the league at 18 with no college experience (2+QO year). That way if they are the real deal they can get paid quicker and if they are scrubs trying to make a quick buck without earning it they get filtered out of the league. Thoughts?

I used to side with the NCAA on the "no pay" debate. Basically, if you don't like the system that rewards you handsomely, go play somewhere else.

But after seeing example after example after example of how the NCAA is ONLY after big paydays... I've changed.

Too hypocritical for me.



[Note: For what it's worth... sure. I sorta like ideas of your plan.]

If you are really good and want to make money right away go play in Europe for a year. The next CBA isn't touching the 1 and done thing so nothing is going to change anytime soon. Other sports sign guys that are younger however those sports have a minor league system to develop players. the NBA doesn't have that but is working towards that with the d-league. I would say when that league is established with every NBA team having a team then it would make more sense to bring in guys right out of HS. Its going to help younger guys whether they play college or even some guys that played 5 seasons in college develop. I don't really have a problem with guys coming right out of HS but playing a year of college probably doesn't hurt them that much. LIke I said if you are really wanting to make that paper go play professionally somewhere else. The bottom line is sports is big business and people are generally going to look out for what they think is best for them.

I just don't like that a scholarship (by players) and educational responsibility (by schools) is being devalued in this fight. Schools do everything they can to get these athletes in with no connection to education. It takes a real anomaly of an individual (Tim Duncan, Kris Dunn) or school (Ivy league I guess) to look past the financial opportunity and value a university degree for what it can be. I think college athletics should be amateur. But the institutions have to start being held accountable for how the money is being spent. If it is just to line their pockets then something has to change. Scholarships need to be guaranteed for 4 years for life for every player on a roster, things like this to show that schools are in it for providing education.

I still don't see how you can be kept from making a living. It is not like you need a degree to play basketball.

Wow, great topic. There's just a lot of different ways to take this. Here's what I wish would happen:

1) Every NBA team has a farm club
2) Everyone is eligible to be drafted out of high school
3) If Drafted, you can negotiate with the player within the constraints of some type of entry level scale.
4) The player can choose to sign out of high school, or go to college instead.
5) If he chooses to go to college, he must remain there for 3 years - much like the baseball rules
6) After 3 years he goes back into the draft and can be taken by anyone. So the original drafting team does not carry any rights forward. You either sign him, or he goes to college.
7) No signed players are guaranteed NBA roster spots, but they get the same money whether they play for the parent club or the farm team.

This plan would do a few things:

1) Make the 2nd tier league a real draw with an influx of good players who aren't ready for the NBA
2) Provide a tremendous boost to the college game. Knowing you have a player for 3 years would get rid of the ridiculous charade that is the one an done, and allow programs to create an identity again.
3) Would add huge importance to 2nd round draft picks, and maybe even open up the draft to more than two rounds.
4) Give players some say in who they end up playing for.
5) Allow players to develop that might flame out if thrust directly into the league.

CoolBreeze44 wrote:Wow, great topic. There's just a lot of different ways to take this. Here's what I wish would happen:

1) Every NBA team has a farm club
2) Everyone is eligible to be drafted out of high school
3) If Drafted, you can negotiate with the player within the constraints of some type of entry level scale.
4) The player can choose to sign out of high school, or go to college instead.
5) If he chooses to go to college, he must remain there for 3 years - much like the baseball rules
6) After 3 years he goes back into the draft and can be taken by anyone. So the original drafting team does not carry any rights forward. You either sign him, or he goes to college.
7) No signed players are guaranteed NBA roster spots, but they get the same money whether they play for the parent club or the farm team.

This plan would do a few things:

1) Make the 2nd tier league a real draw with an influx of good players who aren't ready for the NBA
2) Provide a tremendous boost to the college game. Knowing you have a player for 3 years would get rid of the ridiculous charade that is the one an done, and allow programs to create an identity again.
3) Would add huge importance to 2nd round draft picks, and maybe even open up the draft to more than two rounds.
4) Give players some say in who they end up playing for.
5) Allow players to develop that might flame out if thrust directly into the league.

Interesting and good take Cool. I wasn't aware of the 3 year rule for baseball. I do not know as much about baseball and development plus they have such an extensive developmental system in that sport. I wonder if 3 years would be too long to lock guys in for basketball and more than should would just opt to get drafted. I suppose at some point there are only so many talented guys that would realistically have the option but yeah.

To me the issue isn't so much about whether or not guys get paid out of HS their first year it's about regardless of whether they are going to college that first year or playing professionally are they actually getting developed during that time. Right now the results are a mixed bag at best. Obviously some guys are going in just assuming their next step in the NBA and some don't take advantage of everything and to one extent or another it burns them. Some guys I don't think get the coaching they need to take the next step because that isn't what matters to the college program they are in or in some cases the coach isn't even good at it. If the guy goes to Europe it's a complete wildcard even more than college. If they were drafted right now in the NBA out of HS it would depend on if they went to one of the teams with a fairly established d-league team. If they went to a team with no affiliate and was sent to a team who knows. They might also be on the NBA roster and develop there it could be good or it could be a year that would be better spent for both the later and team somewhere else. A guy like Lavine went to college barely played and was supposed to be raw and not be good for a few years. Well he was thrust into playing time quickly struggled playing out of position but at this point looks to be way way ahead of some of the projections of where he could be. a minor league system which the NBA is and has been working toward for a while is going to be good for everyone. People have laid out some good ideas of how they want to see it implemented.

I am so torn on this, I like cool's idea always thought of that but 2 years instead of 3. I wish the D league was more developed shady would make it easier for high school kids to come straight out.

Just thinking how much the NBA could of been different if guys could come straight out.

2016: simmons would go 1 but Skal goes 2

2015: I think Okafor goes 1, mudiay might go 2. Towns 3

2014: Don't think there is much difference but embiid dosen't go as high, lavine not a lottery pick.

2013: Bazz I bet goes #1

2012: Barnes goes #1

I just wish there was a way both worlds could work

Something else to consider if you lowered the age there would be younger international players available in the draft also. That's another interesting dynamic. Also could a team still draft a US player X and then that Player X signs and plays internationally and the drafting team still keep their rights?

My biggest concern would be how it affects the league talent wise. I feel if you get 10 guys jumping straight to the NBA it might water down the league. For every Kobe or KG there's a handful of Miles. Sure they get weeded out eventually but teams will see it thru for a few year becuz of the money their throwing at them. Some of those kids don't even know how to play basketball yet gething by on athleticism and the fact that they're so much bigger and stronger than the high school opponents they're facing. Many will end up wasting away in D league losing out on the valuable education they would have received mentally, emotionally ,financially by going to college. Some may go back but I fear most will just fade away.