[ChoppyParticipant]

 www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/22594625/how-australian-basketball-targeting-one-dones-nba-draft

This story is doing the rounds in Australia today. If you don’t want to click, the upshot is that the NBL is creating an extra roster spot on all NBL teams specifically for draft eligible young players. They will be paid $100,000AUD from the league, not the teams, creating an even playing field for all teams. This salary could then be topped up by endorsements etc. 

My question is this: will this be attractive to young American players as an alternative to college, particularly in the light of the NCAA controversy coming out? 

Personally, I think it could be attractive to many young athletes who want to take control of their futures. 

[festar35Participant]

 Personally if I were coming out a high school looking to go to the NBA I would be looking at the G-league over College given all the controversy surrounding the NCAA.

All franchises have a G-League now right? So here is my proposal, you can enter the draft after high school, but you spend a year with the teams G-League affiliate. Now I get this may not be popular, but you can go join your franchises top team for training, you don’t have to play all G-League games if you or the team would rather you red shirt with them, you still play summer league, you get a decent cheque (not mega $’s) but you still have that 4 year contract (If drafted high enough guaranteed, like you get now when drafted) once that year is over.

Why I think this would be good:

#1: It gives young guys a taste of that professional life.

#2: They have another year to be educated about life as a pro sportsman, the league could set up workshops for the young guys over the year to teach them how to be professional and look after their money.

#3: They play against grown men on a regular basis and this will be a good start to enduring an 82 game season, it gives them a legit idea of the conditioning requirements.

#4: As mentioned above they can go get those endorsements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ChoppyParticipant]

 So what you propose is like a MLB type of minor league scenario? I actually think that would work too. I just think these young athletes need more options than the flawed NCAA. 

[ChewyParticipant]

 for Ferguson. Went over for a year then was a 1st rd pick. The fact that A) the league is making an effort to get these guys and B) english speaking country-less of a culture shock- should make this an attractive offer.

[ChewyParticipant]

 would want to stay state side and play for the G League, even for slightly less money. Thing is, would the NBA really want to fork over money to these kids when they already have a babysitter in the NCAA that does it for them. These top guys are going to get to the NBA eventually, so what incentive is there for the NBA to put in more effort and money to get them earlier?

The key NBA question for me is, what does the NBA value more; 1. Getting top HS talent into their G League to make it more exciting (and potentially more profitable) or 2. saving money?

 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

When Brandon Jennings went to Rome, there seemed to be a model that they wanted to forge. The player would get a reasonable salary plus early sneaker money. The team would sign him for a few years with the expectation that the NBA team that drafted him would buy it out after one. For the one player, it seemed as though it worked for everyone. At that age, Jennings wasn’t as good as the Roman team probably hoped, but it was a more or less successful experiment. Then came Jeremy Tyler. He didn’t last a year. The team didn’t get a buyout. He never got drafted. It was just a loser on all ends. This kind of move is always going to be a gamble for all involved. Australia would probably be an easier place for Americans because of the common language, but that isn’t the only barrier. It is still a jump in class. Was the production Ferguson gave the Adelaide 36ers worth it on their end? The hit rate for top recruits going to college is not perfect, and this is another step. It is still a different culture where the players will be on the other side of the world from everyone they have ever known. If the NBL has enough financial backing to try it, knowing it might not work for them, then good luck to them. Players have the right to choose where they want to go, whether it is college, the NBDL, or abroad. My hesitancy stems from the fact that I wish the players who have tried to forge a new path since the 19-year old rule was implemented had more success once they get to the NBA.

[HitsterParticipant]

 Festar’s ideas are good ones. I’ve suggested that guys can declare when they leave HS but they either have to "redshirt" for a year and possibly only play G-League and/or the 4 year rookie deal becomes a 5 year one for these players. Say 20% of money from what would normally be years one and two is used to create the new year one and these players get that money less in years two and three.

My query about these proposals would be about guys who are older when they graduate HS, would they still be treated the same as guys who have just turned 18.

 

[khoss76Participant]

 is the fact that  the new Australian league rule doesn’t put as much pressure on the prospects than, for exemple, playing in a regular European team where immediate results are expecting from an American player (remember Brandon Jennings ‘experience). 

http://www.weballin.net/

 

 

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