2011 draft. Article backing up my opinion of players staying in college

The 2011 Draft and A Lockout:  There is almost no doubt that a work stoppage in the NBA is coming next summer. However July 1st 2011 is the earliest that is likely to happen, meaning there will be a NBA Draft prior to a lockout.

HOOPSWORLD’s TOP TEN IN 2011

1. Harrison Barnes  SG/SF 6’8″; 210 lbs.
2. Jan Vesely  SF 6’11”; 240 lbs.
3. Donatas Motiejunas  PF/C 7’0″; 215 lbs.
4. Perry Jones  PF 6’11”; 220 lbs.
5. Kemba Walker  PG  6’0″; 180 lbs.
6. Jared Sullinger  PF 6’8″; 250 lbs.
7. Jeff Taylor  SF 6’6″; 200 lbs.
8. Jonas Valanciunas  PF/C 6’10”; 230 lbs.
9. Josh Selby  SG 6’1″; 180 lbs.
10. Nolan Smith  PG/SG 6’3″; 185 lbs.
So what does that really mean?

It means that whatever players put their name in the draft, are doing so knowing that they may not sign a contract, receive NBA signing bonus money or participate in Summer League.

It also means endorsement dollars may be harder to come by as most sports brands are not going to invest big dollars in players that won’t play for up to a year.

In short there will be no pay checks until a labor agreement is reached. And once that lockout line is crossed no one knows how long it will take to reach a deal, especially with the NBA fighting for radical changes in the labor system.

North Carolina freshman Harrison Barnes is pegged as the top prospect in the 2011 NBA Draft class and he’ll be faced with a tough decision this year. There is a strong chance he could go number 1 overall and not play for a full year.

Will it be smarter for players to stay in school, continue to work with their college teams or risk jumping into the pool and have to swim on your own for up to a year?

In most cases agents fund a player’s first summer. They cover the costs of Pre-Draft training and housing and make sure the players have everything they need until they are signed by their teams.

Someone like Barnes likely won’t miss a meal if he opts to come out after a year at UNC, as agents will climb over themselves to sign the top pick.

Players much lower on the totem pole may find fewer agents interested in signing them, mainly because of how long an agent may have to fund them.

There will be more at risk in the 2011 NBA Draft process, and don’t be surprised if some notable players opt for the known security of their college program rather than risk being drafted and left in limbo while the NBA works out a labor deal.

There will be a NBA Draft in June of 2011, it just might not contain as many of the star level names as some are projecting, especially if it looks like a prolonged labor fight is on deck after the draft.

There will be 60 players drafted in June; it just might not be the best 60 players the NCAA and International basketball have to offer.-Steve Kyler