[pe3ucTopParticipant]

I have a question about international players. Are international players allowed to sign contracts with NBA teams without going through the draft? Can a 19 year old sign a contract with a team directly into the NBA without declaring for the draft and going through the process? In general, what are the rules governing that part of the process? I know that older players(I think after 22 can), like Papanikolaou did this year with the Rockets and Ingles with the Clippers, but what about younger players?

What about US players, can they sign without entering the draft?

Thanks in advance for the info.

[Kinguy11Participant]

International players can declare for the draft as long as they’re 19 by the end of that draft’s calendar year (ex: if you enter the 2014 draft you can be 18, but you must turn 19 by the end of the year).  If an international player is 22 by the end of a draft’s calendar year, they are automatically eligible.  This means that an international player under 22 can only sign freely with an NBA team if they declared for a previous draft and went undrafted.

With regards to the examples you put,  Papanikolaou was selected in the second round of the 2012, then his draft rights were later traded to the Houston Rockets.  So he was selected in the draft.  Joe Ingles went undrafted when he was eligible and thus is able to be sign with whatever team he wants to.

On the other hand, a guy like Mario Hezonja – who is under 22 and hasn’t yet declared for a draft – is not able to sign with an NBA team until he enters a draft, either voluntarily or via being automatically eligible because he’s over 22.

Americans are constrained by the same rules, in addition to having to be one year removed from high school.  So they can’t sign without entering the draft either.

Hope this helps!

 

 

 

 

 

[Kinguy11Participant]

International players can declare for the draft as long as they’re 19 by the end of that draft’s calendar year (ex: if you enter the 2014 draft you can be 18, but you must turn 19 by the end of the year).  If an international player is 22 by the end of a draft’s calendar year, they are automatically eligible.  This means that an international player under 22 can only sign freely with an NBA team if they declared for a previous draft and went undrafted.

With regards to the examples you put,  Papanikolaou was selected in the second round of the 2012, then his draft rights were later traded to the Houston Rockets.  So he was selected in the draft.  Joe Ingles went undrafted when he was eligible and thus is able to be sign with whatever team he wants to.

On the other hand, a guy like Mario Hezonja – who is under 22 and hasn’t yet declared for a draft – is not able to sign with an NBA team until he enters a draft, either voluntarily or via being automatically eligible because he’s over 22.

Americans are constrained by the same rules, in addition to having to be one year removed from high school.  So they can’t sign without entering the draft either.

Hope this helps!

 

 

 

 

 

[pe3ucTopParticipant]

Thanks, man.

[pe3ucTopParticipant]

Thanks, man.

[Author]

Posts