Kentucky to enter NBA draft...

[DJH]

Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Patterson, and Daniel Orton's 3 ppg, all enter the draft.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2010 ... id=5064967

[dbackjon]

Now they can make money without having to hide it.

[BlueHen86]

This is one of the things that I think Duke does really well. Krzyzewski does a great job recruiting great college players. Guys who will play at a high level, but will stay for 4 years because they aren't NBA ready out of high school.

Calipari went out and got the best high school players available, but he only got them for one year, now he has to rebuild all over again.

Of course, some of these guys can change their minds and come back to Kentucky, but I'm pretty sure that Wall and Cousins are gone.

[Shellin]

This, to me at least, is exactly why the "One and Done" rule in college basketball is terrible. Even though by all accounts John Wall was an above average student guys like Calipari are just going to exploit this system and it isn't good for the majority of players. Next year Kentucky will have a few more 1 and done guys that they'll just plug in, and if a player knows they are going to the NBA there is absolutely nothing to motivate them in going to class for the second semester. This isn't a slam on Coach Cal (I know a lot of other coaches use 1 and done guys excessively), but on the NCAA/NBA for having this rule. If they want something like this at least force the kid to go to school for two years so that the "student" part of college athlete isn't being completely ignored. In my opinion they should just go back to letting kids go to the NBA straight out of high school. Certainly some kids will make stupid decisions, I would rather have that than teams that have turnover like Kentucky is having this year.

[AZGrizFan]

This, to me at least, is exactly why the "One and Done" rule in college basketball is terrible. Even though by all accounts John Wall was an above average student guys like Calipari are just going to exploit this system and it isn't good for the majority of players. Next year Kentucky will have a few more 1 and done guys that they'll just plug in, and if a player knows they are going to the NBA there is absolutely nothing to motivate them in going to class for the second semester. This isn't a slam on Coach Cal (I know a lot of other coaches use 1 and done guys excessively), but on the NCAA/NBA for having this rule. If they want something like this at least force the kid to go to school for two years so that the "student" part of college athlete isn't being completely ignored. In my opinion they should just go back to letting kids go to the NBA straight out of high school. Certainly some kids will make stupid decisions, I would rather have that than teams that have turnover like Kentucky is having this year.

Agreed 100%. Besides, this philosophy rarely (if ever) works. I can only think of one (Carmelo @ Syracuse)....

[clenz]

Agreed with shellin.

I would like to see a rule similar to what baseball has, or at least I think they have. Allow them to go pro right out of high school, however, if they go to college they are there for three years.

[BlueHen86]

Agreed with shellin.

I would like to see a rule similar to what baseball has, or at least I think they have. Allow them to go pro right out of high school, however, if they go to college they are there for three years.

I think the problem with that is that players can opt to go to Europe instead of college. Some players have already taken that route.

I don't see what schools can do to fix this problem other than not recruit great players; which is a crappy solution. I think the NBA needs to come up something, it's in the NBA's best interest to have players players play in college first. I don't know how long a player has to play in the NBA in order to become a free agent, but maybe the NBA could count 2 or 3 years of college toward that time.

Perhaps a salary cap on young players, with the cap rising substantially with every year of college ball played. If guys coming out of high school could only make the NBA minimum as a rookie their incentive to go right to the NBA would be diminshed.

[ASUMountaineer]

Agreed with shellin.

I would like to see a rule similar to what baseball has, or at least I think they have. Allow them to go pro right out of high school, however, if they go to college they are there for three years.

I think the problem with that is that players can opt to go to Europe instead of college. Some players have already taken that route.

I don't see what schools can do to fix this problem other than not recruit great players; which is a crappy solution. I think the NBA needs to come up something, it's in the NBA's best interest to have players players play in college first. I don't know how long a player has to play in the NBA in order to become a free agent, but maybe the NBA could count 2 or 3 years of college toward that time.

Perhaps a salary cap on young players, with the cap rising substantially with every year of college ball played. If guys coming out of high school could only make the NBA minimum as a rookie their incentive to go right to the NBA would be diminshed.

See, I think that would make them want to go to the NBA more to get the rookie year minimum out of the way. Let's face it, this is only a problem for a small amount of schools--the big ones. You don't hear of many basketball players leaving mid-major schools after one season...not even many BCS schools. I don't think it's an epidemic or anything, but I do think the NBA needs to get rid of the one year rule, or make it like the NFL's three year rule.

[clenz]

Agreed with shellin.

I would like to see a rule similar to what baseball has, or at least I think they have. Allow them to go pro right out of high school, however, if they go to college they are there for three years.

I think the problem with that is that players can opt to go to Europe instead of college. Some players have already taken that route.

I don't see what schools can do to fix this problem other than not recruit great players; which is a crappy solution. I think the NBA needs to come up something, it's in the NBA's best interest to have players players play in college first. I don't know how long a player has to play in the NBA in order to become a free agent, but maybe the NBA could count 2 or 3 years of college toward that time.

Perhaps a salary cap on young players, with the cap rising substantially with every year of college ball played. If guys coming out of high school could only make the NBA minimum as a rookie their incentive to go right to the NBA would be diminshed.

Why would players have to go to Europe instead of college or the pros?

I'm saying give the kids the chance to enter the draft our of high school if they really want. However, if they decide to go to college put a rule in that states you must be there for three years, a side rule to that could be or three years out of high school like college football. That would give them the chance to play in Europe if they wish.


I believe the average rookie contract is between 3-4 years, I think they can only go up to 6.


I don't think that they could work the NCAA game as a "using up time to be a free agent in the NBA"...they are two separate bodies.

[tampajag]

Now they can make money without having to hide it.

I think you mean hiding how they got it, because most guys never hide the loot they get.

[BlueHen86]

I think the problem with that is that players can opt to go to Europe instead of college. Some players have already taken that route.

I don't see what schools can do to fix this problem other than not recruit great players; which is a crappy solution. I think the NBA needs to come up something, it's in the NBA's best interest to have players players play in college first. I don't know how long a player has to play in the NBA in order to become a free agent, but maybe the NBA could count 2 or 3 years of college toward that time.

Perhaps a salary cap on young players, with the cap rising substantially with every year of college ball played. If guys coming out of high school could only make the NBA minimum as a rookie their incentive to go right to the NBA would be diminshed.

See, I think that would make them want to go to the NBA more to get the rookie year minimum out of the way. Let's face it, this is only a problem for a small amount of schools--the big ones. You don't hear of many basketball players leaving mid-major schools after one season...not even many BCS schools. I don't think it's an epidemic or anything, but I do think the NBA needs to get rid of the one year rule, or make it like the NFL's three year rule.

What I'm suggesting is that that time spent in college count toward the rookie of the year minimum. For example, a guy who plays 3 years of college could get paid as much as a guy who came right out of high school and has 3 years experience in the NBA.

[Col Hogan]

Baseball, hockey and soccer draft players right out of high school...and people don't seem to have an issue with that...but those three sports also send those young players to developmental or minor league teams...

Basketball and football are the only sports that insist you either "go to college" or be so many years past high school graduation...colleges for the most part are their developmental leagues...

I understand football...because of physical size and maturity issues...but why basketball...

If a kid is good enough to play pro ball out of high school, and a team is willing to take a chance on this untested talent...why not...

There have been more busts from high schoolers being drafted than success stories...but that's a risk the teams take going for untested talent...

[BlueHen86]

Baseball, hockey and soccer draft players right out of high school...and people don't seem to have an issue with that...but those three sports also send those young players to developmental or minor league teams...

Basketball and football are the only sports that insist you either "go to college" or be so many years past high school graduation...colleges for the most part are their developmental leagues...

I understand football...because of physical size and maturity issues...but why basketball...

If a kid is good enough to play pro ball out of high school, and a team is willing to take a chance on this untested talent...why not...

There have been more busts from high schoolers being drafted than success stories...but that's a risk the teams take going for untested talent...

It's also a risk to the kid, who losses his college eligibilty once he goes pro.

I agree with your post though. While I think it's in the best interest for the NBA and the NCAA to have kids play in college first, it's not that big a deal if they don't.

[ASUMountaineer]

See, I think that would make them want to go to the NBA more to get the rookie year minimum out of the way. Let's face it, this is only a problem for a small amount of schools--the big ones. You don't hear of many basketball players leaving mid-major schools after one season...not even many BCS schools. I don't think it's an epidemic or anything, but I do think the NBA needs to get rid of the one year rule, or make it like the NFL's three year rule.

What I'm suggesting is that that time spent in college count toward the rookie of the year minimum. For example, a guy who plays 3 years of college could get paid as much as a guy who came right out of high school and has 3 years experience in the NBA.

I see, and I gotcha now. Interesting. Could that bring into question the "amateur" status of college athletes? Would NBA teams be able to sign a player as a freshman, if they have to pay based on the rookie minimum already being completed? The NBA teams would be paying a bigger contract to a player that has never contributed to the team (like a player who came right out of HS has). Would NBA teams be able to negotiate with players while in college?

[Skjellyfetti]

They should require a bachelor's degree or 21 years old for the NBA and NFL.

[BlueHen86]

What I'm suggesting is that that time spent in college count toward the rookie of the year minimum. For example, a guy who plays 3 years of college could get paid as much as a guy who came right out of high school and has 3 years experience in the NBA.

I see, and I gotcha now. Interesting. Could that bring into question the "amateur" status of college athletes? Would NBA teams be able to sign a player as a freshman, if they have to pay based on the rookie minimum already being completed? The NBA teams would be paying a bigger contract to a player that has never contributed to the team (like a player who came right out of HS has). Would NBA teams be able to negotiate with players while in college?

My thinking is that everything would be the same as it is now, except that when they finally do reach the NBA any years spent playing in college are treated as if they were in the NBA. It's actually not that different from getting a Land Surveyors license in PA. To apply for the license you need 10 years experience, or 4 years experience if you have a college degree in a related field.

[ASUMountaineer]

I see, and I gotcha now. Interesting. Could that bring into question the "amateur" status of college athletes? Would NBA teams be able to sign a player as a freshman, if they have to pay based on the rookie minimum already being completed? The NBA teams would be paying a bigger contract to a player that has never contributed to the team (like a player who came right out of HS has). Would NBA teams be able to negotiate with players while in college?

My thinking is that everything would be the same as it is now, except that when they finally do reach the NBA any years spent playing in college are treated as if they were in the NBA. It's actually not that different from getting a Land Surveyors license in PA. To apply for the license you need 10 years experience, or 4 years experience if you have a college degree in a related field.

Yeah, from a team's perspective, I wouldn't like it. I would not want to have to pay someone as if they have made three years of contribution to my team, but they haven't. From a players point of view, I don't think it would change much. You'll have some who want to get paid for those three years, even if it's a lower amount--and some who will wait to get paid.

[putter]

I would love to see Calipari and UK have a UNC season next year. At least that puts pressure on the coach to build the program up and try to convince kids to stay longer than one year.