"The NBA G League today announced a Select Contract as part of a comprehensive professional path that will be available, beginning with the 2019-20 season, to elite prospects who are eligible to play in the NBA G League but not yet eligible for the NBA. The contracts, which will include robust programmatic opportunities for development, are for elite players who are at least 18 years old and will pay $125,000 for the five-month season."
6. "2022 is the next time they can possibly change that" In response to Reply # 4
i actually think this a better way to go than letting kids go straight to the NBA from HS. for every LeBron, Kobe and Garnett out there, it's way more kids that have no business being in the NBA. they should totally be able to turn pro though and this is a good way to do it.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Thu Oct-18-18 04:39 PM
8. "This is verifiably not true." In response to Reply # 6
>for every LeBron, Kobe and >Garnett out there, it's way more kids that have no business >being in the NBA.
Out of the kids who went straight from HS to the NBA Draft, the majority of them actually had above-average length, multiple-contract careers. The overwhelming majority of HS players *aren't* going to go straight to the pros unless they truly believe they can hang from Day 1, and a few of them didn't play up to their draft position, but the lion's share found sustained careers.
Besides, there are a ton of college basketball stars that wash out early in the NBA too. Nothing is proven, if you're 18 or if you're 23.
11. "if the criteria is just hanging around the league, then ok" In response to Reply # 8
i still say the G League option is a win-win for everyone. just about every other sport has some sort of minor league so i'm not opposed the NBA trying to make it work for them.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Thu Oct-18-18 04:48 PM
9. "Prediction: this will have minimal immediate impact on the NCAA. " In response to Reply # 0
Sure, there'll be an elite prospect or two who may go this route due to academic eligibility questions and/or dire familial need of a 125k paycheck (65kish after taxes). But if kids aren't going overseas for half-mil to mil-plus contracts, they aren't going to Des Moines or Sioux Falls, taking buses across America, for 125.
The elite prospects will for the most part do what they've done the last several years of the OAD era-- go to a top-shelf college program for a year, use the elite resources/training facilities/private jets/etc, almost certainly get cash/gifts under the table from shoe companies/boosters/etc, become part of a recognizable college brand to increase their personal brand with countless TV games/ESPN segments/etc, and then bounce the second the season is over.
There are too many questions about the G-League, in terms of exposure, in terms of how the 18-year-olds will be treated by the teammates/staff of a team that knows they'll lose the kid next year/etc, in terms of which companies would give endorsements to a player a year in advance of their actual NBA marketability. I don't doubt the NBA can fix those questions...
... but by the time they do, they can also just, y'know, get rid of one-and-done entirely, as it never should've existed in the first place.
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