>^^^ honestly, with Silver investing a lot more money into the
>D-League-- now called the G-League, thanks to a Gatorade
>sponsorship--

I had no idea, and so laughed. Out loud, even.

>I'm wondering if this is the direction the NBA
>is considering going in. We're seeing more and more young
>second-round and undrafted talent end up in NBA uniforms
>because the league clearly values youth... so it makes sense
>that they want even *more* young players and/or marginally
>talented vets at their disposal by cranking up the worth of
>their minor league.

The affiliate system has been marvelous for baseball, for the reasons that I assumed (just for the sake of argument, not because I actually know) would also translate somewhat to the NBA. Though baseball turning to that project when it did (decades before there was a draft to evenly distribute talent) probably made the undertaking a bit easier.

>I also wonder if they're prepping themselves for a big turn of
>the tide. If the NBA thinks the NCAA's refusal to allow
>student-athletes to generate money will result in even more
>underclassmen declaring every year-- and the number has
>increased annually, setting a new record every year the last
>six or seven years, if memory serves-- then they need to brace
>themselves for when the NCAA pushes back so hard that 18 year
>olds just say "fuck it, this isn't worth it."
>
>AND HERE'S MY FAVORITE LITTLE BIT OF TRIVIA THAT COULD MAKE A
>HUGE DIFFERENCE: right now, 18-year-olds ***are eligible to be
>drafted into the Developmental League.*** They just can't be
>called up to the pros until age 19. So if Silver is raising
>salaries and promoting this G-League more, maybe it's his way
>of attempting to lure some elite prospects to head to the
>G-League right away, start earning money, start developing
>relationships with people in the pros... while simultaneously
>meeting the chickenshit GMs halfway and not permitting those
>18-year-olds to be called up for full rookie deals yet...
>while also simultaneously intensifying the spotlight
>on/improving the potential profitability of the G-League.

This is fascinating. I have nothing to add except that it was practical with exactly the right twist of conspiratorial. And it cushions the blow a bit if the NCAA is indeed regarded as a partner to some degree. The NBA can prepare for the system to warp and break but they don't have to fully fuck with their partner-organization's money.

>(I also wonder if they're scared about TV revenue and its
>impact on their overhead as that entire landscape changes. I
>haven't thought through all of the effect that would have on
>the sport, though. It's just another monster looming on the
>horizon, and, like most corporations seeing volatility
>potentially coming down the pipeline, instead of taking a risk
>to try to adapt, they're holding firm and refusing to change
>anything until the spectre of bankruptcy forces them at
>gunpoint to do so.)

So, I've got nothing to add on to much of what you wrote since I don't really know what I'm talking about. Which means all you really get is a genuine "thanks!" because that was extremely informative. But this part resonates particularly as a big caution against what I was trying to say. Fans will put up with a lot, but bad in-game aesthetics and competitive predictability are real landmines when these leagues are making such a huge amount of their money from TV.

Anyhow, thanks.

______________________________

"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"

--Walleye's Dad