Bargining agreement close to being met... NEW AGE LIMIT!

[Indy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2091116

What do you guys think of this?

[[L3]1101]

i have no problem with it. I've always thought that players should go through at least a year in college. Not only it gives them more experience, but going to college is an great experience; whether it's the frat parties or studying til the last min of the final exam, it's once in a life time experience. Especially when these guys are offered at some of the best colleges in the States. The average career of an NBA player is only a couple of years, so they might wanna learn something they can use for life after the NBA in college. High school graduates going into NBA are missing a lot of things. They might not be mature enough to deal with some of the pressures in the NBA.

[J@3]

I don't like the age limit but the rest of it sounds alright. The rookie contracts only being guaranteed for 2 years, with team options for 3 and 4 is another good one I think.

I've always thought that players should go through at least a year in college. Not only it gives them more experience, but going to college is an great experience; whether it's the frat parties or studying til the last min of the final exam, it's once in a life time experience. Especially when these guys are offered at some of the best colleges in the States.

What if they don't want to go to college?

[Colin]

I like it, keeps the league going. So a from Colin.

[zmac]

While this is great news for the NBA that there wont be a lockout, I dont like the age limit rule. In fact i think it sucks. Its the players choice to go straight into the NBA or go to college, not the NBA's choice.
I think it doesnt make a difference whether they skip college or not.
Although the experience might be good, so what if the player dont want to go then why should he be forced?

[J@3]

Some people say it's good to get a full college education in case basketball doesn't work out etc... but a first round pick will give you a guaranteed $800,000+ a season.. even as high as like $3.8 million a year or something along those lines. Even if the guy's a complete bust, that sets him up for life provided he's smart with his money. It's more then he'd ever make from whatever job his college education gets him.

[COOLmac©]

good point.but we dont want to see a 14 year old playing in the nba now don't we....i guess the age limit is a little okay too

[Riot]

We did have an age limit, it was you had to be 18 for a foreign player and you have to have a high school degree for american players. They are just adding a year to that.

While I agree they shouldn't tell you if you should go to college or not I think it's a good idea. The NFL does two years and they seem to be doing pretty well. And you don't HAVE to go to college, you could just work out and do nothing for a year then enter.

[J@3]

I think if someone did nothing and just worked out his stock would drop dramatically... to be honest I think the age limit will be good for the quality of the league itself, but for the individuals I don't know if it'll be as good.

[Andrew]

I thought the current age limit rules were fair enough, the decision to take a raw high schooler and having the plan backfire falling upon the heads of the team's front office. 19's not so bad though as it won't disqualify all players who elect to skip college from entering the draft, though we won't be seeing any more LeBrons, Kobes, or KGs.

I don't really have much to say about the other important issues, except it doesn't look like any poor decisions have been made. Really good news that a lockout is once again even less likely than it seemed earlier this season.

[[L3]1101]

Some people say it's good to get a full college education in case basketball doesn't work out etc... but a first round pick will give you a guaranteed $800,000+ a season.. even as high as like $3.8 million a year or something along those lines. Even if the guy's a complete bust, that sets him up for life provided he's smart with his money. It's more then he'd ever make from whatever job his college education gets him.

That is true. But with the images "rappers" and rich NBA players like Shaq driving their Bentleys and Ferrari's with big mansions and huge diamonds, i won't be surprised to see these players finish using their money in a few years. Besides, highschool kids don't have much sense in spending money. They've always lived with their parents, and got allowences from their parents, i don't really think most of them have any sense of how large that much is, and how quickly it can disappear if they are not smart with it. But as everyone is saying, i dont think the age limit is a huge issue.

[J@3]

But with the images "rappers" and rich NBA players like Shaq driving their Bentleys and Ferrari's with big mansions and huge diamonds, i won't be surprised to see these players finish using their money in a few years.

That's a good point, I remember reading that Gilbert Arenas used the minimal money he got after being drafted in the 2nd round on some big car with TV's in it. And that guy went to college

Besides, highschool kids don't have much sense in spending money. They've always lived with their parents, and got allowences from their parents, i don't really think most of them have any sense of how large that much is, and how quickly it can disappear if they are not smart with it

Depends on the person really. I moved out of home and lived independantly in a different state when I was 18 with very few financial problems. I guess when you weigh it up, the pros and cons of the age limit probably cancel each other out anyways.

[j.23]

looks like little OJ Mayo is going to college

[zmac]

though we won't be seeing any more LeBrons, Kobes, or KGs.

Yeh we could. Someone could be coming out of high school and turn 19 before the draft begins.

[cklitsie]

looks like little OJ Mayo is going to college

Well actually he and his teammate Bill Walker both repeated a year in high school so they'll be 19 when they've finished it.

[The X]

you'll probably see quite a few prospects go to prep schools like Mout Zion (T-Mac's school) when they are 18 if they can't qualify academically for college....

[J@3]

though we won't be seeing any more LeBrons, Kobes, or KGs.

Yeh we could. Someone could be coming out of high school and turn 19 before the draft begins.

I think Gerald Green is 19. It also brings up the concept, how many high schoolers might repeat a year to be able to go to the NBA straight from high school? If it'll work for Mayo I can't see why it wouldn't be worth a shot to someone who really doesn't want to go to college.

[Blue Nugget]

Well,Arenas got a sweet 10 Million contract now so he can buy all the cars he wants.

[The X]

though we won't be seeing any more LeBrons, Kobes, or KGs.

Yeh we could. Someone could be coming out of high school and turn 19 before the draft begins.

I think Gerald Green is 19. It also brings up the concept, how many high schoolers might repeat a year to be able to go to the NBA straight from high school? If it'll work for Mayo I can't see why it wouldn't be worth a shot to someone who really doesn't want to go to college.

yep, it makes a lot of sense....why struggle in a restricted college environment, when you can spend an extra year absolutely dominating the high school scene and All-Star games....I think it will definitely happen....

[Old School Fool]

So you have to be 19 to hit the NBA?

That's cool. I'm Cool. If it was 22 or something, I'd be pissed off and call the NBA alot of fucking cursewords like the fucking ones you fucking here motherfucker weiner.

[Fresh8]

no.. u have to be at least 19 to hit the NBA!

It's good, means better seasoned NBA rookies, and vets wont be losing game time to younger legs!

Did i mention.. college basketabll will be revived? Cause face it, College ball really lost a lot of incoming talent with the sudden jump from HS to pros!

[GloveGuy]

We're still gonna have 19 year olds with bad fundamentals declaring early.

Does the NBA really think that they'll go pull a Carmelo and attend college for a year. Please. This will just increase the number of PG year enrollments at places like Oak Hill or Hargrave.

[maes]

Er...some of us consider the college drinking and partying a _negative_ experience, not positive. Trying to be serious about your future while thousands of people are barfing up cheap beer all around you?

I had a friend who completed his bachelor's at 17, went to work for DOW chemicals at 18 while working on his post-grad degrees at the same time. What's so horrible about that?

Guys like LeBron and KG are the equivalent of geniuses in basketball, i see little reason to keep them down.

I suspect the age limit is there more for the average kid, and it will be a pain for the superstars but they are by far the minority case in the world.

This will just increase the number of PG year enrollments at places like Oak Hill or Hargrave.

Since those schools are deadly serious about basketball and likely to give a kid good training, facilities, and real life advice about the NBA...that's probably a good thing.

If a kid knows he's only going to college for a year, is he really going to squeeze a 4 year engineering degree out of that year...or is he going to party it up and possible destroy his career?

[GloveGuy]

Did i mention.. college basketabll will be revived? Cause face it, College ball really lost a lot of incoming talent with the sudden jump from HS to pros!

Revived? I already preferred it over the NBA and all this age limit does is increase the number of Carmelo Anthonys, Luol Dengs, or Chris Boshs -- one-and-done guys.

This also complicates recruiting because with 19, recruiters have to figure out if the player they're picking up is only spending a year there and then bolting or if they're actually there to attain a degree. It's certainly more difficult than if a player never arrives, therefore, he won't affect the following class as much.

[galvatron3000]

I am glad the lock out is being aborted. I am partially for the age limit, though I prefer 20, and partially against.
David Stern's job is to protect the integrity of the NBA and the quality of the product being showcased on the court. I like the age limit because the more talented players that opt to go to college push the lesser/undeveloped talent back a year or two. Meaning, if the most talented players play only one year then someone who is not quite developed and needs more time will get to stay an extra year atleast due to the lack of playing time or exposure for the scouts. Now that player has stayed atleast two years and is learning more about the game of basketball, gaining some experience he would miss out on if he left early and is getting more mature. Also if a talented player is not NBA ready(or scouts are not as interested due to their college year performance) then teams can find out by having scouts observe how these players perform under pressure, seeing their work ethic and gathering info about these kids that the couldn't get while the kids was in high school. This is just a theory and not necessarily accurate.

Now as far as being against the age limits, I think teams should just stay away from high schools period. Keep the scouts out of the HS and just stop drafting unproven HS players. Since KG every team seem to hope to luck up on another one and can't seem to resist the temptation to draft one. Last years draft included far too many HS students. If you are going to take that chance then do it in the second round not the first. But, it falls on the teams and it's their fault if they draft these guys with these guaranteed contracts and then lose out for 3 years.

I had more to say but I lost my thoughts. I'm just glad the season will go on for atleast 6 more years.