Silver's New Age Limit Rule: 3 Years In College But Increase D-League Pay

[Darryl]

If they do this will it hurt college basketball? Will the elite guys go D-league if the salary is high enough?

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...ying-d-league/

Darryl

[GhettoBird]

This has concerned me. The NBA does not care about College basketball, all they care about is their product. This is why I think is continually preaching that the 2 year rule promotes education, even down to when the kids are in 9th grade.

[elicat]

I don't object. The downside obviously is that it will eliminate most of the Anthony Davises and John Walls from the college game. It will put a premium on recruiting skill and sideline coaching in college. So a coach like Cal is going to get more than his share of the kids that can fall either way, while everyone still is working from the same competitive starting point.

Just tell Cal (and hopefully future UK coaches) what the rules are, and he'll be the best recruiter in the game under those rules.

[Philly Cat]

I think you may lose the John Walls and LeBrons -- the sure things -- but the vast majority of kids would benefit from the marketing advantages of the NCAA. Lots of TV exposure; lots of good coaching and physical development; and, not for nothing, being treated like gods on campus for 3 years. I'm not sure they'll be able to increase the D-League pay enough -- without a major TV contract, which seems unlikely -- to offset those other advantages for the vast majority of even highly ranked recruits.

[Darrell KSR]

I guess it depends.

My son was a full-time college student last year, and made $18,500 working part-time at his fairly menial job. That's about what D-League basketball players make now.

What are they planning to increase the salary to? $50,000? $100,000? More?

If it's significant, like hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, yeah, I think some would look at it, and say, "I can't afford to throw away a million dollars (if it's $333,333 per year)."

If it's $50,000-100,000 per year, you'll still get some that can delay immediate gratification for a free education, good shot at a college degree. Millions of people do that every year in non-NBA jobs (certainly, proportionate to the salary they'd earn).

It probably is the right thing to do, but selfishly, I'd miss the players that would go do it. And yes, it would have an impact on education **very** early, prior to reaching college age, as some 14-year olds would see their future being a good salary in D-League before the NBA. And of course, many of them would not be able to make that when they become 18-year olds. So there will be unintended consequences.

[Genuine Realist]

I don't think the D-League is ever going to be an alternative. As Cal says in his book, it's not really a developmental league, more of a taxi squad, and populated by grown men and a lousy life style. You live better in college, do more development, and the pay is lousy.

But I don't like a three year rule either. Going in the wrong direction.

[Genuine Realist]

And by the way, in my opinion, this is a pure stalking horse.

The owners will not like the increased expense.

The players will not like the three years.

Guess at the compromise.

[GhettoBird]

And by the way, in my opinion, this is a pure stalking horse.

The owners will not like the increased expense.

The players will not like the three years.

Guess at the compromise.

Very good point.

[Darrell KSR]

Great observation, GR. I think you're dead on here.

And by the way, in my opinion, this is a pure stalking horse.

The owners will not like the increased expense.

The players will not like the three years.

Guess at the compromise.

[StuBleedsBlue2]

And by the way, in my opinion, this is a pure stalking horse.

The owners will not like the increased expense.

The players will not like the three years.

Guess at the compromise.

I totally agree with this. You don't start a negotiation with what your goal is. I don't think the players will have any interest in the D League improving, so settling on a 2 year rule, which has zero negative impact on players today, will be a perfect compromise.

[kybobcat]

It doesn't make any difference what the owners OR players want.

The agents are the group driving this agenda. As long as the players mindlessly follow their advice, nothing will change.

[KeithKSR]

Silver asks for three to get two. The increase in D League pay will not be significant enough to prevent kids from going to college for two years to cash in on the D League. The kids who will head to the D League are the same kids who will now declare for the draft and hope they are a second round pick.

[CitizenBBN]

And by the way, in my opinion, this is a pure stalking horse.

The owners will not like the increased expense.

The players will not like the three years.

Guess at the compromise.

Absolutely. This is just an opening position for the negotiation to get where he wants to get. the only way to raise the salaries of the NBDL is to bleed money from the owners, the NBA players or make those teams make money by drawing fans, none of which seems very likely.

[CatQuick]

And by the way, in my opinion, this is a pure stalking horse.

The owners will not like the increased expense.

The players will not like the three years.

Guess at the compromise.

Agree with others this is a valid viewpoint. Silver is still something of an unknown, but for some reason I believe he will get his 2 years at the end of the day.

[ShoesSwayedBlue]

The two year version Would just cull out the kids who have no interest in teamwork or any kind of education. Cal doesn't go after those kids anyway. Would love it.