Say there's a rookie that is valued by several teams in the lottery, but he wants to go to a certain team that he probably won't fall to in the draft. Maybe he wants to go to a winning team, or a team he watched growing up and loves. I know it's a bad idea to not go in the first round and get the guaranteed contract, but does that player actually have a choice to not enter the draft, and sign with the team he wants to play for as a free agent? I'm guessing there's some rule that wont allow teams to actually negotiate something like this with the player, but what if the player did this on his own because he just wanted to play for his favorite team? Just wondering...
I was thinking this exact same thing earlier today, i really dont think there is a rule. Although it would make sense that those who entered the draft but went undrafted can do that, but i dont know about people who did not enter at all.
ah, that would make sense. i guess that rule would prevent players from joining up whatever team. it gives everyteam a chance to get the rights to the player, even if they won't sign with that team.
But when that happens they aren't guranteed a contract like the rest of the first rounders. If he is willing to take a risk on a guaranteed contract then that's his choice. But i doubt any team will give him a guaranteed contract if he signs as a free agent after the draft...unless there is some pre done deal in place.
For the NBA a player can't play in the league until he's been through the draft. Once a player turns 22 (I think this is the age) they are automatically entered, so they could not enter the draft up until that point to avoid a certain team. If they enter the draft and aren't drafted then they are free agents and can sign with anybody.
Yeah, I think you have to go through the draft process. When you are 22 you are in automatically. The only thing I can see is if a player like Lebron who was wanted by everyone just comes out and says that he wants to play for New York and New York only. Then I am guessing that teams would either trade his draft rights or just not draft him. Kinda like what franchise did.
The free agent part has been cleared. If no one drafts you, then you can talk to whatever team. Check. Ok, what if I was BigName Joe and I wanted to play only for my Rockets--true story, btw--and I spoke to the team Xyz that originally had my draft rights and said "Hey, I want to play for the Rockets, not you. I will NEVER be happy if I don't play for you." What can I do as a player to prevent team Xyz from having me play for them? EDIT: Did you answer that only, Samar, or is there more to it?
Also I believe once you are a certain age (25?) all draft rights expire and you can sign with whoever you want.
Well, Larry Bird was draft the year before he left college, so the Celts had the rights to him when he came out.(This is no longer allowed) As, far as a player wanting to go to a certain team, they can voice their opinion but if team X drafts them and says you're staying here even if you rot on the bench, then they're stuck. I guess if they just never sign a contract they may be able to this: In football you can wait a year and re-enter even if you have already been drafted. Rarely does someone want to sit out a year though.
If you don't want to play for the team that drafts you the only thing you can do is not sign and not get paid, like Jim Jackson did after being traded to New Orleans. Eventually they'll trade you or you just end up screwing yourself. I think most people would suffer through being on a bad team for a few years for the money though.
Wouldn't it be cool if like Bill Gates son or Trump's son could ball? I would love to see a player tell a team to go to hell and that they can't be controlled with their money. As it stands the teams really have a huge advantage. "I control ya millions boy..play and shut up."
So What if: Let's say . . Carmello. . does the one year in college says he is going back to college doesn't enter the draft Then . . 2 months after the drafts tries to walk on with the uhm . . The Lakers [or who ever the championship team is at that time] CAN HE DO THAT?? If not . .. why? Rocket River
Not possible. ARTICLE X: PLAYER ELIGIBILITY AND NBA DRAFT Section 1. Player Eligibility. (a) No player may sign a Contract or play in the NBA unless he has been eligible for selection in at least one (1) NBA Draft. No player shall be eligible for selection in more than two (2) NBA Drafts.............
Because he's not a free agent. And he can't become a free agent until he at least goes through the draft process. If he doesn't get drafted then can go where-ever he wants. If he does get drafted, then that team retains his rights as long as he plays pro ball somewhere. That's why teams can hold onto European draftees for years on end. If a guy gets drafted and doesn't like his team, if he can sits out an entire year without playing basketball for money, then he can re-enter the draft. David Robinson had this option since he entered the service for two years after he got drafted. I think you can do this twice, entering the draft and sitting out, and then you become a free agent. But who's going to go to the trouble of not playing basketball for money for two years when it's just so much easier to just play for the team that drafted you.
Technically you're an NBA free agent because you were automatically eligible at 22. So you're free to sign with any team that will have you. So work on that jumper, you never know.
Wow, I just learned some interesting new stuff that I've actuallly been wondering for the past couple of days. If only a player could sit out the draft and pick any team then maybe we could land Greg Oden....
What Kobe did was get a really good agent who told everyone he would only play for the Lakers. If not, he'd play in Italy. The Sixers almost pulled the trigger and risk Kobe bolting....
