Do you see the problem? Teams draft for potential instead of actually taking a player that's ready to make an impact. That same player would be a lot better if they had spend a few years in the NCAA, overseas or NBDL. So, your last part about "forcing teams to pay." Is besides the point. The owners are in a dilemma. They have to take the *best* player, but best is hidden under a veil of potential. And I'm not talking about sure things. I'm just saying that this tendency to pick players purey on potential (because they are sooo green) is too risky in my eyes. As opposed to potential and mature talent. When more teams pick on mature talent and potential (less risky), both parties win. The fans and the owners. The way it's been for the last 10 years for the fan, we have to wait 3-4 years before that player matures even if they aren't busts. For owners, they have to risk a bust and firing of coaches for not "mentoring" these young unprepared kids to play the game. The game suffers and the fans do to; relatively speaking. I'd rather they stay out of the NBA until they are more ready.
I guess its just really hard for me to understand that you're a fan of the NBA especially when you have a problem with the NBA producing so many black stars and where young men become worldwide stars and rich beyond his wildest dreams.. I know you don't have to explain to me.. but it does not mean I'm a fruit loop for asking.. I'm trying to discuss the topic on hand. and I won't go as far as attacking someones sanity if someone disagrees with me or asks a question I don't like..
again, this is about the TEAMs trying to draft for potential.. why does the NBA have to impose a restriction on the players? can't the TEAM see for themselves if someones ready or not? if a player didn't go through four years of college then they probably are not ready.. I'm pretty sure the teams understand that and if they're going to draft someone younger then its a risk they're willing to take..
There's always risk. That's a factor that can't be removed. There's always the freedom to pick whatever player you like too. Age restriction isn't an all out ban. It's just a delay. Just a couple years. The career path with the new crop of players that *are* available would have gone though some type of mentorship or training that those other players of the past (HS) wouldn't have gotten in the first place. This lays the conditions for the GM to pick their respective *potentials* a lot better. In fact, these young players would be less about potential, and more about *right now* because the GMs would be able to observe more mature skills and development progress in their draft prospects. I'm not saying this a cureall. It's just an small adjustment in order to improve the quality of the league as a whole. Having players that are *more* ready helps everyone as opposed to just letting GMs pick what they consider potential at a higher risks. The GMs are only reacting to the conditions of what the state of the league is in. Why not lessen that risk a bit, and help the GMs AND fans along the way? I don't think this is unreasonable. This isn't the only thing that can be done. Maybe there can be an incentive for the NBDL or NCAA (contracts). *Cash money* seems to be the motivating factor. Maybe these other avenues can be used as enablers for developing these kids, and at the same time appeasing their desired to make money. Two birds, one stone.
thanks I still don't completely agree to the necessity upping the limit but understand it from the NBA's side a little bit better... it looks NBA has to step in to protect the teams from their own greed..
i always enjoy it when certain individuals resort to childish antics when they have exhausted their intellectual capabilities. bravo!
I haven't read this thread (at least not since it was only one page), but I was just wondering, isn't it just as, if not more racist to pull the race card in this situation? By doing this, what is he saying?
The Ashlee Simpson article posted previous is poo for several reasons (I'm not the one that made the poo statement, but I certainly agree with it). The guy states that having an issue with a player getting paid more than he seemingly deserves must be race related because the outcry doesn't extend to other walks of life or even sports such as hockey or baseball. The difference between basketball and those other sports, however, is that they DO have a standard minor league system. And the idea that people don't get outraged at entertainers or people of other vocations for making exhorbitant amounts of money (more than they are worth, from our perspective) is hogwash. Everytime I think about how much more money Ashlee Simpson has than me it pisses me off because nothing she does makes her deserving of it. No one likes to think someone gets a free ride without working for it or without deserving it. That extends to everyone, not just black NBA players. And, at least from what I see, the majority of the angst that is expressed and anger that is vented towards these players doesn't come from casual fans who just observe the NBA for part time fun...it's from the hardcore fans that want their team to succeed more than anything. They get pissed off looking at a high school player sitting at the end of the bench, making millions of dollars and eating up their team's cap space. To me, that's not racism, that's fandom. To paint that instinct as anything otherwise is a reach, in my opinion.
So why not just have a standard minor league system for the NBA? So you're for putting age limits to other walks of life where people usually get a free ride without working for it or without deserving it? Like for singers and actors? So what you're saying is the fan's angry the HS player for not having enough potential to be drafted and not be ready to play? Isn't it the teams' fault for drafting him in the first place? Are the Piston's fans angry at Darko for sitting at the bench? Or do they put the blame on Joe Dumars? Cavs and Nugs fans are absolutely happy at their HS picks and thankful to the people who drafted them. But if it didn't turn out okay, are they going to blame the players or the team's front offices?
I think that would be an excellent solution. No, I am not for that. If you want to know why people are getting hostile towards you, it is because you have a terrible tendency to put words in peoples' mouth. I said NOTHING about my personal preference as to the age limits in the NBA or anywhere else, dude. I merely stated why I thought the article you posted was off base claiming that race really came into play the way he said it did. I provided evidence for that, which you did not refute. My only and sole point was that the article was stupid for claiming it was a race issue when I think it is clearly separate from that. Sure it's the team's fault. Sure it is illogical to get mad at the players for making the money that was offered to them. Are all fans always logical? Are even most fans usually logical? Hell no. Many, many fans blame the players themselves along with the front offices. We saw that here when Steve Francis constantly received criticism for less than intelligent play when he was making max contract money. Do you think all the Rockets fans were just being racist? I sure as hell don't.
So why not do that instead on increasing age limit? I agree that its not a race issue. But I agree on the points that he makes on questioning why NBA needs a higher age limit. But I don't agree that if some one misunderstands what someone else says and means then he can be hostile to him and ignore the points being discussed. But I guess hostility is okay for me it doesn't hurt coz they're just words anyway. It just makes the hostile party look bad since they can't stick to the discussion. See you just put words in my mouth but thats okay. I never said the NBA is racist for increasing the age limit or for fans hating on players. What I'm saying is that the article and ONeal does have valid questions on why increasing the age limit is needed but like everyone I disagree on the conclusion that its a race issue. I hope ONeal learns his lesson never to bring up race but he should continue to voice his opinions on issues he believes in. Like questioning the age limit.
No, they're standing up for what they believe in. Both those dudes are proving they can play in this league (better than a lot of 20 somethings) and are proof that an age limit is a stupid idea.
Agreed. DavidS, what is wrong with drafting based on potential? Yao, KG, Kobe, T-Mac, J.Oneal, Dirk, Amare, etc....
yeah.. its good to see athletes with balls to stand up for what they believe in.. like bill russell, muhamad ali, and charles barkley.. and I think the players who are against raising the age limit are very unselfish.. they want to give others the same chance they had..
