This may just be Journalists trying to stir up things. I am not looking for opinions but the exact rule book. Can a Player get an Unofficial Commitment prior to Draft and therefore not schedule or even cancel practices ( although the reasons could be simple- slipped on a bannana peel for example! From what I recall these are the reported events of players getting commitments hence pulling out of previously scheduled practises. 1. Tyrus Thomas Claiming He will go to Chicago with Number 2 2. Shelden Williams going at No 5 3. Reddick in the Top 10 The last two cancelled practices with Orlando. Thomas is not working out and that too his agent does not permit other players. So is this a non-non, wink-wink kind of deal? ( or to put it in other words this borders on impropriety in terms of spirit but is "legal" in terms of definitions etc) Did someone NOT tell me that Agents dont matter? I can Tell you Arn Tellem Matters and you normally dont screw up on these kind of deals as the players come and go- but you have to deal with these powerbrokers.
It's on the up and up. It only means something if the player is still there to take. Most teams won't do it because it tips their hand. The only unsettling one that comes to mind is Portland taking Telfair #13 because of an under the table deal with Adidas. Evan
i don't know about illegal, but it could just be a leverage ploy on the player's behalf. team A tells player A: "hey, we really like you at our pick," which is completely different from "hey, we are definitely going to select you with our first pick." player A then tells members of the media where he's going and tries to put team A over the PR barrel. team A risks looking like the rockets did with rashard lewis, especially if the homefans are excited about the guy. player A thinks he has guaranteed himself a spot higher than he probably deserves. could be.
not only that but claiming a high commitment from a team improves play A's draft stock. look at shelden williams. he was supposed to be 10-15. after claiming he's top 5, "experts" have him up a few spots from 8-12. the best thing sergio rodriguez (19 yo PG, reminds people of jwill, supposed to be late first round) can do is claim he has a commitment from a lotto team. there was some hype about him when he was doing the private workouts. that hype got him into the first round. if he claims some one in the lotto wants him, a team with a mid-first pick will be happy he "slipped" to them.
the nba's version of the jedi mind trick... "high draft pick, i am...pick me you must..." "but your nickname rhymes with pokey...and you sucked in europe..." "vacuums, i shoot well in...in my dunks you must trust..." "but, but..." "(waves hand) hushhh...hard foul on karl malone, makes up for all my rust..."
