08-01-2021, 03:42 PM
I would love if there would be a push to allow teams to try and develop their talent with a more minor league system. Right now I feel like a young NBA player has to be ready to contribute within just a couple of years, or their likely out for good unless they have some very special physical trait that buys them an extra couple years of developmental time.
Right now if they don't make it within those first couple years, they have to either go to some other league where the focus for them isn't really on their development into an NBA player, but rather to fit into their team there and win, and the dream of playing in the NBA completely dies for the most part.
The system I envision would be something along the lines of expanding the NBA draft to a total of 4 rounds. Round 1 picks still get the guaranteed roster spot, but 2-4 either can sign a real contract, a 2-way contract, or sign some sort of "rights controlled" contract. Maybe this contract could be something like $250K per year for 4-5 years where the player has more focused development with the team (plays for the G-league affiliate, practices with the NBA team when available, works out with the team over the summer, etc). Depending on how the player progresses, at some point they can get a real contract, or they can get traded to a team that will give them one. If they prove after those years that they won't get there, then they go about their basketball lives however they want.
This would probably cost the league money, and would only really interest the hardcore fan so it's not gonna happen, but I really feel there's enough of these guys that come out that are athletes that have like 75% of an NBA skill and could turn into actual NBA players if given enough focused developmental time. There may be a lot of players that would decline to sign these contracts and just take their game oversees to make more money and that would be fine, but I bet there's a lot of American born players that would love the opportunity to refine their game in the States while holding out for an NBA chance.
Right now if they don't make it within those first couple years, they have to either go to some other league where the focus for them isn't really on their development into an NBA player, but rather to fit into their team there and win, and the dream of playing in the NBA completely dies for the most part.
The system I envision would be something along the lines of expanding the NBA draft to a total of 4 rounds. Round 1 picks still get the guaranteed roster spot, but 2-4 either can sign a real contract, a 2-way contract, or sign some sort of "rights controlled" contract. Maybe this contract could be something like $250K per year for 4-5 years where the player has more focused development with the team (plays for the G-league affiliate, practices with the NBA team when available, works out with the team over the summer, etc). Depending on how the player progresses, at some point they can get a real contract, or they can get traded to a team that will give them one. If they prove after those years that they won't get there, then they go about their basketball lives however they want.
This would probably cost the league money, and would only really interest the hardcore fan so it's not gonna happen, but I really feel there's enough of these guys that come out that are athletes that have like 75% of an NBA skill and could turn into actual NBA players if given enough focused developmental time. There may be a lot of players that would decline to sign these contracts and just take their game oversees to make more money and that would be fine, but I bet there's a lot of American born players that would love the opportunity to refine their game in the States while holding out for an NBA chance.
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