New option for 1 and dones?

[Feathery 4,005]

Is the small print of the contracts I expect that each kid is signing on to a sports agency for X amount of years. When the kids sign their NBA contracts, a % goes back to this guy fronting the money.

this could also be the test run for a NBA team in Vegas. Or it could be the start of a true minor league basketball system.

I love it and hope it works. College basketball for kids who want a education. Sounds great!!

[drewheck 749]

The main hole I see in this so far is that the market in Las Vegas may not be able to support a "pro" team. They've been lobbying for an NBA team for quite some time.

it would be like any other Vegas show minus the lions and topless dancers

[ThompsonHoosier 3,414]

Now can the NCAA increase the 1-yr college minimum to two? I think we would then see actual true student athletes across the board. 

[biteoftheapple 4,115]

Now can the NCAA increase the 1-yr college minimum to two? I think we would then see actual true student athletes across the board.

Its an NBA rule. Its in the union contract with the playets.

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

it would be like any other Vegas show minus the lions and topless dancers

Or it can have lions and topless dancers. I mean why not?

[coachtwig 17]

I hate to be a spoil sport, but I've always thought that the idea of high schoolers going to college and playing basketball in college was foremost to get a FOUR year college education so that they'd be better prepared to compete in the "outside world"......not to "play" at education for one year and then go into a field with NO long term prospects of success. Most of those who go into that chosen field of Pro basketball DO NOT MAKE IT and are spit out to sink or swim without the tools necessary to compete in life. We are doing a terrible injustice to our youth.

[Brass Cannon 24,891]

The main hole I see in this so far is that the market in Las Vegas may not be able to support a "pro" team. They've been lobbying for an NBA team for quite some time.

 

Idk the revenue will be pretty different.  Salaries will be significantly lower.  Even a team of 15 All Americans would only be 10.5 million.  And realistically its going to be well under 10 million.

 

And honestly I think this could be very successful, there are no pro teams in Las Vegas and I don't know about semi pro teams so they will start out on top of the sports world in Las Vegas.  And theres a steady flow of people to vegas who want to have a good time and blow money.  You aren't trying to get season ticket holders the same way other teams try, their market will more be the people who come into town for a week and want to see whichever kid is being called the Lebron James play ball for comparatively cheap(When compared to elite college programs and NBA tickets prices)

 

Not to mention if marketed correctly the teams could make huge amounts of money on their 50 games on the road. 

 

Plus I could see them getting a TV deal for this pretty easily which allows for sponsors.  This is pretty brilliant.  Best of all for them, with catering to 1 and dones a union is likely to never form. 

 

EDIT

 

Plus I missed the obvious they could sell their streaming package for fans. 

[sddowning 146]

What about the kids who go to school thinking they are one and dones and then realize they aren't ready for the NBA so decide to come back for a sophomore year? Wouldn't a kid be out of luck he plays for this Vegas team and underperforms and NBA teams don't want him? There is no option to come back for another year so what does he do? Go to Europe?

[Feathery 4,005]

What about the kids who go to school thinking they are one and dones and then realize they aren't ready for the NBA so decide to come back for a sophomore year? Wouldn't a kid be out of luck he plays for this Vegas team and underperforms and NBA teams don't want him? There is no option to come back for another year so what does he do? Go to Europe?

I think they go back for another year with the dealers. The article said they will pay a lower rate for current college players and for free agents. So it's not just a team that you have one shot at. They can make $1 million plus over 2 seasons. If they don't make it to the league, they can go to college as a millionaire already. If they want to continue to play Europe and Asia would be options.

[BGleas 7,917]

There's a concept here that makes a little sense, but this idea as laid out would be a colossal failure IMO. You'd have to be a moron to let your kid do this, and yes I realize there are a lot of morons out there.

[Old Friend 8,389]

Advice to the people in charge and anyone who might support it :

 

You cannot put toothpaste back in the tube.  $700K is WWWAAAAAYYYY too much money to offer an 18 year old kid; and enticing kids to become McD's all Americans will be awful for high school basketball and high school coaches.   There will be unintended consequences to this which nobody can see now, and it smells of Vince McMahon.    That's not what anyone wants basketball to be.

[Brass Cannon 24,891]

There's a concept here that makes a little sense, but this idea as laid out would be a colossal failure IMO. You'd have to be a moron to let your kid do this, and yes I realize there are a lot of morons out there.

Parents who see dollar signs. Not to mention teenagers know everything. Didn't u know

[Feathery 4,005]

There's a concept here that makes a little sense, but this idea as laid out would be a colossal failure IMO. You'd have to be a moron to let your kid do this, and yes I realize there are a lot of morons out there.

Why would a parent be a moron to let their kid make 700k-millions? College will always be there for those who want it. Most of the kids that will do this have no interest in college or education. I'm all for them making some money and being productive instead of sitting in line for welfare. I'd hope the team would get ahold of them and promote financial advisors to help manage their money.

[Dalton26 16,892]

These are 18 yr old kids. In my opinion it's time they put their big boy pants on and make decisions on their own.

[BGleas 7,917]

But the alternative isn't welfare, the alternative could be going to a school that has a policy like IU's, where they'll honor your scholarship even if you leave early. You might not have interest in college at 18, but you might at 28, and it would sure be nice if it was free.

700k isn't that much in the grand scheme for an 18year old that has no clue how to manage that money, especially in Vegas. Look at how many pro athletes that have made millions upon million of dollars are broke within 5 years. You know how many late first/second round pick current NBA players are broke? You'd be surprised. But this outfit is going to suddenly figure out the secret sauce to get young, impressionable and uneducated athletes to wisely manage their money?

What's the coaching like in this thing? Is it glorified AAU or is it actually preparing kids for the NBA? Whats the medical staff like? S&C staff? What's the competition like? Can this guy actually bankroll the payroll?

Will the games be on TV? Because while the NCAA doesn't pay players, it provides them free marketing, which does result in endorsement money should they make it in the NBA.

Why would a parent be a moron to let their kid make 700k-millions? College will always be there for those who want it. Most of the kids that will do this have no interest in college or education. I'm all for them making some money and being productive instead of sitting in line for welfare. I'd hope the team would get ahold of them and promote financial advisors to help manage their money.

[BGleas 7,917]

Like I said, I think the idea has merit. But, some unsanctioned, glorified AAU coach in Vegas implementing it would be a disaster. Work this concept into the NBDL, where you can trust the coaching/organization, etc., and I think it could be a great idea.

Maybe with the NBA, through their scouting, releasing a list of "eligible" players.

[bnkepner 1,509]

Like I said, I think the idea has merit. But, some unsanctioned, glorified AAU coach in Vegas implementing it would be a disaster. Work this concept into the NBDL, where you can trust the coaching/organization, etc., and I think it could be a great idea.

Maybe with the NBA, through their scouting, releasing a list of "eligible" players.

Honestly players who don't want to go to college should just go straight to the D League. They won't make as much money in the D League, but they will have tons of exposure to NBA scouts.

On a side note I honestly don't believe that there is this huge problem of kids being "forced" to go to college. Only a small number of high schoolers have actually gone to play overseas. The only ones (Brandon Jennings and Mudiay) went overseas because they didn't qualify for college. If kids were actually being "forced" to go to college even if they didn't want to, there would be A LOT more of them going to play in Europe or in the D League

[BGleas 7,917]

Agree with everything you said. Most don't realize, but kids can go straight to the NBDL from high school. Nobody has done it because the pay isn't great, but they can do it.

Honestly players who don't want to go to college should just go straight to the D League. They won't make as much money in the D League, but they will have tons of exposure to NBA scouts.
On a side note I honestly don't believe that there is this huge problem of kids being "forced" to go to college. Only a small number of high schoolers have actually gone to play overseas. The only ones (Brandon Jennings and Mudiay) went overseas because they didn't qualify for college. If kids were actually being "forced" to go to college even if they didn't want to, there would be A LOT more of them going to play in Europe or in the D League

[Feathery 4,005]

But the alternative isn't welfare, the alternative could be going to a school that has a policy like IU's, where they'll honor your scholarship even if you leave early. You might not have interest in college at 18, but you might at 28, and it would sure be nice if it was free.

700k isn't that much in the grand scheme for an 18year old that has no clue how to manage that money, especially in Vegas. Look at how many pro athletes that have made millions upon million of dollars are broke within 5 years. You know how many late first/second round pick current NBA players are broke? You'd be surprised. But this outfit is going to suddenly figure out the secret sauce to get young, impressionable and uneducated athletes to wisely manage their money?

What's the coaching like in this thing? Is it glorified AAU or is it actually preparing kids for the NBA? Whats the medical staff like? S&C staff? What's the competition like? Can this guy actually bankroll the payroll?

Will the games be on TV? Because while the NCAA doesn't pay players, it provides them free marketing, which does result in endorsement money should they make it in the NBA.

I see what you're saying but $700,000 is far greater than what college costs. These kids, if they aren't 1-done will get a couple years to try and make it pro. Which means they will have $1-$1.5 million to go to college if needed. Like I said the kids that do this have no interest is school or education. Which means make it pro, low paying job, welfare, learn a trade. I'd rather have $1.5 million in the bank, be 21 years old and trying to figure out what to do, than be broke working at McD's.

I do think there is a motive to get these guys signed and as I said earlier there will be some fine print. This guy probably has ties to a sports agency or is starting his own. This is his way of immediately being able to sign the top kids coming out of high school within the rules. So he will get a return on his investment and he has a vested interest in these kids succeeding.

The competition will be vs euro teams, which could be solid. Do you think play vs Jordan Hulls and co would be less competition than playing UMBC? I'm sure they could get some high caliber Canadian teams to play them as well.

[BGleas 7,917]

I hear where you're coming from too, a few guys would definitely do this, I just think it would be a mistake for anyone not locked into a high lottery pick. For example, I think it would be a collassal mistake for someone like Caleb Swanigan.

Just raises more questions though. Is the 700k for multiple years? If a McDonald's AA comes in highly touted, but then ends up not being NBA material after 1 year, does he just get 700k for each year he's still there? I've worked with NBA players making over 800k a year that were basically broke.

After taxes 700k is what? Maybe 400k? Rent a house in Vegas and buy one for Mom back home, and we're probably down to 250k- 200k. Pay your AAU coach to come live with you in Vegas and you're down to 150k-100k (this happens a lot). Buy a car for you and mom and after the down payment were at somewhere between 80-50k, and we haven't eaten, paid for the internet, paid for cell phones for the "crew" and family. I'm telling you, it goes quick.

On the Euro thing, there's multiple levels of European basketball. I played with/against kids at the D2 level that are still playing in Europe and I played college ball from 97-2001. I played with a kid in high school who was a D2 level player, but never made it to college and played in Europe. The point is, the talent level can be good, and it can be highly questionable.

I see what you're saying but $700,000 is far greater than what college costs. These kids, if they aren't 1-done will get a couple years to try and make it pro. Which means they will have $1-$1.5 million to go to college if needed. Like I said the kids that do this have no interest is school or education. Which means make it pro, low paying job, welfare, learn a trade. I'd rather have $1.5 million in the bank, be 21 years old and trying to figure out what to do, than be broke working at McD's.
I do think there is a motive to get these guys signed and as I said earlier there will be some fine print. This guy probably has ties to a sports agency or is starting his own. This is his way of immediately being able to sign the top kids coming out of high school within the rules. So he will get a return on his investment and he has a vested interest in these kids succeeding.
The competition will be vs euro teams, which could be solid. Do you think play vs Jordan Hulls and co would be less competition than playing UMBC? I'm sure they could get some high caliber Canadian teams to play them as well.