Yi Jianlian

[sandgk]

The Bucks drafted someone who pretty clearly did not want to play for them.

He is now forced back (for a year at least?) to play in China and then re-enter the league.

I really don't see what the big to-do is about. Besides which I heard he wasn't exactly lighting things up post-draft - could be his best option is to stay in China.

 

[devily_buck]

What accepted rule is not being followed here? There is no rule that you have to sign with the team that drafted you.

The general rule is that you play for the team that drafts you. It's already been pointed out that a number of players have bypassed this in professional sports over the last thirty years, but what does this mean for small markets like Milwaukee, Utah or Memphis if this practice becomes widespread? Should NBA franchises follow in the footsteps of major league baseball and consider "signability" a major factor in their draft strategy? I personally think not because the whole point of the draft is to evenly divide talent throughout the league to encourage competition... and having players do this defeats the purpose of the draft in the first place.

 

[Mike80]

The general rule is that you play for the team that drafts you. It's already been pointed out that a number of players have bypassed this in professional sports over the last thirty years, but what does this mean for small markets like Milwaukee, Utah or Memphis if this practice becomes widespread? Should NBA franchises follow in the footsteps of major league baseball and consider "signability" a major factor in their draft strategy? I personally think not because the whole point of the draft is to evenly divide talent throughout the league to encourage competition... and having players do this defeats the purpose of the draft in the first place.

And anything like that would have to be collectively bargained and no players union on the planet will go for it.

It's not a rule, just a tradition that's selectively followed in some cases.

 

[methomps]

The general rule is that you play for the team that drafts you. It's already been pointed out that a number of players have bypassed this in professional sports over the last thirty years, but what does this mean for small markets like Milwaukee, Utah or Memphis if this practice becomes widespread? Should NBA franchises follow in the footsteps of major league baseball and consider "signability" a major factor in their draft strategy? I personally think not because the whole point of the draft is to evenly divide talent throughout the league to encourage competition... and having players do this defeats the purpose of the draft in the first place.

general practice, yes. But there is no rule. Yes, teams should consider signability.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

general practice, yes. But there is no rule. Yes, teams should consider signability.

Uh, then why do teams have to trade a disgruntled draftee? Because they own the rights to that player once they draft him. There is no "general practice"...your ass belongs to the team that drafts you, and if you want to play for another team you had best pray they trade you.

 

[devily_buck]

general practice, yes. But there is no rule. Yes, teams should consider signability.

Agree, there is no physical rule other than the fact that no other team can sign the player if the first team drafts him.

But again though, this signability situation is the dangerous issue. If the top players begin holding out and forcing small markets not to draft them, then we'll see a situation where there are a handful of strong NBA teams and 25 weak ones. In this situation, who wins? Answer: the top players and the wealthy organizations. Losers: the fans of the other 25 NBA teams and the future of the game.

 

[methomps]

Uh, then why do teams have to trade a disgruntled draftee? Because they own the rights to that player once they draft him. There is no "general practice"...your ass belongs to the team that drafts you, and if you want to play for another team you had best pray they trade you.

They own the exclusive right to negotiate with the player. Nothing says the player ever has to sign or play with them.

Agree, there is no physical rule other than the fact that no other team can sign the player if the first team drafts him.

But again though, this signability situation is the dangerous issue. If the top players begin holding out and forcing small markets not to draft them, then we'll see a situation where there are a handful of strong NBA teams and 25 weak ones. In this situation, who wins? Answer: the top players and the wealthy organizations. Losers: the fans of the other 25 NBA teams and the future of the game.

That is the case now.

Players are not going to be holding out in droves. For most of them, signing with the team that drafts them is their best option considering the difficulties in getting traded. Players with signability issues will drop in the draft, putting them in a position to make less money (which is why Oden would never hold out for #9).

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

They own the exclusive right to negotiate with the player. Nothing says the player ever has to sign or play with them.

The point is that since the team owns the exclusive rights to the player, if that player wants to play in the NBA he either has to indeed play for that team or hope that team is kind enough to trade him. If the team doesn't trade him, he has no other choice...unless he wants to sit out for the season and not get paid a fucking dime.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

i through this out there before, how much longer until the nba needs a transfer agreement?

hockey has one for every major country (except for russia who has not signed the new one. thus you have russians who plummeted in this years draft.) it is a reality that needs to be addressed in a "flattening" world.

 

[BuckWrestler141]

(which is why Oden would never hold out for #9).

The salary difference from 9th to 1st IMO isn't a big enough reason for it to not have been better for Greg to go 9th. In the NFL that would be the case, but not the NBA, Greg's agent could set it up so that he could at least make the same amount of money with endorsements in Chicago as the difference of the salaries from playing in Portland.
Greg would then be closer to his family, and be playing for a better team.

 

[Mike80]

i through this out there before, how much longer until the nba needs a transfer agreement?

hockey has one for every major country (except for russia who has not signed the new one. thus you have russians who plummeted in this years draft.) it is a reality that needs to be addressed in a "flattening" world.

Really the only major sport in the US that won't have some sort of transfer agreement within the next decade is the NFL.

both the MLB and the NBA will eventually need one.

 

[methomps]

The point is that since the team owns the exclusive rights to the player, if that player wants to play in the NBA he either has to indeed play for that team or hope that team is kind enough to trade him. If the team doesn't trade him, he has no other choice...unless he wants to sit out for the season and not get paid a fucking dime.

Which is what is going on here.

The salary difference from 9th to 1st IMO isn't a big enough reason for it to not have been better for Greg to go 9th. In the NFL that would be the case, but not the NBA, Greg's agent could set it up so that he could at least make the same amount of money with endorsements in Chicago as the difference of the salaries from playing in Portland.
Greg would then be closer to his family, and be playing for a better team.

It's about a 50% pay cut.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

Really the only major sport in the US that won't have some sort of transfer agreement within the next decade is the NFL.

both the MLB and the NBA will eventually need one.

the nba should have been proactive after the yao ming fiasco.

but stern is a fool if he doesnt team with fiba or some other world org to get one in place.

 

[BuckWrestler141]

It's about a 50% pay cut.

Yea but NBA rookies are paid poorly, compared to NFL rookies, who can't afford to pull a stunt like this.

1st pick - [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rookie season salary*: $3,885,000
9th pick - [/FONT]Rookie season salary*: $1,779,500

I'm pretty sure that Oden could pull off an extra 2-4 million a year in endorsements in the NBA, plus he would almost be certain to reach the NBA finals within 3 years if he was on the Bulls young/talented team. Plus he wouldn't get rained on all the time.

 

[schwab]

Kobe changed is number from #24 to #8 before the start of this past season. Hence the brisk sales this past year.

It was actually from #8 to #24, but your point is valid nonetheless. I now return you to your normal scheduled debate....