College could have taught these guys some humility.
Kobe Bryant never played a college basketball game.
Kevin Garnett never attended a college class.
LeBron James never even considered going the college route.
Prior to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, high school players were allowed the option of declaring for the NBA instead of playing college basketball. As a result, many of the best regarded teenagers in the sport chose the big money instead of the traditional progression represented by walking on a college campus. It is undeniable that many of those players made perfectly rational decisions. Just as easily as one can chastise the Gerald Green’s and Ndudi Ebi’s for wasting their potential by getting under the big lights too early, someone can defend them by saying they got paid when they could just have easily flamed out as NCAA indentured servants.
All of that discussion is completely and totally irrelevant.
Basketball players will generally all argue that there should be no age restriction—but even then they aren’t being totally forthcoming. It is doubtful anyone is truly suggesting that that the NBA transition to a European-style philosophy of allowing youth players to sign with teams. (For instance, Ricky Rubio signed with DKV Joventut when he was 14 years old.) What they really mean is that they want to return to the old status quo that said players could enter the draft when they had exhausted their high school eligibility. They only take issue that the NBA says they have to go to college first.
The problem is, that is not the case even now. Yes, the NBA would prefer they go to college, but it is far from a requirement. Brandon Jennings and Latavious Williams both failed to achieve the academic requirements to attend a division one school, so they played professionally in the interim between high school and draft eligibility (in Italy and in the NBDL, respectively). So, it is not that the league is forcing these players to bend to their will, it is simply that they are defining when a person is ready to be employed by them. In essence, it is no different than the armed services requiring that new recruits be of voting age, or a CPA firm requiring that new employees have the prerequisites to sit for the CPA exam.
Regardless of which side is right and which side is less right, the age restriction is more likely to increase than decrease.
Of course, both the players and team management likely agree on this issue. Those drafting would rather get the players into the locker room and learning the system, the rigors of the league, and developing with their training staff than risk losing potentially great players. If Kobe Bryant had gone to play in Italy as an 18 year old, he could have theoretically stayed there for years before coming back to the U.S., or if he had gone to Duke to play for Coach K, been injured, and received worse care than NBA salaried doctors, his impact on the league may never have happened. That first couple of years where those youngsters hardly play, on rookie contracts—particularly if the D-League can be strengthened with this CBA—are much cheaper than missing out on a guy who could be transcendent.
This guy can't pull a Gerald Green.
Regardless of which side is right and which side is less right, the age restriction is more likely to increase than decrease. From a business perspective, it is much better to have the 19 year olds go to college even if it hurts the player’s development in the short term. That is because most of the players will choose to go play in for an NCAA team, and most of the best will seek to play for teams who get the most media exposure. It is just natural–they want to be stars wherever they play. By the time they are eligible to enter the draft, much of the NBA’s marketing groundwork has been handled.
For instance, the first class of high school seniors that could not leap directly to the NBA contained Kevin Durant. Durant was well thought of as a prospect, but hardly considered to be a threat to be a top draft pick. He would have gone in the lottery, but because Montrose Christian Academy games were not on national television, only basketball junkies would have been excited about him being selected by their team. The league marketing team would have put his face on some commercials, and had EA Sports feature him in the NBA Live campaign, but the end result would just be more people wondering how that kid with acne was supposed to hang with grown men. Instead, he played a year at the University of Texas, where he often played on ESPN’s Big Monday, caught the attention of national media because of his success as a freshman, led his team to play in March Madness, and when Seattle took him second overall, many in Portland were crying that he was not taken first.
The NBPA philosophically believes that players should not be forced to wait to enter the draft, and if those guys want to start paying dues in high school, the union will fight for their rights.
With dollars being at the heart of the ownership position, they are not going to relent on this issue, which works perfectly with the union’s apathetic stance. Sure the NBPA would like to fix what they see as an injustice from a theoretical standpoint. It’s just the people who would benefit from their efforts are not paying dues and surely are not going to be given a vote on whether to ratify the new CBA. The only reason they pretend to be passionate at all about the subject is that it is the only bargaining chips they hold. Going through the charade that it matters to them is one way they can give a concession without it really hurting.
As for what the end solution will mean to the Thunder: probably not much.
If the player position were to miraculously become part of the new CBA, then it would be beneficial to the team. With their core of young players moving into their prime and becoming a perennial playoff team, whoever OKC drafts from here on out will probably be a spare part. At most, draft picks will be used as role players. However, if unproven high schoolers are back on the table, the odds are many of them will slide in the draft. Knowing that any pick would have plenty of time to develop, Thunder management could take a risk, hope they developed, and bide some time until playing time opens up.
Since it probably will not come to that—I predict the age limit will become 20 or two years removed from their high school class graduating—the Thunder will be picking from better known quantities. That means less likelihood of a player sliding from lack of information and more likelihood that their late first rounders will be less impactful. But, as I established in the last paragraph, those players were unlikely to have a major impact, anyway.
——
Next: Part IV—Developing the Developmental League
@Thunder S
The Thunder were well coached... under Ron Adams.
Nationally media knows very little about what's current within a team besides "insider news", and as stated before, in the one meeting the Lakers have had with the Thunder this year, Phil Jackson heaped far less praise than ever before. The one thing that distinguishes the better coaches from the rest more than anything is being able to adapt to change and play to his players' strengths. Why do you think Pop could win with almost anybody you put on his team? This has been Brooks' biggest weakness bar none. He fails to change his lineups, his strategy, and nearly everything else.
I will give him credit though that overall, the offense has improved from what it was at the start of the season.
http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/david_aldridge/03/07/morning-tip-sam-presti/index.html
@Thunder S
No problem with keeping a player's coach like Brooks if there are assistant coaches to balance things out. Putting players in the best position to succeed on a consistent basis will create higher morale overall.
Why make Durant have to be Superman because we are giving away easy scores to the other team when we can do something about it?
***I don't feel Jackson was impressed with Brooks in the last game (check the post game) because he saw the mistakes.***
Question with Brooks, can he build on his strengths and improve his weaknesses. He's not a bad coach, but he can't just keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I wonder if he and Presti are on the same page right now. What I mean is, what's he going to do with Perkins and Mohammed? Is he going to use the loss of Green and Krstic as an excuse to play KD at the 4? I'm not ready to judge him yet on how he adapts to the new-look Thunder--we'll have to have patience, get Perkins back, and see. But the sentiment on this board has him on a short leash. I personally have little patience for his continuing failure to use the tools at his disposal.
Damn I love McMillan.
this is kind of random, but just to make a general pt abt brooks being a good coach. i put a lot of stock in what coaches and players from around the league say, since they are very knowledgeable and usually pretty spot on- and routinely people comment on how well-coached the thunder is (are?).
Coach Pop, Kobe Bryant and others have all gone out of their way to mention that is an athletic, well-coached, competitive team. IF the other adjectives are true, why would this one not be? I dont think any of them have an incentive to mention well coached if it werent true, and i routinely hear this in postgame interviews. maybe the lineup choices aren't that good, but im pretty confident brooks is a pretty good coach in terms of getting his players to execute the plays he calls and getting the team to buy into his schemes.
maybe this isnt the strongest argument "everyone says it so it must be true". but u dont hear people saying wow the clippers are really well-coached, or wow the thunder have outstanding big men. so there must be some kernel of truth in it, and based on the lakers playoff series (where it really showcases coaches' game planning abilities), i thought we adjusted and re-adjusted to what the lakers did pretty effectively.
@dream catcher
I agree with okc baby. I'd want to play Denver, New Orleans, and then Portland, in that order.
Hands down with Wallace, Matthews and Roy healthy now.
Portland
What team is best equipped to beat us in round 1? New Orleans, Portland, or Denver?
@Thomas
I'd think they'd give 1.5 - 2 seasons before a trade but you never know for sure. I'd think they'll change other players this summer for sure. Maybe change coaches at some point, if they don't get where they want to fast enough.
@Brian
A draw at starting center would probably be considered a good outcome. If they are going to win they probably win it at starting SF and with the bench and maybe starting PG.
Durant against Ariza the last 2 years, 3-0. Battier 4-1. Batum 5-0. G. Wallace, no data. Gay 4-1. Chandler 1-0. Gallinari 1-0.
Westbrook against Paul 1-4. Miller 2-3. Felton 2-2. Lawson no data. Conley 6-2.
Welcome to the West Miami!!!!!
Am I crazy to believe Miami might be ahead to trade one of these guys this offseason? I mean Lebron and Wade play almost the exact same way. They honestly don't need them both and would be better served to exchange one of them for a decent center and another couple pieces/role players.
@Crow
No doubt he can defend better then any other center Thunder (or Sonics) have had in a long time. As long as they don't make him cover guards.
@okc baby
So tempted to get tickets! Would be an epic game to attend, but going to be so busy during the trip! Would be nice to bring some Thunder fans to the arena though!
Center impact extends beyond the boxscore so this isn't the whole story. But I thought I'd check it anyways.
I checked how Perkins was done against some likely first round opponents on individual stats. The stats I found require 25+ minutes to count and that limits the number of games found. Against Okafor over the last 4 seasons he won 3 times on a simple boxscore based efficiency measure and lost 2. Same against Camby, 3-2. Against M. Gasol he is 0-2. Against Nene 0-1.
*there
Yeah, I wouldnt want to play the heat in finals. They can pull it off if the make it their. Just because of wade and bron.
@Kris
Shouldnt be hard to find a seat
Ha, I'll actually be in Florida for Spring Break. Should totally get a ticket to the game!
i want the east standings to stay the same though, so heat have to play knicks, bulls and celtics to make finals.
@okc baby
yeah, my prediction was 58, but they might not even do that
Durant better get in the weight room and start taking some supplements
@Kris
yeah, most people are saying that home game, but im sure he will want to play and it was a 2-3 week diagnosis, so if medical clears him why not use him early.
@f5alcon
I thought the same thing. They have 2 slashers that are pretty darn good I might add and a soft tough guy. With a bunch of has-beens.
It is! I thought we might want to hold off though and wait till the next game with Charlotte for the 6 game home stretch. We be awesome to get him back 1 game early for a tough one.
@Kris
we might, that is right around when he is supposed to return
Ha, Heat lose again. Can't wait to play them! Too bad we won't have Perkins...
well i said in dec the heat wouldnt win 60, and everybody thought i was crazy
chris webber, "its all over except the crying"
@okc baby
gonna be fun watching durant guard brand
Thunder better win in Miami.
Philly is going to be another tough match up for us
Blazers lookin good
okc baby :
Is bad to relish in Miami heats failures
When it means a Portland win, yes.
Them against the World! hahahah Lebron wheres your soldiers at?
Is bad to relish in Miami heats failures
lebron making his mvp push
@Ozarkhick
lol, ok there are more than 20, but not many more.
f5alcon :@Ozarkhick
20?
might not even be that many
nick collison, troy murphy, kevin love, gordon hayward, luke babbitt, jj redick, ryan anderson, chris kaman, Tyler Hansbrough, jeff foster, Mike Dunleavy, thats all i can think of
Just to see what I can do off the top of my head :
Cole Aldrich and Mullens play for OKC, so shame on you. Brook and Robin Lopez. JJ Barea is an American citizen as he comes from Puerto Rico. Aaron Gray, Brad Miller. Luke Harnagorandgoatady or whatever his name is. Pryz. Yao Ming doesn't count, but Jeremy Lin does, as Asian Americans immediately assimilate into middle class American culture. Luke Walton. Jayson Williams. Andrew Bogut, since being from Australia is pretty much the same thing as being from Alabama.
@Hawaiian Rob
probably another 1st rd exit for them.
Fire George Carl. He only got to the western conference finals once in 7 years, they got beat in the other six first round series.
good game with portland miami
@TempBoy Brandon
that is good, my gf got a job in tulsa, so it is as much look dont touch as possible for me now,lol.
@f5alcon
Ha! Thanks man. Yeah, I gotta say, I've done quite well for myself. Dating way above my paygrade.
@Ozarkhick
haha well played
@f5alcon
Alls I knows is I can't spell stupid foreign names like "Przybilla".
Give me a good old fashioned American name, like "Steve Nash".
@Ozarkhick
20?
might not even be that many
nick collison, troy murphy, kevin love, gordon hayward, luke babbitt, jj redick, ryan anderson, chris kaman, Tyler Hansbrough, jeff foster, Mike Dunleavy, thats all i can think of
I think the best solution is just to ban foreigners from playing in the NBA. They're just a bunch of boring floppers with no charisma, and sometimes their names are really hard to spell.
More jobs for Americans! USA, USA, USA!!!!!!!!!!!1
Sure, it would be a bummer to lose Serge, but at least it would pry Thabo out of Brooks cold dead hands.
Stern would never let it happen though, cause then there would only be 20 white dudes in the league, or so I am told.