Common Sense for David Stern

by Steve The Hedge on Jun 27, 2008 2:32 PM PDT

Mr. Stern,

I realize you’re having a difficult time keeping your dictatorial hold upon the league as more and more people question your god-given right to rule, but I thought I’d offer up a few thoughts that could help you hold onto power before the revolution hits. So, here goes:

Rather than coddling the NCAA and requiring players to be a year removed from high school, allow ANY high school graduate/GED holder to enter the draft. If a player isn’t selected in the draft, the NCAA will still let them play. If they don’t, all those kids will head to Europe to play, and then where would college basketball be?
Allow NBA teams to put more than two players onto an NBDL team’s roster. It takes a while to teach a player, and teams have about two per year added to their rosters. Think of it as a four-year trade school, where you’re paying your students to learn, while at the same time profiting by displaying their developing skills (See NCAA without the attitude).
Change the rules so the players in the NBDL don’t count against the parent team’s roster space. Watch out now, you might actually have a true farm system developing here. This would allow NBA teams to build entire back-up teams and develop numerous players to NBA-level talent without diluting the NBA games.
Get rid of the restriction limiting the seniority of the players that can be sent down. Even veteran players could benefit from rehabbing an injury in the minors. If nothing else it’s a great place to stash malcontent players like Stephon Marbury, or simply being able to use the threat to coerce the desired response. You know how that goes, right?
Increase the number of draft rounds to 3. This will be a big bonus for your attempt to make the league global as more foreign players will be tabbed in the third round to flesh out a team’s NBDL team.

These simple steps would allow you to revitalize the NBA by improving the product and at the same time expanding the audience. Now instead of American players going overseas to play in Europe, it will once again be everyone wanting to get drafted by an NBA team. They might not get called up right away to play on the big stage, but that will only increase the relevance and popularity of the NBDL teams and especially the NBA.

The NBA: Where World Domination Happens!

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There needs to be more D-League teams and players

Look at the MLB farm teams, so many teams, so many leagues. Stern should start something similar to what the MLB has done. The players would love it too. Eventually I see each team having a full “JV” team in the D-League. I also see two or three Euroleague teams made up of players whose rights are owned by NBA teams. Can’t wait for those days, make it happen Stern.

by Kelsoballa on Jun 27, 2008 2:42 PM PDT reply actions

thoughts

1) agreed
2) agreed. this rule is just dumb and needless anyway
3) This would seriously advantage big-market and money-rich teams who are willing to pay for those guys and/or the rights to acquire those guys. This only works one of two ways. Either the D-league teams have to be under seperate ownership (includes paying the players), with affiliations—pretty much like baseball is setup. Either that, or you have to require that all NBA teams keep a certain amount of players in the D league, so as to force all 30 teams to be investing in their future and keep competiive balance
4) agreed, but don’t think it matters too much
5) This goes hand in hand with #3. the problem is the pay. It’s hard enough to imagne 2nd rounders staying in the d league for less money than they can get in Europe, let alone 3rd rounders

by douglast on Jun 27, 2008 2:53 PM PDT reply actions

It's more desire

I agree, #3 can give teams an edge, but it’s not due to the size of the market or the deep-pockets. It’s simply the desire to build a dynasty. Sure, having Paul Allen’s money is great, but if you look at the team that’s actually utilizing the NBDL, it’s the Spurs. They’ve bought their own team and installed their system in an effort to make the idea work. They even did it at considerable risk to themselves because other teams can poach their prospects without compensating the Spurs for developing them. My suggestion would make it so the players would be contracted to their parent teams. They could still be traded as assets, but not stolen.

I should have added that the NBDL players would be making more money, thus drawing the talent back from Europe and solidifying American might.

Thanks for your insight.

by Steve The Hedge on Jun 27, 2008 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

And don't forget the refs

The NBA needs to institute an INDEPENDENT ref evaluation commission.

Winning is everything.

by MT Suit on Jun 27, 2008 3:09 PM PDT reply actions

Pretty good ideas

I dont know about the third round.
The NBA is pretty diluted on talent as it is. But the rest of it is pretty solid

I remember the good old days. The Rasta Monsta days.

by GreatOden'sRaven on Jun 27, 2008 4:04 PM PDT reply actions

Right now the NBA doesn't need a third round

But if the NBADL became more of a true farm system then a third round would be useful because teams would be drafting for both their NBA team and their D-league team.

by trk on Jun 27, 2008 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Please no more high school players

Giving players a year in college is good for the players, good for the colleges, and good for the NBA.

by pualo on Jun 27, 2008 4:19 PM PDT reply actions

That one year in college

stuff is straight up ridiculous. If you’re good enough to play pro ball you should be able to do so. Getting rid of the rule that you can’t go back and play in college if you go undrafted is a great idea. Come to think of it, why is that rule in place?

Oden/Pryz
LMA/Frye
WebFoot/Trout
Roy/Rudy
Blake/Bayless
**Champs 08-09**

by BigCelPhone on Jun 27, 2008 6:58 PM PDT reply actions