NBA: My Solution for the NBA D-League

cybsball20

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2006
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Des Moines, IA
IF the NBA truely wants the D-League to succeed and be a true minor league system, here is the plan. The only thing is, I think they have a vested interest in Euro basketball so may not want it to really compete... Anyhow, here it goes.

1. Expand the Draft to 3 rounds. Offer guaranteed three year development contracts, with signing bonuses so these guys will stay and not take off for Europe. The league salary could stay relatively low and once these guys reach their three years they can choose to stay in the D-League, be eligible for another team, or take off to Europe.

2. After 3 years in the league, players need to be moved up or offered up in a "Rule 5" like draft. This would keep teams from stocking up on talent in their minor league team and help the lower level teams grab quality players.

3. Allow current NBA players to rehab in the D-League.

4. Have a 1-1 relationship with the NBA teams with the big club owning exclusive rights to the players with the right to trade them.

5. Move the early entry to 2 years in college. This would keep guys from leaving for the money grab.

I really think these 5 little things would really help the D-League and probably the NBA in the long run...

I really think that these adjustments
 
IF the NBA truely wants the D-League to succeed and be a true minor league system, here is the plan. The only thing is, I think they have a vested interest in Euro basketball so may not want it to really compete... Anyhow, here it goes.

1. Expand the Draft to 3 rounds. Offer guaranteed three year development contracts, with signing bonuses so these guys will stay and not take off for Europe. The league salary could stay relatively low and once these guys reach their three years they can choose to stay in the D-League, be eligible for another team, or take off to Europe.

2. After 3 years in the league, players need to be moved up or offered up in a "Rule 5" like draft. This would keep teams from stocking up on talent in their minor league team and help the lower level teams grab quality players.

3. Allow current NBA players to rehab in the D-League.

4. Have a 1-1 relationship with the NBA teams with the big club owning exclusive rights to the players with the right to trade them.

5. Move the early entry to 2 years in college. This would keep guys from leaving for the money grab.

I really think these 5 little things would really help the D-League and probably the NBA in the long run...

I really think that these adjustments


Quality post and I agree with you on this one.
 
My big question is to your #1. How big are the contracts going to be? They would have to be really lucrative for them to want to stay in the US
 
My big question is to your #1. How big are the contracts going to be? They would have to be really lucrative for them to want to stay in the US

Pretty similar to MLB and NBA first round for the round 1. Round 2 probably $800,000-$2 mil. Round 3 probably $300,000-$750,000. Of course the market would ultimately dictate... Plus the three year guarantee...
 
Pretty similar to MLB and NBA first round for the round 1. Round 2 probably $800,000-$2 mil. Round 3 probably $300,000-$750,000. Of course the market would ultimately dictate... Plus the three year guarantee...

Wouldn't that be about 20X what they are currently making?
 
Wouldn't that be about 20X what they are currently making?

The bonus would be on the big team's dime and the first rounders are getting it anyways and likely not to be in the D-League. This would take some of that rediculous money the first rounders are getting now and tone it down. I think the way it is now the D-League teams pay the salary.
 
The bonus would be on the big team's dime and the first rounders are getting it anyways and likely not to be in the D-League. This would take some of that rediculous money the first rounders are getting now and tone it down. I think the way it is now the D-League teams pay the salary.

You are really on to something. This seems waaaay to logical! Adding another round or two to the draft is a great idea.
 
Just for comparison purposes....why don't more guys out of high school who aren't quite developed enough for major league baseball go to japan instead of the minors? I assume they would make a lot more money.
 
The problem is minor league baseball is still making money and the NBDL is not really. The NBA got spoiled using NCAA basketball as their minor league for years and then they screwed themselves by drafting too many teenagers who weren't ready.

Frankly I think it's in the best interest of the league to do what football does - make somebody wait 3 years after high school (or 2 years minimum) or let them go to Europe.
 
Just for comparison purposes....why don't more guys out of high school who aren't quite developed enough for major league baseball go to japan instead of the minors? I assume they would make a lot more money.

Because they would get their tails handed to them... There aren't many kids that jump directly to AAA from High School...

The problem is minor league baseball is still making money and the NBDL is not really. The NBA got spoiled using NCAA basketball as their minor league for years and then they screwed themselves by drafting too many teenagers who weren't ready.

Frankly I think it's in the best interest of the league to do what football does - make somebody wait 3 years after high school (or 2 years minimum) or let them go to Europe.

Because in MiLB you know that you are seeing guys that will likely make it to the majors, and likely with that team. With the D-League you are seeing one guy that may see some bench time surrounded by a bunch of never will be's...
 
Because they would get their tails handed to them... There aren't many kids that jump directly to AAA from High School...



Because in MiLB you know that you are seeing guys that will likely make it to the majors, and likely with that team. With the D-League you are seeing one guy that may see some bench time surrounded by a bunch of never will be's...
ok, thanks.

Baseball's got some pretty funky rules to that causes smaller market teams to play games with guys' options, to slow down there free agency clock. Alot to be considered. One difference between basketball and baseball is that ncaa basketball is a huge moneymaker, and baseball is not near as big. Hard to say how that all plays in, but you'd think the university presidents (and CBS) would highly opposed to an expanded D-league, which would drain talent away from the college game.
 
One difference between basketball and baseball is that ncaa basketball is a huge moneymaker, and baseball is not near as big. Hard to say how that all plays in, but you'd think the university presidents (and CBS) would highly opposed to an expanded D-league, which would drain talent away from the college game.

Thats why you add another year to the early entry rule.
 
Thats why you add another year to the early entry rule.

See I think that adding more years to the early entry rule will only lessen the need for a minor league. The only way the NBDL could be successful is if they pay enough to attract players. And while they have a minor league in CBB and Europe, why would they care enough to do so?
 
See I think that adding more years to the early entry rule will only lessen the need for a minor league. The only way the NBDL could be successful is if they pay enough to attract players. And while they have a minor league in CBB and Europe, why would they care enough to do so?

Yeah, you add another year or two to the early entry and you are back to the days when the NCAAs are the developmental league.

The popularity of basketball world-wide is part of the problem. Kids that have to sit out a year are choosing to go make some coin overseas rather than wasting non-profit years in college. It's not a big problem yet, but its started.

Baseball has what? Japan. that's about the only league that will pay an amount of money for american talent. Basketball has leagues in every european country, much of the mid-east, russia, china, austrailia that will all pay for american ringers.
 
Good post. It seems that the NBDL is structured much differently than most other development leagues.

I think it would help if they had the 2-way contracts that minor league hockey does that allows for two pay-tiers for players.
 

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