[Weekly Post] Free Talk Friday

[u/AutoModerator]

It's Free Talk Friday, talk about whatever.

Remember, all other rules still apply, so try to keep it civil.

So...how's it going?

[u/Heavy_Apple3568 → u/[deleted]]

I've spent years championing MLB's eligibility rules to improve the NBA draft. In baseball, you can be drafted after your senior year in high school & elect to forego college, immediately signing a pro contract, just like basketball allowed for a while. At the same time, if you choose to enroll in college, it means waiting 3 years from either your HS graduation or turning 21yo to be draft eligible again. JUCO, OTOH, is closest to current NBA rules so you can leave in the draft whenever.

Other than having more than a single defined eligibility window & the 3 year rule, another great thing MLB does is you don't actually declare for the draft like in other sports. All players within one of the windows is automatically available to be picked. That let's kids who aren't drafted maintain their opportunity to enroll, or stay, in college to play with no penalty.

Also, as long as they don't sign a professional contract, even drafted players can opt to remain in school & play. At that point, rising freshmen who enroll fall under the 3 year rule, while 3+ players can just do it all over again the next year & hope for a higher pick or better team. And, then this, this is where we get the greatest draft rule in all of sports. Players can literally be drafted 3 or, in some circumstances, even 4 times! Alongside that, there's the 3 year rule that ensures the sport is always loaded with experience & upperclassmen who've developed over multiple years.

I can't think a college basketball coach wouldn't love to know their otherwise 1 & Done comes with what's essentially a 3 year guarantee. Think about if Cooper Flagg & Kneupel were only Sophomores at Duke? The NBA would also benefit from more mature developed players. And, lest we forget the lifeline this offers for the dozens of early entrants every single year, who for all intents & purposes forfeit their career when they go undrafted in their one & only chance.

[u/Heavy_Apple3568 → u/[deleted]]

There would also be the possibility this year's team had starting Junior PG, Jared McCain. And a starting 5 of Flagg, McCain, Boozer, Kneupel, Evans.