Cuban wants elites in the D-league, not college

[jesmu84]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/10538276/mark-cuban-says-nba-d-league-better-option-ncaa

"I think what will end up happening -- and this is my opinion, not that of the league -- is if the colleges don't change from the one-and-done, we'll go after the one," Cuban said. "The NCAA rules are so hypocritical, there's absolutely no reason for a kid to go [to college], because he's not going to class [and] he's actually not even able to take advantage of all the fun because the first semester he starts playing basketball. So if the goal is just to graduate to the NBA or be an NBA player, go to the D-League."

"We can get rid of all the hypocrisy and improve the education," Cuban said. "If the whole plan is just to go to college for one year maybe or just the first semester, that's not a student-athlete. That's ridiculous.

"You don't have to pretend. We don't have to pretend. A major college has to pretend that they're treating them like a student-athlete, and it's a big lie and we all know it's a big lie. At least at most schools, not all. ... But we can put more of an emphasis on their education. We can plan it out, have tutors. We can do all kinds of things that the NCAA doesn't allow schools to do that would really put the individual first."

[Litehouse]

Why is he criticizing the NCAA here?  It's the NBA's rule.

[Wojo'sMojo]

This would be terrible news for Calipari and Kentucky  there can't be more than 10-15 one and dones in a given year I wouldn't think.

[Eldon]

And totally cut the legs from under the NCAA?

Wow, the IU faithful really are getting restless.

[MarsupialMadness]

I love the last line of the article, a quote from Cuban:

"Then you wouldn't be under the stupidity of the NCAA," Cuban said. "There's no reason for the NCAA to exist. None."

[jesmu84]

Why is he criticizing the NCAA here?  It's the NBA's rule.

The NBA only has the rule that you have to be one year removed from high school. That leaves D-league, Europe, etc in play.

[MarsupialMadness]

<Cuban's preference is that the NBA minimum age limit moves to 21 and three years out of high school. However, he can envision lowering the age limit for players who go to the D-League.>

So he basically wants to coerce the kids to go to the D-League instead of college.  

[chapman]

Well, it's the kids' decisions in the current format.  Guessing that the facilities, coaching, and exposure are better at high level colleges vs. the D League.  As well as the ability to be a star on a team trying to win games vs. playing with a bunch of guys who are really only focused on trying to get a call-up.

[jesmu84]

I think wants a MLB minor league type set-up with the NBA/D-league. Plus he hates the hypocrisy of the NCAA.

The flip side of the facilities, coaching, exposure argument is getting paid in the D-league.

[Avenue Commons]

Grantland's series on the D League are well worth your time. http://grantland.com/tags/nba-d-league/

[77ncaachamps]

I think wants a MLB minor league type set-up with the NBA/D-league. Plus he hates the hypocrisy of the NCAA.

The flip side of the facilities, coaching, exposure argument is getting paid in the D-league.

He represents his interests and the interest is to make money.

He turns a blind eye to 95% of D-1 kids who will never see the NBA hardwood.
They won't help the NBA bottom line nor fill the NBADL Legends seats.

Selfishness...as usual.

[brandx]

Well, it's the kids' decisions in the current format.  Guessing that the facilities, coaching, and exposure are better at high level colleges vs. the D League.  As well as the ability to be a star on a team trying to win games vs. playing with a bunch of guys who are really only focused on trying to get a call-up.

Probably are now, but if players start going to the D-league and it becomes more like a minor league system, the NBA teams will make sure coaches and facilities are in place so guys are ready when they get to the NBA.

[79Warrior]

He represents his interests and the interest is to make money.

He turns a blind eye to 95% of D-1 kids who will never see the NBA hardwood.
They won't help the NBA bottom line nor fill the NBADL Legends seats.

Selfishness...as usual.

Those are not the players that would be in the D league. It is really the one and dones who have no interest in going to college. He makes some very good points.

[MUSF]

He represents his interests and the interest is to make money.

He turns a blind eye to 95% of D-1 kids who will never see the NBA hardwood.
They won't help the NBA bottom line nor fill the NBADL Legends seats.

Selfishness...as usual.

How is this turning a blind eye to 95% of D-1 kids that won't go to the NBA? MLB and NHL have minor leagues and yet college programs still exist. Those 95% can still get full-rides or get payed in the D-League if they are good enough to get offered a contract.

I agree his interests are selfish, but what business isn't selfish? Explain to me how the current NBA rules aren't selfish? Do you really think that the NBA sets up their rules to help the NCAA or college athletes? No, the one year out of high school rule exists because the NBA is worried about the quality of their product, and owners got tired of drafting high schoolers that can't cut it in the NBA.

[jesmu84]

How is this turning a blind eye to 95% of D-1 kids that won't go to the NBA? MLB and NHL have minor leagues and yet college programs still exist. Those 95% can still get full-rides or get payed in the D-League if they are good enough to get offered a contract.

I agree his interests are selfish, but what business isn't selfish? Explain to me how the current NBA rules aren't selfish? Do you really think that the NBA sets up their rules to help the NCAA or college athletes? No, the one year out of high school rule exists because the NBA is worried about the quality of their product, and owners got tired of drafting high schoolers that can't cut it in the NBA.

I love this. It really makes me laugh. They had to create a rule to protect themselves from themselves. Seriously.

[77ncaachamps]

How is this turning a blind eye to 95% of D-1 kids that won't go to the NBA? MLB and NHL have minor leagues and yet college programs still exist. Those 95% can still get full-rides or get payed in the D-League if they are good enough to get offered a contract.

I agree his interests are selfish, but what business isn't selfish? Explain to me how the current NBA rules aren't selfish? Do you really think that the NBA sets up their rules to help the NCAA or college athletes? No, the one year out of high school rule exists because the NBA is worried about the quality of their product, and owners got tired of drafting high schoolers that can't cut it in the NBA.

I feel it's turning a blind eye to those 95% because it aims to undermine the competitiveness of the NCAAs, the success of programs, etc. If the 5 star kids get to go to NBADL, then the 4 stars have to take their place. That trickles down to the other programs. However, the opportunities still exist for players to earn scholarships. Yet, without the "star" power of those elite athletes, the NCAA may not see the same attention and thus lucrative revenue from ads, programming, etc.

Due to the fact MLB rosters (40) and NHL rosters (23) are much deeper than NBA ones (13), the need for more players is greater than that in the NBA.

You really think that there are that many One-And-Dones every year that can make that jump into the NBA? Of course not. Only 6 one-and-dones were drafted in 2013 and 9 the year before. Of those 6, 3 were in the NBADL during their rookie campaign and 1 never saw the hardwood; and 3 of the 9 saw NBADL action their first year. Experience matters; development of skills matter; understanding of how an offense and defense works matters. They may not get it in one year at a D-1 institution but they eventually understand the "mindset" that's needed for success in the NBA.

Cuban and owners are just trying to lock up talent for cheap. They may never see significant minutes in the league but toil in the D-League vs. NBA journeymen and other NBA Draftees who aren't going to contribute much.

NBA readiness should be the issue here: it should be a two-year minimum for college kids.
I think I would support HSers going into the NBADL but only those who really have a shot, i.e. they're USA Today AAs or McD AAs or Olympic Team members (U-18, etc.).

[TomW1365]

I don't understand why we even listen to this Cuban... When's the last time a Cuban made the NBA... Now if this Cuban is talking about baseball, and has some good ideas, I'm all ears.

[MarquetteDano]

How is this turning a blind eye to 95% of D-1 kids that won't go to the NBA? MLB and NHL have minor leagues and yet college programs still exist. Those 95% can still get full-rides or get payed in the D-League if they are good enough to get offered a contract.

Not only do college programs still exist with full minor leagues that have many more teams (and thus players) than the NBADL ever will, there are kids like my cousin who are drafted in the early rounds and STILL DECIDE GO TO COLLEGE OVER THE MINOR LEAGUES.

A dumb, poor researched comment by Cuban.

[GGGG]

I love this. It really makes me laugh. They had to create a rule to protect themselves from themselves. Seriously.

Yeah...that is exactly what they did.  (In conjunction with the players union.)  Now they don't have to scout high school and AAU games versus inferior opponents.  It removes some ambiguity from the process and saves time and money.  Can't blame the NBA.

I actually think Cuban's idea is a good one.  It actually may make the college basketball product better by removing the one-and-done types.

[MarquetteDano]

I actually think Cuban's idea is a good one.  It actually may make the college basketball product better by removing the one-and-done types.

I think many would agree the one and done players don't belong in college, taking up a scholarship from someone else.  The issue people have is the over the top comments like the NCAA is useless.

[GGGG]

I think many would agree the one and done players don't belong in college, taking up a scholarship from someone else.  The issue people have is the over the top comments like the NCAA is useless.

That's just Cuban being a blowhard. 

[MUSF]

I love this. It really makes me laugh. They had to create a rule to protect themselves from themselves. Seriously.

Why do you think salary caps exist? They've been doing this for years.

[MUSF]

NBA readiness should be the issue here: it should be a two-year minimum for college kids.
I think I would support HSers going into the NBADL but only those who really have a shot, i.e. they're USA Today AAs or McD AAs or Olympic Team members (U-18, etc.).

NBA readiness is the issue here. I agree with Cuban that a few years in the D-League is more likely to get a player ready for the league than spending a year or two taking acting for non-acting majors and worrying that you might get suspended because someone bought you a sandwich.

[Galway Eagle]

I think Minor league baseball and Minor league hockey are both set up well and I don't think it affects the college product coming out.  I mean I know those sports aren't as in high demand as college basketball but still I think it'd get rid of the athletes that don't want to be student athletes but keep those that do. 

[brandx]

I love this. It really makes me laugh. They had to create a rule to protect themselves from themselves. Seriously.

But I thought business was against regulation