Jalen Green/New G League

[Pakuni]

Not only that, but these kids are going to get mauled in the G League. In college, they get plenty of games against weak competition. The guys that play major minutes in the G League, every one is a grown man that would be one of the best players on any college team in the country. That is more likely to sink their draft stock than averaging monster numbers against college opposition, and the drop from 2nd to 7th is way more than $500,000.

The unintended consequences of this will be significant.

I imagine NBA scouts are going to be able to figure out there's a difference between scouting an 18-year-old competing against men in the G League compared with Portland State and Colgate, and they'll adjust accordingly.
In fact, they already can and do this when they scout kids in Europe. That's why Kristaps Porzingis goes #4 overall after averaging  just 10 and 4 in Spain or Dario Saric is a lottery pick after averaging 10.7 and 5.8 in Turkey.
NBA teams will be far more impressed with a would-be freshman that can earn real minutes in the G League than one that averages 15 ppg in the Big 10.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

The rare Laker's G League game I tune into has less fans than most HS games. When I don't recognize anybody i usually lose interest quickly watching a game played in a gym.  These young players will lose an opportunity to build a brand and loyal fans and ,as was mentioned, risk being overwhelmed by competition they are not prepared to compete with.

[jesmu84]

I feel like people posting here didn't read.

Jalen/others aren't actually playing in the G League

[wadesworld]

I feel like people posting here didn't read.

Jalen/others aren't actually playing in the G League

Right.  They're playing exhibition games against G League teams.  Even worse.

Being developed at an academy.  They are going to be no namers to most casual basketball fans going into the NBA.  Which is their choice.

[jesmu84]

Right.  They're playing exhibition games against G League teams.  Even worse.

Being developed at an academy.  They are going to be no namers to most casual basketball fans going into the NBA.  Which is their choice.

Why does that matter?

Also, Nike is intricately involved here. I'm sure there's a reason for that.

[Pakuni]

Right.  They're playing exhibition games against G League teams.  Even worse.

Being developed at an academy.  They are going to be no namers to most casual basketball fans going into the NBA.  Which is their choice.

Did LeBron need college to build a brand? Kobe? Kevin Garnett? Doncic? McGrady? Dwight Howard?
Since when was college basketball needed?

Fact is, in 2020 college basketball is less relevant than ever before in building a brand. High school and junior high kids don't watch college games on ESPN and FOX, they watch highlights of Jalen Warley, Brony James, LaMelo Ball, Emoni Bates and Mikey Williams on social media.
These kids are creating their brands while they're in high school.

[wadesworld]

Did LeBron need college to build a brand? Kobe? Kevin Garnett? Doncic? McGrady? Dwight Howard?
Since when was college basketball needed?

Fact is, in 2020 college basketball is less relevant than ever before in building a brand. High school and junior high kids don't watch college games on ESPN and FOX, they watch highlights of Jalen Warley, Brony James, LaMelo Ball, Emoni Bates and Mikey Williams on social media.
These kids are creating their brands while they're in high school.

None of those kids are anywhere near as relevant as Obi Toppin was the past 5 months. Not even close. And prior to those past 5 months nobody even knew who Obi Toppin was.

[Shooter McGavin]

I feel like people posting here didn't read.

Jalen/others aren't actually playing in the G League

What is the motivation for the NBA to give several hundred thousand dollars to kids before they get drafted?  Is the NBA worried that another league will start poaching players?  These high level players look fairly prepared to play following a year in college. I don't think the top ten draft picks really need NBA trainers for a year before the draft.  Every year players look like they are very effective and comfortable on an NBA court without it.

MLB goes out of their way to not pay more than they have to and their minor leaguers are already on teams (which should provide motivation to keep players happy).

I don't see the the NBAs motivation to give money away unless they are seriously thinking in the long run the G-league and these exhibitions can compete for eyeballs at the level of college basketball.

[brewcity77]

What is the motivation for the NBA to give several hundred thousand dollars to kids before they get drafted?  Is the NBA worried that another league will start poaching players?

In a word, yes. Parrish & Norlander explained that end of it, basically because of star high school kids like LaMelo Ball & RJ Hampton playing in Australia, the NBA now has to put more money and effort getting their scouts to Australia to see those top players. It's easier and maybe even cheaper to pay those top 5-10 players a few million dollars than to send scouts over a few times a year every year.

This won't be large scale competition with the NCAA because the NBA doesn't really care about players beyond that top-10 and they aren't doing this to grow the G League. It's really just a year long training camp for expected lottery picks. They're banking on that being better for the league & draft process than trying to follow these kids all over the world.

[Shooter McGavin]

Thanks Brew.  Must be a NBA pool of money from all teams that makes this possible.  Did not think that degree of money was needed to scout the top ten or so prospects.  I would have thought just the opposite (more time and energy on late first round and second round prospects).

[brewcity77]

Thanks Brew.  Must be a NBA pool of money from all teams that makes this possible.  Did not think that degree of money was needed to scout the top ten or so prospects.  I would have thought just the opposite (more time and energy on late first round and second round prospects).

I think it's because to invest that heavily in a top-10 pick, you need to know the guy is worth it. You don't want to draft a LaMelo Ball first overall on YouTube highlights or spend a lottery pick on RJ Hampton because of watching a couple NBL games on TV.

I don't know if it's actually going to be cost effective, but I can see the expense being worth it if simplifies the scouting process. It's a lot easier to scout guys in America than anywhere else. That ease alone may be worth it for NBA teams.

[MU82]

I can totally see why the NBA is doing this, and I definitely see why it's an attractive option to current HS seniors - especially those who have absolutely no interest in pretending to be a college student.

It will be interesting to see how this develops over time. Some kids will still want the college experience, even if it will end 10 minutes after their team's final game their freshman year. But some kids will say, "Screw that. Give me the dough and the endorsements. I'm a pro."

[muguru]

Gary Parrish

@GaryParrishCBS
·
1m


Five-star point guard Daishen Nix is skipping college to join the same G League program Jalen Green and Isaiah Todd are joining. He was committed to UCLA.

[Boozemon Barro]

You can't get suspended from the G League program if someone buys you a sandwich, so that's a plus.

[The Sultan]

And they can sign shoe deals.

[Nukem2]

In a word, yes. Parrish & Norlander explained that end of it, basically because of star high school kids like LaMelo Ball & RJ Hampton playing in Australia, the NBA now has to put more money and effort getting their scouts to Australia to see those top players. It's easier and maybe even cheaper to pay those top 5-10 players a few million dollars than to send scouts over a few times a year every year.

This won't be large scale competition with the NCAA because the NBA doesn't really care about players beyond that top-10 and they aren't doing this to grow the G League. It's really just a year long training camp for expected lottery picks. They're banking on that being better for the league & draft process than trying to follow these kids all over the world.

And, it's just a short term measure until the NBA and the NBPA agree on age limit for the draft.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Gary Parrish

@GaryParrishCBS
·
1m


Five-star point guard Daishen Nix is skipping college to join the same G League program Jalen Green and Isaiah Todd are joining. He was committed to UCLA.

We were one of his finalists if I recall correctly. Guess we got saved some heartache

[Its DJOver]

Cronin needs to learn when to cut his losses.  Shouldn't have invested so many resources into the kid.

[Uncle Rico]

Good for these kids. 

[Newsdreams]

I wonder about small letter clauses in these contracts. Hope they retained decent lawyers / accountant or management firm that can do all. My guess is after expenses / taxes they end up with a net of 150k. Much better than college, but I hope they know how much they're getting.

[WarriorDad]

Go after 4 star kids of this is the trend. 

[Shooter McGavin]

Good for these kids.

Absolutely, a career in basketball is honorable.  Many opportunities and not only in the NBA.  College is not for everyone.  If these guys get good representation and people steer them in the right direction it will be beneficial for those who are not academically inclined. 

[Nukem2]

Absolutely, a career in basketball is honorable.  Many opportunities and not only in the NBA.  College is not for everyone.  If these guys get good representation and people steer them in the right direction it will be beneficial for those who are not academically inclined.

And, it's not necessarily just for those who don't want to go to school.  Either way, guys do take risks entering the alternate program. 

[brewcity77]

We were one of his finalists if I recall correctly. Guess we got saved some heartache

I'll be honest, in retrospect I'm glad he didn't pick Marquette.

[GoldenDieners32]

We were one of his finalists if I recall correctly. Guess we got saved some heartache

We were not in his final 5 according to 247