The 2-way NBA contract

[LeonThe Camel]

Just a wandering thought.
With the 2-way contract going into play this season in the NBA, this may be how the NBA eliminates the age requirement. With a bit of change, extending the rookie contract for any player entering directly from HS, the situation could become reality.
For those not knowing, the 2-way contract between the player and team, limits the number of days a player can play for the parent NBA team of its G-League affiliate to 45 days.
So a player players the majority of his days as a G-League player and comes up to the NBA as needed (up to 45 days total).
A 2-way player, if maxed out for the 45 days, can earn upwards of $200,000 a year.
Imagine a player like Barrett deciding between $200,000 or college. Knowing he is the first pick in the draft, he is guaranteed his rookie scale the following year.

 

[Dablueman]

Just a wandering thought.
With the 2-way contract going into play this season in the NBA, this may be how the NBA eliminates the age requirement. With a bit of change, extending the rookie contract for any player entering directly from HS, the situation could become reality.
For those not knowing, the 2-way contract between the player and team, limits the number of days a player can play for the parent NBA team of its G-League affiliate to 45 days.
So a player players the majority of his days as a G-League player and comes up to the NBA as needed (up to 45 days total).
A 2-way player, if maxed out for the 45 days, can earn upwards of $200,000 a year.
Imagine a player like Barrett deciding between $200,000 or college. Knowing he is the first pick in the draft, he is guaranteed his rookie scale the following year.

Guys like Kevin Knox are already being offered more than that to play over seas. Plus there would still have to be a draft. A player can't just go to a G league team who has an NBA affiliation and just play

 

[Glenn's take]

Guys like Kevin Knox are already being offered more than that to play over seas. Plus there would still have to be a draft. A player can't just go to a G league team who has an NBA affiliation and just play

I'm not sure exactly how it works but the part about the draft isn't true. Players could go straight from HS to the D League for a few years now. I heard Adam Silver say it in an interview with Dan Patrick a few weeks back.

 

[gossie21]

There's still some risk for these kids. There hasn't been a highly ranked player go the pro-route and improve (or even maintain) his draft stock. Jennings, Mudiay, and Ferguson all dropped after a year overseas.... unless I'm forgetting someone.

I can't think of very many kids going the HS to D-League to NBA route. But if there's more money then some will start to try it. If it's seen as a viable route to make some money and improve your draft stock then it may gain some traction. Even bigger than the salary would be the marketing opportunities. Someone like Marvin Bagley could sign on for $200k and then sign a $2M/year deal with Nike and start making real money.

 

[StubbornPenny]

Just a wandering thought.
With the 2-way contract going into play this season in the NBA, this may be how the NBA eliminates the age requirement. With a bit of change, extending the rookie contract for any player entering directly from HS, the situation could become reality.
For those not knowing, the 2-way contract between the player and team, limits the number of days a player can play for the parent NBA team of its G-League affiliate to 45 days.
So a player players the majority of his days as a G-League player and comes up to the NBA as needed (up to 45 days total).
A 2-way player, if maxed out for the 45 days, can earn upwards of $200,000 a year.
Imagine a player like Barrett deciding between $200,000 or college. Knowing he is the first pick in the draft, he is guaranteed his rookie scale the following year.

HOW CAN U B SO SURE

 

[Aike]

There's still some risk for these kids. There hasn't been a highly ranked player go the pro-route and improve (or even maintain) his draft stock. Jennings, Mudiay, and Ferguson all dropped after a year overseas.... unless I'm forgetting someone.

I can't think of very many kids going the HS to D-League to NBA route. But if there's more money then some will start to try it. If it's seen as a viable route to make some money and improve your draft stock then it may gain some traction. Even bigger than the salary would be the marketing opportunities. Someone like Marvin Bagley could sign on for $200k and then sign a $2M/year deal with Nike and start making real money.

Exum sat out entirely and kept his draft stock pretty strong.

 

[gossie21]

Exum sat out entirely and kept his draft stock pretty strong.

True, but using Exam as a basis for a career decision is risky. He hasn't lived up to his billing yet, although youth and injury play into that. At any rate, he doesn't exactly fit into the equation for HS players deciding between foreign pro leagues, 2-way contracts, or college.

 

[Aike]

True, but using Exam as a basis for a career decision is risky. He hasn't lived up to his billing yet, although youth and injury play into that. At any rate, he doesn't exactly fit into the equation for HS players deciding between foreign pro leagues, 2-way contracts, or college.

No, just another data point on non-traditional paths to the NBA.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

The method the NBA could use is all players are NBA draft eligible. But if you are not 19 and one year removed from HS, you must sign the 2-way contract.
It gives you access to the pro team, gets you in their system, but the vast majority of your games (except for 45 days) will be in the G-League.
You paid G-League money for those games and NBA money for the time you spend in the NBA.
The salary will be based on the draft position.
So take a player like Michael Porter. He would have been drafted (for example) 6th this year with a salary of $3.2mm.
Because of his age he would have to play in the G-League. Every G-League game he would earn his $1,000 per game and for every NBA game he would earn his nearly $40,000. In 45 days, the teams play about 20 games.
A player gets great financial reward, plays against NBA players, trains how the NBA wants them to train and are under the NBA control.
Just a thought.

 

[Dablueman]

I'm not sure exactly how it works but the part about the draft isn't true. Players could go straight from HS to the D League for a few years now. I heard Adam Silver say it in an interview with Dan Patrick a few weeks back.

But nobody did it therefore no real need to worry. If they start especially signing contracts then your gonna start seeing a change be made. Here is the deal. A lottery pick rookies first real money is his first shoe contract. Not his first NBA contract. Anyone who saw what Mashburn was driving as he finished up the semester in Lexington after his Jr year knows it was the 7 million dollar reebock contract that bought the lambrogini. Well that requires exposure and right now you get a lot more exposure at UK then u ever will in the D league. So why would a top recruit. Who is already turning down 7 figures to play over seas go to the g league and make 200 grand over the course of the season. When they can wait a few months and make 7 figures in endorsements as soon as the college season ends? Not to mention the fact u blow out ur knee ur first year in the g league well ur just toast with a couple hundred grand and no future in college coaches tend to honor the scholarships of injured players and let then get their education.