Let me start my Journal Entry by saying this.....YES, most of these high school guys are ill-equipped for the NBA mentally and physically.
Having said that....there should NOT be an age limit in the NBA.
I've done a 180 on the subject over the last few years. My main point would be that it is hard to deny a job to someone if they are a high-school graduate....and the job doesn't require a college degree. I wouldn't think basketball is one of those. They may not be ready....but that is the fault of the employer for giving him a job.....not the employee that took the job.
Possible solution.....DUMP THE INJURED RESERVE!!!! The injured reserve roster space is one of the most absurd and abused parts of the CBA. Why did Jamaal Sampson have to show up on the sidelines of Laker games when he never played?? It is stupid.
If the NBA wanted its NBDL to be effective....they should deal with it like they do the Summer Leagues. Look at letting teams have a 16 man roster....with 12 active. The extra 4 would be used to play in the NBDL. Now, if an injury arose....the team can "call-up" one of its 4 NBDLers. This is pretty much akin to MLB's 40-man roster of the NFL's 8 man practice team. What it could do is allow these young cats out there to actually get on the court and play.....rather than be relegated to sitting and watching.
Be strict with it. Don't let NBA teams sign free agents of they have a full 15 or 16 man roster. Heck, I wouldn't be so opposed to filing down the active roster from 12 to 10 players. This would actually allow more of an opportunity for the HSers to play in the "minors". If you only get 10 men on your bench.....you're not going to waste it on a project. So maybe Darko would have been playing somewhere in the NBDL rather than just modeling a warm-up suit. And while he's sitting there.....Charles Oakley, and many other, are looking for a job.
And if this seems like a naive idea.....think again. Just look at this past draft. Look at how many foreign players were taken. Why?? Most of them will stay overseas and keep playing....developing their games. All the while, they aren't taking a rosterspot away from anyone. So everyone wins. Many of the Euros would rather play a year or two before coming over to their NBA squad. Some do come over anyways [like Darko]. American players don't have that option.
Think about it. The NBA is the lone major sport that drafts guys....then don't play them in an effort to "develop them"??? Why have people on the bench if you aren't willing to use them?? The only other place that occurs is at NFL QB. In the NFL, they may elect to have the rookie QB hold the clipboard for a season while a veteran starts. This lets the QB learn the plays. That isn't as difficult in the NBA. So why have Darko Milicic sitting on the bench all season long??? What did he gain by this?? I'll bet they just "worked with him during practice". To quote A.I......."we're talkin' 'bout practice!" Could Darko learn these things playing for the Ashville Flight??
When the MLB drafts guys....they go immediately to the minor leagues and started working with their positional coaches. Same thing in hockey. Tennis playes start young. As do gymmnsts. Freddie Adu is a 14-yr old MLS player. And, like I said about the NFL, the only position you could really just sit and not play is backup QB. Any other roster spot will either get playing time at that position or special teams duty.
And there are great examples all around. Like, Jermaine O'Neal. He barely played in Portland. Hardly ever. He goes to Indiana....starts.....and is one the NBA's elite players. What if Portland could have sent him to a minor league team and he got the court time needed to improve his game???
Where would the Blazers be now?
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