NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said the league is
concerned about the recent trend of high school players coming
directly into the NBA, and he predicted the trend will end "only
when a young player fails in his rookie season." According to a
piece in Saturday's WASHINGTON POST, Granik said the trend is
"not likely to continue for a long time because what's so
unfortunate is that there will be some failures. ... I really
think it's unfortunate, but the trend will cure itself." Granik
said he had no answers on how the NBA can stop migration, but
added, "We've made it clear to the NCAA that we're willing to
discuss it. But in the past, the NCAA has ignored our advice."
Two years ago, the league criticized the NCAA's rule allowing
non-seniors to enter the draft but return to school if they did
not like their draft position and had not signed with an agent
(David Nakamura, WASHINGTON POST, 5/11). Granik told Ailene
Voisin in Atlanta that the issue has been litigated and there is
"clearly nothing we can do [legally]. Together with the union it
might be possible to do something reasonable, although they have
always felt that there should not be any restrictions. And right
now, we're having a hard time talking to the union about
anything" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/12). CNN also examined the
issue. NBA Commissioner David Stern: "I'm concerned, but I
think it's really out of our hands. I think that the courts have
said we have to allow the players in" ("Sports Today," CNN,
5/12). One unnamed NBA official: "We don't want these kids.
They can't play in the NBA yet. It's madness, but what can you
do about it?" (Andrew Bagnato, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/12).
ONE WAY OUT? In Philadelphia, Michael Sokolove writes on
the National Rookie League as an eventual alternative for young
players. IMG's Bill Strickland said he is "impressed" with the
groundwork set by the NRL and gives it a 50% chance of "getting
... off the ground." NRL Founder Bruce Stern is raising money
through a Boston-based venture capital firm and expects the
league's expenses to be between $10-15M. He hopes to raise $1M
from investors, with ticket revenue, sponsorships and a possible
TV deal making up the rest (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/12).
NBA NEWS & NOTES: In Boston, Bob Ryan writes on Dennis
Rodman's book, in which Rodman takes on the NBA's marketing
methods. Ryan: "Who else ... during the last 10 years has gone
public like this to say what you and I here in Boston have been
saying to ourselves for years about the hijacking of our beloved
game by the marketing people who believe that true basketball
fans don't matter" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/11). In L.A., Mark Hiesler
writes Commissioner Stern's "displeasure" with Rodman's book "is
reportedly Vesuvian and filtering out through his broadcasting
minions" (L.A. TIMES, 5/12).
