http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22958288/five-star-recruit-darius-bazley-decommit-syracuse-join-g-league

The G League will have the most to offer, considering that is the development league for the NBA. I will get more out of that than going overseas. The G League is the closest thing to the NBA."

Bazley is the first five-star prospect to skip college for the G League, after several players have gone the overseas route. Like most high school players, Bazley is ineligible for the 2018 NBA draft because he's not one year removed from his graduating class. In the past, if a player was ruled ineligible for college or wanted to skip college, he generally went overseas -- like Brandon Jennings, Emmanuel Mudiay and Terrance Ferguson.

The G League has changed many of its financial rules in the past year, including the addition of two-way contracts between the NBA and G League, and guaranteed money if a player went to an NBA team camp -- but none would apply to Bazley. It also raised its salaries, although without the two-way and camp options, Bazley won't make more than $26,000 in G League earnings next season, according to the tiered salary structure of the developmental league, a source told ESPN. Having turned professional, though, Bazley is now able to receive endorsements and shoe contracts.

Its possible they look to raise the tiered salary to make the league more appealing to high school prospects down the road if they really want to build it up.

CrushAlot wrote:

EnySpree wrote:It's great for the nba and for prospects out there. Nobody thinks for themselves. They just copy. The NCAA and the nba draft isn't the only way to make it. One of these big prospects need to do this and just dominate. Become a g league all star at 18-19 years old. Skip the draft all together and just get called up. Fuuuuuuuck the NCAA.

I don't think he can get called up until his class goes through the draft. Not sure that this is the best way for him to go. Syracuse, the college and the community, takes care of its atheletes after they graduate. He also would be receiving really good coaching at SU and would get to experience life a bit.

College life... I guess being on the road as an adult without having to go to class and devote every day to a college coach making zero money, not being able to work or receive any help is not the way to go

Nalod wrote:

EnySpree wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

EnySpree wrote:It's great for the nba and for prospects out there. Nobody thinks for themselves. They just copy. The NCAA and the nba draft isn't the only way to make it. One of these big prospects need to do this and just dominate. Become a g league all star at 18-19 years old. Skip the draft all together and just get called up. Fuuuuuuuck the NCAA.

I don't think he can get called up until his class goes through the draft. Not sure that this is the best way for him to go. Syracuse, the college and the community, takes care of its atheletes after they graduate. He also would be receiving really good coaching at SU and would get to experience life a bit.

College life... I guess being on the road as an adult without having to go to class and devote every day to a college coach making zero money, not being able to work or receive any help is not the way to go

There is more than one path?
In Europe the kids play “club” and if their family is not around they live with a host one.
Kids do go to school part of the day. Much like JUniors hockey in canada.
Sure, the kid can go to te army, so why not play Gleague? Perhaps it depends on how much practice time they get. In college there are fewer away games, and lots of coaches 24/7.
This also depends on the kid. Three are some life experiences and relationships that can gained even in the one year at school. Dealing with injury can also have an effect.
I’m for a kid having choices and Gleague should be one.

Me personally, I would want to experience at least one yr of college life if I was a prospect like Bazely.

But each person is different. If he doesn't care for the things college has to offer then there is no reason for him to force it.

For the G-league this is great that they get a test subject like this as its inevitable that G-league will start to develop stronger infrastructure. They may even start to steal some euros who aren't getting big mins on the adult club. I don't know if they will get a lot of 5 star recruits regularly going forward. But kids might be willing to leave the NCAA early even if they aren't ready for NBA if they feel it will get them more prepared. As well as an actual salary. Given the financial situations of some families it may be necessary.

If he does well, he can't be signed to an NBA contact until he gets drafted.

CrushAlot wrote:

Andrew wrote:Huge, huge financial risk for him unless he grabs some endorsement $$. $26K max salary and needs to pay his own housing, etc? A lucrative overseas contact probably would have been more $, and included living expenses. Is exposure in the G league better than a pro-league overseas? Maybe.

If he does well, he can't be signed to an NBA contact until he gets drafted.

That is what I thought. Not a lot of money as a g league guy. Hopefully he cleans up with endorsements. Otherwise I think college or overseas were both better options.

I didn't realize he would need to get drafted...

I'm excited that the G League is beginning to be considered as a viable option though

CrushAlot wrote:

Andrew wrote:Huge, huge financial risk for him unless he grabs some endorsement $$. $26K max salary and needs to pay his own housing, etc? A lucrative overseas contact probably would have been more $, and included living expenses. Is exposure in the G league better than a pro-league overseas? Maybe.

If he does well, he can't be signed to an NBA contact until he gets drafted.

That is what I thought. Not a lot of money as a g league guy. Hopefully he cleans up with endorsements. Otherwise I think college or overseas were both better options.

Cartman718 wrote:

Bernard30 wrote:I hate the move for the kid. He was going to go and possibly dominate against a bunch of 17-21 year old kids, get plenty of minutes and be a "go to" type guy. Now he's going to be up against former college ballers who are bigger, stronger and much more experienced. Obviously, only time will tell but I think going to the G League and getting less playing time and possibly struggling will do nothing for his confidence and/or to up his draft stock. Plus, college is a dreamworld for a guy like that. Class doesn't really matter when you're one-and-done anyway. I'm very interested to see how this works out but I personally think it's the "wrong" move.

going to college...he's competing against 100s of colleges with 1000s of college players, vs g-league = 15 x 30 = 450, at least he will know whether he can grow into that sooner rather than later...AND earn money at the same time.
look at Dotson and several other 2nd rounders...they get their playing time in G-League anyway. At the very least, he's already on par with them as far as experience. So 1 yr college min and 1 year G-League (like Dotson) vs 2 years G-League earning money and gaining NBA rules experience...to me that makes him more NBA ready at the end of 2 years.

Can we say someone like Dotson is truly ready to contribute consistently off the bench vs someone like Troy Williams?
Anytime we are taking money away from NCAA and putting it in the hands of the actual players...I will always be in favor of that.

Nobody here is wrong. Each player has his own unique circumstance.
Mudiay's family needed the money. Some players, like THjr certainly did not.
Jalil Oka4 had a great season, won a national chip and was the third player taken, the money was significant. The kid came and for the first few weeks of the season he was the real deal. Has not been the same since. IM not sure what the problem is. He can't even get off the bench in Brooklyn.
If its money, he did real good. But if he was looking at making the best pro career perhaps it warrants (With hindsight)to review him and maybe if there was a maturity issue would he have been better to have stayed a few years?
Is the issue of jumping from high school to the pros all about money? The thing is if there is to be any issues with a player the Gleague is still a pro league. He is an adult and treated like one. Might be even worse at the gleague because its game to game its about proving ones self. I have known a few hockey players who played in the minors and they said its awful because you are playing for your life. Its one thing to face intense competition but its another to get it from your teammates who yoru trying to crawl over. This is the game and nobody put a gun to his head and made him do it, he chose that life. Its like that until you get a guaranteed contract.
This kid if he is good will be the first to be drafted by an NBA team from the Gleague? What team does he go to? THey do have a draft. Will that team develop the kid as they likely won't have any stake in him. True with lots of players but they can sign them, not him until he is drafted. IN college he is recruited and is promised a starting job and will be featured. He will be heralded as the new guy and welcomed to the family. He will have coaching and trainers at his call. If he is in NY he will train in the same place as knicks but not in most other cities. Even so, he is not part of any NBA team.
See the problem? So unless he is a bonafide blue chip the endorsement money won't be substantial unless a team is buying into the potential. How many high school kids have the hype right now for endorsements? In college he will actually be marketed by the school to sell tickets and increase ratings. THat adds value to his brand. The gleague team might do it for the same reasons, but really, who watches those games on TV besides a few of us?
Every few years there is a LeBron type who is ready. Its rare.
IM all for getting these kids money as 18 year olds and now they can. Is it a lot? No, but if market demand is high there is more money in Europe or China.
If NBA teams really want minors they can draft the kids, let them go to college (team pays) and perhaps gives them a cap amount to live nicely for them and family.
Kid can develop for a year in the Gleague, and team can invest in the coaching/time or send them to college.
Big question is how does the kid pick a school? Does it create other crooked activity? Must the kid finish the season in college? Can he "Intern" in the summer with the pro team? How many kids per team are allowed this? Do you have more than two rounds of draft to fulfill demand? Can you trade a kids rights while still in school?
There is validity to grooming a player to learn how to play infront of tens of thousands in an arena and be a starter or featured player. Currently college can do this. Gleague he will get $26,000, sit on the bench and play in front of 2,000 fans while riding buses to many games.
Kid better tear it up or he is screwed. Not get injured either.