[MemphisX]

If, like i expect, the courts to rule the NBA policy is discriminatory against American born players. What happens if all players that will be 19 in 2007 are ruled to have been unfairly left out of the 2007 NBA draft? Will players like OJ Mayo, Bill Walker, Derrick Rose, and Jerryd Bayless be unrestricted free agents able to sign with the team of their choice or will the NBA have some sort of supplemental draft process?

IMO I think this will be one of the biggest sports stories in 2007.

[OneBadLT123]

If, like i expect, the courts to rule the NBA policy is discriminatory against American born players

The argument is stupid. Why cant the NBA allow whatever age limit it wants without getting so much heat? I dont see why courts and lawyers need to get involved inorder to get this changed. Wait a few years and get into the draft. The NFL and NHL do it just fine with very few complaints...

[Tragedy]

Originally Posted by OneBadLT123

The argument is stupid. Why cant the NBA allow whatever age limit it wants without getting so much heat? I dont see why courts and lawyers need to get involved inorder to get this changed. Wait a few years and get into the draft. The NFL and NHL do it just fine with very few complaints...

Because an American born player who is 19 and graduating high school the year of the draft is being discriminated because he would have to wait a year (so he would be 20 by the next draft) while a player in a foreign country may enter the draft at 19, or even 18 if I am not mistaken.

There's an extra requirement put on American born players that is not on foreign players and that creates discrimination.

If there's a requirement it's supposed to be across the board.

[adhir1]

then the raptors got SEVERELY screwed..and should launch sometype of appeals process...because we wouldve had Oden this year....

[MemphisX]

Exactly, the problem isn't the age limit itself. The problem is it is applied differently to different segments of the population.

I think the NBA either changes the 1 year removed from HS provision or they are going to lose a court case.

[Ron Mexico]

I don't think the NBA would allow them to become free agents

[Diable]

I don't know what the rules are for foreign players,but I thought they had to be 19 too.

In the past the courts have generally ruled that stuff like this is none of their business.Essentially they have left the sports leagues and the various player associatons completely free to bargain as they see fit.Quite simply they seem to think that they have other things to spend their time and no interest in meddling with collective bargaining between any entities.I believe the Labour Department is left to regulate any disagreements and they usually work through independant arbitrators where ever possible.

[MemphisX]

Originally Posted by Ron Mexico

I don't think the NBA would allow them to become free agents

I don't think so either but what would be the alternative?

[rainman]

its called antitrust laws and pro teams do whatever they want as long as its agreed on by the league and the players union, the league was pushing for two years but had to settle for one. personally i would rather kids be eligible after highschool and if they wanted could then go to college even if they were drafted, (the mlb system), then they wouldnt be eligible till their junior year was completed. i dont like people going to college for one year and leaving, maybe that's just me.

[HKF]

International players simply need to turn 19 during the calender year they are drafted. Conceivably OJ Mayo could drop out of school and play in Europe for a year and be considered an international player. People laugh but if his parents legitimately moved to France, the NBA can't hold him to American rules especially if they made him a pro overseas.