OT - Mudiay signs 1-year, $1.2 million deal in China

[Fairview4Life]

i completely disagree. I think it's a much better idea to start earning money now. Especially for a guy already slated for the top of the draft.

[JN]

Too bad he didn't meet his academic qualifications.

Should have made his classes a priority as well as b-ball.

Not everyone is a great student, or even interested in the modest level of academic participation a player must do at some schools.

Problem is the NBA has no interest in setting up a proper minor leagues. They love the NCAA for the additional exposure it brings to the players and that it develops players better (Better facilities, coaches) than its D-League can currently provide.

The NBA totally disrespects that it is "student athletes" and not "athlete students". They are all about using the NCAA for their own greed. Of course the NCAA acts somewhat similarly, so I don't want to place the evil label on one party over the other.

Its time for the NBA to step up and give a real option to kids coming out of HS. If the NBA really wants these players to stay in the US, they should have a select team of players out of HS that they pay fairly well and that play in the D-League.

Who they pay would be totally at the NBA discretion. But I am sure they could rely on scouts to determine who is a real NBA prospect, and a HS would apply to be part of the team. The NBA could develop the players on their own terms (improved facilities for that team) before they are eligible for the draft the following year.

But as I said this would make the NBA less reliant on the NCAA which they have shown no interest in.

[PRESTIGE]

This is going to be a terrible decision for Mudiay for a number of reasons. I know the $1.2 million seems amazing now, but you have to consider his lifetime earning potential and how it's impacted.

This guy is going to be completely off the radar for a year. With even a middling season in the NCAA, he could come into the NBA with a much bigger endorsement deal, considering the hype train that built up around Wiggins.

He's also spending a year where the competition is mediocre at best, and the quality of training will be much poorer than in the NCAA.

If it hurts his draft stock at all, the cost of falling a few draft spots in the draft can cost $4-5 million over the course of his rookie contract.

Time is capital. Especially time as a budding star. Investing that year into his training and his brand would net a far bigger return than a measly $1.2mm, and that's not even considering the downside risks.

Fall off the radar in the country with the most people in the world? How does that work?

I would argue the opposite. If Mudiay succeeds, he will still be drafted highly, and still get his endorsements after playing well. On top of that he'll be known in China, so he can sign endorsements there as well. This size and wealth of Chinese firms are increasing every year. He can make a fortune just in that country without ever signing with Adidas or Nike.

And for Guangdong, this is a huge business opportunity. Target a high school prospect with potential every year, bring him over for a season, and then let him go to the NBA. Then build an alumnus of future NBA All-Stars. Get your name known internationally and build up your own program.

[DrCoach]

There are a lot of delusional hypocrits in this bread.

1.2 mil for a player coming out of high school and people are talking about 4 months of college being better for him?
really?

This kid is instantly set for life if he has good advisors, NBA money and potential endorsements are icing on the cake

Y'all are crazy if you think this hurts his stock

[CoachJReturns]

There are a lot of delusional hypocrits in this bread.

1.2 mil for a player coming out of high school and people are talking about 4 months of college being better for him?
really?

This kid is instantly set for life if he has good advisors, NBA money and potential endorsements are icing on the cake

Y'all are crazy if you think this hurts his stock

There seems to be some sort of irrational fear of a player foregoing college. Considering the majority of top prospects go to college for 1 year, it's not like they're taking the education part seriously. Why should they? Mudiay is in the running to be the number 1 overall pick next year and I doubt scouts will suddenly forget how talented he is because they haven't watched him in the NCAA tournament. They all know who he is by now and they will have time to work him out in the weeks leading up to the 2015 draft.

[DrCoach]

Too bad he didn't meet his academic qualifications.

Should have made his classes a priority as well as b-ball.

Why? He's making 1.2 mil at 18 yrs old to play basketball

[DrCoach]

There are a lot of delusional hypocrits in this bread.

1.2 mil for a player coming out of high school and people are talking about 4 months of college being better for him?
really?

This kid is instantly set for life if he has good advisors, NBA money and potential endorsements are icing on the cake

Y'all are crazy if you think this hurts his stock

There seems to be some sort of irrational fear of a player foregoing college. Considering the majority of top prospects go to college for 1 year, it's not like they're taking the education part seriously. Why should they? Mudiay is in the running to be the number 1 overall pick next year and I doubt scouts will suddenly forget how talented he is because they haven't watched him in the NCAA tournament. They all know who he is by now and they will have time to work him out in the weeks leading up to the 2015 draft.

Exactly

People are brainwashed

4 months of school is what we are talking about