Question about 2nd round draft rights

Brooklyn Zoo · Post #1 » by **Brooklyn Zoo** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:26 pm

Can anyone give me a solid run down of what exactly 2nd round draft rights mean fir the player and team? I know that 1st round picks get a certain salary scale and at least two guarenteed years, but what about 2nd round picks? How long cana team hold a players 2nd round rights without signing them? Is there any benefit to a player,or would going undrafted allow them more of a chance to sign into a better situation?

Post #2 » by **Three34** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:37 pm

Can anyone give me a solid run down of what exactly 2nd round draft rights mean fir the player and team?

It means that if that player wants to play in the NBA, that's the only team they can sign with.

[quote[I know that 1st round picks get a certain salary scale and at least two guarenteed years, but what about 2nd round picks? [/quote]

No scale at all. You can give them everything from a guaranteed maximum deal to an unguaranteed one year minimum. Or you can never sign them at all.

How long cana team hold a players 2nd round rights without signing them?

For as long as they keep playing professionally somewhere, as long as you do the paper work.

Is there any benefit to a player,or would going undrafted allow them more of a chance to sign into a better situation?

If you go undrafted, you can sign with whomever you choose, which is an advantage. But the CV boost of being drafted is pretty significant too.

Brooklyn Zoo · Post #3 » by **Brooklyn Zoo** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:53 pm

Thanks! So if a player is draftedin the second round and doesn't sign with that theam, but also doesn't play elsewhere, when would their draft rights lapse? I thought I read on the Larry Coons thing that they would be eligible for redrafting the following year, and / or released after one year to general free agency.

Post #4 » by **Three34** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:55 pm

Yeah, but that never happens.

desert_scar · Post #5 » by **desert_scar** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:30 pm

But see there also is a clause in the CBA that the team has to offer some kind of contract to keep draft player rights. It is not clear to me if the player can take the contract (say the worst possible, min with as little money guaranteed), force the team in effect to waive him, and then be picked up by waivers from another team?

Butler for Mia is an interesting case. He is a 1st round talent rehabbing from injury and thus picked up in the 2nd round. I could see his agent saying if Mia doesn't offer a contract just rehab the full year and try to be a 1st round pick next year. Or like I said, could he take whatever contract is offered, not make the 15 man regular season roster, than be picked up from someone else this season? I have look at various sources and nothing, including Coon and the CBA, is crystal clear on this issue.

Dunkenstein · Post #6 » by **Dunkenstein** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:25 am

In order for a team to retain the rights to a player drafted in the second round it must submit a Required Tender to the player by July 15 following the draft. The Required Tender is usually for one year at the rookie minimum salary and is not guaranteed. If a player accepts the Required Tender, he must take and pass a physical exam. If he fails the physical, the tender is withdrawn, but the team still holds his rights.

So a healthy player could accept the Required Tender, and if waived before the start of the season, he would become an unrestricted free agent and could be subsequently signed by another team.

In Butler's case, if he accepted the Required Tender, he would most likely fail his physical, have his Required Tender withdrawn, and still remain the property of Miami. Depending on how long his rehab takes, it might be a better option for him to sit out the entire season and re-enter next year's draft.

Required Tender in the definitions section at the beginning of the CBA, and Art II, Sect 12 (h) (iii) are the relevant sections covering this situation.

desert_scar · Post #7 » by **desert_scar** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:04 am

Thanks Dunkenstein.

I have a follow up. How come more 2nd round players don't accept the required tender even if they think they will be waived so that they could become free agents and sign with other teams?

Is really the only disadvantage of being a 2nd round pick that they are locked into the drafting team for a summer/training camp, because they could force the team to sign them (or the league min--even if only paid prorated for their days of employment) or cut them by the season start. (though I know this puts them at a disadvantage in securing a contract in Europe or another NBA team those few months after they are drafted--that seems a small bump for getting to be a free agent later).

Post #8 » by **Three34** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:36 am

Teams drafted you because they wanted you. It's best to maximise that by signing when they want you.

answerthink · Post #9 » by **answerthink** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:45 am

As a minor update to Dunk’s answer, second round picks need to be extended a Required Tender by September 5, which affords the player until at least the immediately following October 15 to accept. By then, many second round picks who believe they have no realistic chance to make an NBA roster will have already committed to playing elsewhere. Others do as you suggest and are eventually waived. Still others secure a spot.