The NBA and NCAA are ultimately businesses. That means there’s 2 important factors. Profit and imagine.
Profit:
OAD rule is the best thing that has happened to the NCAA’s pocket. The NBA has noticed and wants that money. “G” (Gatorade) league is the tip of the iceberg. More talent = TV time = more endorsements = more $. It’s all about the cheddar folks.
Image / Reputation:
The NCAA says it’s bad because these kids are “StUdEnT aThLeTeS.” They do not give 2 dumps if ‘X’ player graduates, they say this because they have to. — In retrospect, the NBA says they feel bad for college bball’s landscape and broke kids that can’t help their families financially. Truthfully, they also don’t give 2 dumps about the NCAA or a broke 18 year old.
If you aren’t picking up what I’m putting down from a business standpoint, let me simplify it...
The NBA wants to also own “college” basketball. That’s getting the cake, but they also want to eat the cake which leads me to the original topic/concern: Reclassifying players being OADs will not be a part of college basketball because the NBA will delete the age limit and instead say high school graduates.
NCAA is getting robbed with a wink and a pat on the back. They are shaking in their boots because no player of substantial talent (the NCAA’s money makers!) is going to choose doing homework over money. Their backs are against the wall because if a subpar talent that chooses college becomes elite, he won’t be immediately worth anything because that “fame” will have to develop. It’ll likely be late-season by time the world takes big notice. The next year he’ll be worth big $ to the NCAA and go to the G-League / NBA instead. Leaving the NCAA’s pockets bare. NCAA won’t stand for that..... They will implement some kind of rule, I just have no idea what. Possibly raising the 1 year minimum on the LOI to 2 years?
Just my 2 cents.... thoughts?