Minimum NBA Draft Age

There is a lot of speculation surrounding the NBA lockout, and everyone seems to have the latest scoop. It is the perfect storm for wild theories to grow legs and become stories of their own as no real information is released about the negotiations. Here in Kentucky, we’re doing just fine, gearing up for Tuesday’s match-up in MSG. We are all (no so) secretly hoping that the new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) between the NBA Player’s Association and the Owners includes a clause that sets the minimum draft age at 20. It would be incredible to have these kids on campus an extra year to be sure, but we don’t really know what’s going on behind the lock out. Here’s what we do know:

1. The minimum age was 18 until the 2005 CBA, which raised that age to 19.

2. The NBAPA proposed lowering that age to 18 in December of 2010.

3. In April, 2/3 of team owners were reportedly in favor of raising the age to 20.

4. Yesterday, ESPN reported that the players are expected to reject a proposal from owners that contains a clause raising the draft age to 20.

Outside of that, there are literally hundreds of opinions on the web on the issue of the minimum draft age. However, it doesn’t seem to be a hot button issue for the union, at least in relation to revenue share, NBADL demotion etc. That lends to the assumption that if the owners want it, and the players aren’t fully against it, then it will happen. And if it happens sooner rather than later, we may have the a really special team next year. What do you think?