Sixers Off-Season Thread

[BigEd76]

For those wondering about the NBDL (which is where Williams will go), under the new CBA:

Perhaps the most significant development in the new CBA will be the creation of a true NBA minor league via the NBDL. Both sides were interested in making this happen and it was never a serious impediment to the bargaining process.

The league wanted the minor league because it wanted to give teams an outlet to develop younger players. It should be especially beneficial to veteran teams with young players, like Darko Milicic, who can't crack the rotation.

The players wanted it because it would create more jobs. If a team sends a young player down to the NBDL, he wouldn't count on their active roster. That job would, in turn, go to a veteran.

The NBDL recently expanded to eight teams. Stern said his goal will be to add another seven teams by the start of the 2006-07 season. However, deputy commisoner Russ Granik told Insider that teams will be allowed to begin sending players to the D league this season.

Here are the key terms of the agreement on the NBDL:

• Each NBA team will be allowed to send players to a designated NBDL team, along with an assistant coach to monitor the players' development.
• The league will eventually expand to 15 teams, and two NBA teams will share each NBDL team.
• Players can be sent down to the NBDL for only the first two years of their career. Veterans cannot be assigned to an NBDL team.
• First-round picks will continue to be paid at the rookie wage scale. This was a key concession to the players, who didn't want owners to use the league as a way of cutting player salaries.
• Teams will retain the rights to all of their players and can recall them at any time.
• The NBDL will lower its age limit from 20 years to 18 years. That means that high school players who are ineligible for the draft will be able to play in the NBDL for a year before entering the draft. That dramatic change gives high school players another avenue into professional basketball (and an income source) should they choose to skip college.

A minor league will alter the draft strategy of teams, encouraging them to draft younger players with big upsides because of the ability to develop players down the road. This could have a big impact in this year's draft. Big-upside players like Martynas Andriuskevicius, Andrew Bynum, Yaroslav Korolev and Ersan Ilyasova suddenly look much more interesting to teams than they did 24 hours ago.

Now that teams have the option of drafting players and developing them in the minor leagues, look for more teams to reach, starting in this year's draft.

Here's the NBDL teams:

Albuquerque (formerly the Huntsville Flight)
Arkansas RimRockers
Austin (formerly the Columbus Riverdragons)
Fayetteville Patriots
Florida Flame
Fort Worth (expansion team)
Roanoke Dazzle
Tulsa (formerly the Asheville Altitude)


Some "notable" players on last year's rosters:

Cedric Henderson 
Matt Carroll
Ousmane Cisse
Joe Forte
Smush Parker
Darius Rice (Jerry's nephew)

[hunt]

if an 18 year old wants to play in the nbdl, i wonder how they'll decide which team he plays for???

[BigEd76]

I believe they have a draft...

[rjs246]

So you mean that any ol' 18-year old can't just decide he wants to play in the developmental league and pick his team? Weird.

[BigEd76]

MSNBC grades

F

Philadelphia
Louis Williams isn't going to help the Sixers. He doesn't shoot well outside and he's 6-2. Who told this high school kid to stay in the draft?

[Geowhizzer]

I could see that pick if the Sixers had a first round pick.  They needed something that would help their team now, not possibly help three years from now.

[rjs246]

I could see that pick if the Sixers had a first round pick.  They needed something that would help their team now, not possibly help three years from now.

What are you talking about? The Sixers are totally set for this coming year! They're on the cusp of a championship! The cusp, I say!

[PhillyPhreak54]

I must say that the pick did nothing for me at all. I was hoping for that Andris-whatever guy who went right before them at 44. At least he has size and the pundits were saying he should've gone in the 1st round when SEA picked Petro.

However, everyone is blasting the pick and BK was on DNL (plus DiLeo's comments last night) and they're adamant that he is going to develop into something.

So I'm going to give it time to see if he does develop. He's still way young and impressionable and perhaps they can teach him well.

Since Larry left BK and his guys have done a good job at talent scouting, IMO. So I'll give lil' AI a shot.

[hunt]

lil' AI

[Rome]

LOL.  Double puke from hunt.  Nicely played.

[Drunkmasterflex]

I must say that the pick did nothing for me at all. I was hoping for that Andris-whatever guy who went right before them at 44. At least he has size and the pundits were saying he should've gone in the 1st round when SEA picked Petro.

However, everyone is blasting the pick and BK was on DNL (plus DiLeo's comments last night) and they're adamant that he is going to develop into something.

So I'm going to give it time to see if he does develop. He's still way young and impressionable and perhaps they can teach him well.

Since Larry left BK and his guys have done a good job at talent scouting, IMO. So I'll give lil' AI a shot.

Eventhough this pick is in the second round it reminds of when they took Dalembert everybody blasted them.  I will never forget Dick Jerardi saying this kid would be terrible, turns out he was way off.  I hope everybody is with this kid too.

I am with you though this pick does nothing for me.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

These guys still suck.

[T_Section224]

Sad but true

[PhillyPhreak54]

lil' AI

I put that in there just for you, bro.

[mikey418]

THE LAKERS SUCK!