***Official Thon Maker Recruitment Thread***

[baagoe]

Haven't read thread but don't you have to wait a year?

That's where it gets murky. Requirements are you have to be 19 and a year removed from HS. Thon is 19 and spent this year at a post grad prep school which is unclear whether that would be classified as post HS. Will be interesting to see how they rule.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Just because im curious... How are age limits legal? Doesn't that be age discrimination? Aren't drafts themselves collusion and not a free and open market?

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Just because im curious... How are age limits legal? Doesn't that be age discrimination? Aren't drafts themselves collusion and not a free and open market?

Pretty sure any business can have age requirements? My company doesn't employs under 18 and you must be at least 21 to be a manager.

 

[IAStubborn]

Just because im curious... How are age limits legal? Doesn't that be age discrimination? Aren't drafts themselves collusion and not a free and open market?

NBA along with MLB and NFL have antitrust exemption in statute. The age agreements were agreed to in collective bargaining. As long as it is universally aplied and there is rationale behind it, it isnt discrimination.

 

[Messi]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojVerticalNBA 19m19 minutes ago
Wherever Thon Maker gets drafted, expect him to spend most of next couple years in the D-League. NBA execs have mostly seen him regress.

 

[Dingus]

Seems like going pro might be the best option for Maker if he is eligible. For some reason he seems like he could be more of a message board/highlight tape phenomenon than a true game changing NBA talent.

 

[CyTwins]

Arizona State is not renewing the contract of Brian Merritt who was Thon's lead recruiter

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Why wouldn't Thon go to China like Emmanuel Mudiay? If I remember, Mudiay got a hefty paycheck and still drafted in the lottery.

 

[HardcoreClone]

Why wouldn't Thon go to China like Emmanuel Mudiay? If I remember, Mudiay got a hefty paycheck and still drafted in the lottery.

I don't think Mudiay was a 5th year HS/Prep guy like Maker, so he didn't have a chance to "declare" for the NBA like Thon. Also, weren't there rumors the reason why Mudiay went to China was because he would have been ineligible at SMU? I forget the timeline of whether he went to China before or after the NBA draft occurred.

In this case, IF Thon is eligible for the draft, obviously anyone would try their luck with the NBA first, before looking for other destinations.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

I don't think Mudiay was a 5th year HS/Prep guy like Maker, so he didn't have a chance to "declare" for the NBA like Thon. Also, weren't there rumors the reason why Mudiay went to China was because he would have been ineligible at SMU? I forget the timeline of whether he went to China before or after the NBA draft occurred.

In this case, IF Thon is eligible for the draft, obviously anyone would try their luck with the NBA first, before looking for other destinations.

If he can go to the NBA now he definitely should, but the China option should be more attractive than the D League, I would think. I don't see much of a chance he plays in college next year, mainly because of academics.

 

[ISUME]

Why don't these guys that intend on going pro just go over seas when they are 16 years old and get paid until they can get drafted?

 

[CyJack13]

If he can go to the NBA now he definitely should, but the China option should be more attractive than the D League, I would think. I don't see much of a chance he plays in college next year, mainly because of academics.

If he's in the D-League after getting drafted and signed by a team, he would be on an NBA contract so he wouldn't be making the $30,000 guys most D-Leaguers get.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Why don't these guys that intend on going pro just go over seas when they are 16 years old and get paid until they can get drafted?

would you let your kid move to china on his own at 16 for $60k/year?

 

[EnhancedFujita]

would you let your kid move to china on his own at 16 for $60k/year?

China is pretty far, but lots of these kids leave home early to be on prep teams and stuff. Wouldn't be that unheard of for a kid that age.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

If he's in the D-League after getting drafted and signed by a team, he would be on an NBA contract so he wouldn't be making the $30,000 guys most D-Leaguers get.

IF he is NOT eligible for the NBA draft, he should play overseas, rather than playing in the D-League.

 

[CyJack13]

Why don't these guys that intend on going pro just go over seas when they are 16 years old and get paid until they can get drafted?

That's a good question. My best guess would be because it's not easy. The guys who have done it, Brandon Jennings Jeremy Tyler, didn't exactly have wonderful experiences. You're moving to a whole new country as a teenager, basketball immediately becomes a full time job, you're going up against grown men who are not going to take it easy on you, the coaches over there are trying to win games too, not develop American high schoolers so playing time is not going to be handed out easily. I think it would make them much better basketball players, but it's definitely not an easy route.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

China is pretty far, but lots of these kids leave home early to be on prep teams and stuff. Wouldn't be that unheard of for a kid that age.

I don't know how much a 16 year old would get, but Mudiay made $1.2 mil in his year in China. He could take his parents with him.

 

[ISUME]

would you let your kid move to china on his own at 16 for $60k/year?

He has been moving all over the globe to play basketball for free.

 

[ISUME]

That's a good question. My best guess would be because it's not easy. The guys who have done it, Brandon Jennings Jeremy Tyler, didn't exactly have wonderful experiences. You're moving to a whole new country as a teenager, basketball immediately becomes a full time job, you're going up against grown men who are not going to take it easy on you, the coaches over there are trying to win games too, not develop American high schoolers so playing time is not going to be handed out easily. I think it would make them much better basketball players, but it's definitely not an easy route.

These kids just bounce around from high school to prep school and fly around the country on the weekends for camps and AAU tournaments. I'm just thinking to myself are they really learning anything in school or in basketball with this method.

 

[LLCoolCY]

Just announced he is eligible. Surprised the NBA allowed right away and the courts didn't get involved. I did think Thon should be able to declare ultimately just thought the league would fight it harder.

@chadfordinsider Thon Maker was just cleared by the NBA to enter the 2016 NBA Draft according to sources. Story coming ...