Pushing the limit

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 19, 2005 | by Tim Buckley Deseret Morning News

The suggestion may seem ridiculous, especially coming from someone who needed just six weeks to determine college was not for him.

Yet Jazz owner Larry H. Miller is firm in his belief that there should be a minimum age requirement in the NBA, and he does not stop where even most of the issue's most-ardent proponents do.

"I'm a strong advocate of a 22-year-old limit," Miller said. "I'm about the only one that is, I think."

Miller won't get his way on the admittedly far-reaching 22.

Soon, though, even the brightest of high school stars -- regardless of their maturity, physical or otherwise -- might be banned from jumping straight to the NBA.

"We have proposed a raising of the minimum age beyond its present 18," NBA commissioner David Stern has said.

Heading into Friday labor talks between the league and its players association, the NBA was proposing 19.

Even if accepted by the union, the rule wouldn't go into effect before the June 28 NBA Draft.

That is why the Jazz had one prep sensation, Martell Webster of Seattle, in to audition Friday, and why they plan to have another, Gerald Green of Houston, in on Tuesday.

An increased age provision is hardly the only topic being discussed in current collective bargaining negotiations: Divvying of revenue, contract lengths, maximum annual raises, payroll limits and drug testing also have been on the table as a new agreement is sought before the current one expires June 30.

But, perhaps even as early as today, a proposal could be submitted for ratification from both constituencies that would drastically alter drafts in 2006 and beyond.

Age has long been a subject of great debate, boiling during the 2004 All-Star Game break.

"I have always promoted the fact that if a guy was physically and mentally capable of playing in the league, he should come," Players Association chief Billy Hunter said then.

It's been simmering ever since.

Stern went into the on-and-off talks pushing for an age minimum of 20, dropped to 19, and, for a time, "thought we had a deal on that issue." Later, the union altered its stance, pushing to permit the draft's first 14 picks to be as young as 18.

"We foresee a lot of complications in that solution," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said last Sunday.

Whatever the eventual agreement is, what's certain is that men like Miller and Stern feel strongly there should be some sort of minimum requirement -- and that not everyone does.

"In principle," said four-year University of Florida product David Lee, a potential late first-round pick in the upcoming draft, "I think what they're talking about is a pretty good idea."

Lee understands the notion of "trying to weed out guys that try to come out of high school that aren't prepared to go to the league."

"But, at the same time," he said, "if you've got a guy like a LeBron James, I'm not sure there's any way you can force a guy that's that talented to go to college."

The LeBron Factor

Anyone attempting to argue that high school seniors aren't ready for the NBA with at least one year of seasoning in college must overcome the reality that is LeBron.

James made the leap two seasons ago, going No. 1 overall to Cleveland. Today, he stands as a poster-boy for those who argue there should be no above-18 minimum.

"Every year," said Webster, a potential lottery pick this year, "there might be that one guy that could make it."

James was hardly the first preps-to-pros jumper, following a long line on on-court success stories that includes All-Stars like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady.

But he did it with such grace and immediate impact that even Stern grudgingly, perhaps, must acknowledge his place in the debate.

"The fundamental point I would argue . . . is really, LeBron was extraordinary out of high school; Tracy McGrady and others were not," the commissioner said. "They just grew to be All-Stars.

"There's no doubt LeBron was great . . . I just don't believe we should be in a position where, as a business matter, our teams are making judgments upon 18-year-olds playing against other 18-year- olds -- and, by virtue of being in the gymnasiums, encouraging these kids to think they are going to be drafted by the NBA and have careers in the NBA. Because they are not."

Certainly not all.

Miller sees James are an anomaly.

"They (high school stars) come out often with the technical skills to play the game, but rarely the emotional skills to deal with what happens," the Jazz owner said. "There are exceptions. Kevin Garnett was one, and certainly LeBron James was one. But, by and large, I think more of them get hurt than get helped by coming out early."

Stern concurs, and very much wants the league's scouts and general managers to steer clear of teens who skip the dorms and move right to the Ritz.

"The perception of the NBA looking at players that are high school seniors is not a great perception," he said. "I'd like to get NBA personnel out of high school gyms.

"We can talk about Kobe and LeBron and Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal -- or we can talk about (busts) Lenny Cooke and Leon Smith and Korleone Young and a host of others. The better business good, and the better community good, is to raise the minimum entry age from 18 to a higher number."