The NCAA recently announced that winter sport senior athletes will not get another year of eligibility back. This is a gut-wrenching punch for seniors who put in the blood, sweat, and tears to get to this point. It’s a painful feeling as the ball stops bouncing for many of these players, but for some, their journey is just beginning.
Over the past week or so, quite a few players have declared for the draft including: Arizona State’s Remy Martin, Minnesota’s Marcus Carr, Colorado’s Tyler Bey, and Mississippi State’s Reggie Perry.
What’s been on my mind a lot lately is the logistics of the NBA Draft. If the season is delayed, will the draft also be? Players can often make a name for themselves in the postseason like P.J. Tucker or Fred VanVleet. Without seeing playoff performances, teams may not be equipped with their final personnel decisions. For example, a team may draft a center, and then in the playoffs their current center plays well, but it’s too late to resign him. If prospects are aware that the Draft is pushed back, how many players would declare knowing they would get a chance for combine like events and in-person workouts?
Could we potentially see a draft streamed online where prospects and teams are video conferenced in from home? Can you imagine if someone’s internet goes out right before their pick or during a conversation with a team? Perhaps the more imminent NFL draft could answer many of these questions. With the NBA usually gearing up for the postseason soon, they are in such a unique spot as their most notable games may be cut or reduced.
While the future of the NBA Draft has many questions, the Adam Silver and the NBA have displayed phenomenal leadership thus far, and I would look for that to continue. While the solution may be unprecedented, I have no doubts that all concerns will be evaluated and the best solution will be reached.
Jack's 2020 NBA Draft Blog 
I think the NFL and the NBA are in similar circumstances as their drafts approach. If either league does end up having prospects or even league officials stream from home, I foresee incredible technical difficulties. There’s no question that someone will have WiFi or computer issues and the production will be disrupted. I think pushing either draft to the summer is a good suggestion.
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I don’t think a player’s performance in the playoffs is going to alter a teams draft plans. Whether or not the NBA finishes the season won’t affect the draft, and changing the draft date doesn’t really do anything. The NBA Draft can be streamed, no live audience and no green room for the top picks, but they can live stream in the top picks from their home. Its sure that’s what the NFL will be doing as well.
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With me being one of those athletes who could have potentially came back if the NCAA gave winter sports that extra year. I find it all surreal and for athletes who needed the post play to make their mark what happens with them? Some don’t have the option to come back for another year. While some do and have to decide if they should declare or not. In my opinion I think we will see a lot of athletes declare but not with an agent to give themselves the flexibility to return to collegiate sports.
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Jack, I have enjoyed following your blogs and almost wrote about the same issue of providing seniors in winter sports an extra year of eligibility. I do believe you will see the draft take place this summer for the NBA, just as the NFL is looking at doing, and I do believe it will be streamed. Most of the leagues already utilize their ‘war rooms’ and are not even completely present physically at drafts. This could be an interesting way to have drafts held in the future depending on the success of how they accomplish them in the coming months.
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