Randolph Morris signs with Knicks

[CO_Hoya]

Very odd (link)

[Elvado]

Actually a briliant play by the Knicks and potentially by Morris. He picks his team and gets deal now, rather than after the draft. He's not slotted because he's a free agent.

[HealyHoya]

Very obscure loop-hole. Does it seem that this was Morris' grand plan or more something that he backed into...?

[hoyaclap]

healyhoya said:

Very obscure loop-hole. Does it seem that this was Morris' grand plan or more something that he backed into...?

I don't think it's that obscure of a loophole as much as it is an unusual path for a basketball player. I think the biggest loophole was the one that let him retain his amateur status and come back to UK. I fully believe that Randoph Morris intended on getting drafted (although I have no answers to why he never signed with an agent....I'd assume arrogance coupled with good planning). As far as I know the loophole is still in but I doubt we'll see it taken advantage of like this again, for the sheer fact that I think the NEXT Randolph Morris will just go to the D-League or overseas.

I think a good question that comes from all this is if the draft could be retooled to be more accesible to college players.

[hifigator]

That's a funny one. It looks to me that Morris played the system for all it's worth, and unless I am missing something, this all works out to the benefit of the player.

After junion, sophomore or in this case even freshman year, the athlete can declare for the draft, even if they have little if any likelihood of being drafted at that point in time. If they are drafted, then they could still potentially return to school as long as they don't sign with an agent. Presumably very few would, (return to school) but at least they could, ala a college baseball player after his junior season. But in most cases the player goes undrafted. Presuming he doesn't sign with an agent, he can still return to school. Then when he does decide to leave for good, he is officially a free agent until the next draft at least. In his case, still as an underclassman, he would have to declare for the draft again even to be eligible. So he could bargain right now with any team he wants and if he doesn't like the offers, then he could return to school or declare for the next draft. There must be somthing I am missing, but I just don't see much of a reason not to declare immediately. Worst case you are drafted, but with only two rounds and with the scheduled monies based on position, you could probably get by without an agent at least long enough to make up your mind.