Defining International players (Not Jennings or Calathes)

International players are defined as a player who has maintained a permanent residence outside of the US for at least three years prior to the Draft, who has never previously enrolled in a college in the US, and who did not complete high school in the US. Article X, Section 1(c).

Should the NBA consider expanding its definition of an international player? The current definition excludes players like Josh Childress (does not meet any of the three requirements), Brandon Jennings (he only meets the collegiate requirement), and Nick Calathes (does not met any of the three requirements). While, it has at least been rumored Childress was able to sign a contract without a buyout, it is widely rumored Jennings and Calathes had no such luck. Even worse, it appears that both were incorrectly advised an NBA team would pay the buyout or at least the first $500,000. Though Sonny Vaccaro was not the only person that thought an NBA team would pay the buyouts or at least part of the buyouts, it does not make the incorrect advice the players received less troubling.

As players struggle to gain leverage through lucrative offers from opposing NBA teams, they may look abroad for competing offers. Once scoffed at, Josh Childress, Earl Boykins, Nick Calathes, and others are bringing validity to this threat. It may become a particularly interesting option for players with limited options due to restricted free agency, like Josh Childress. Further, as team salary budgets are expected to decrease in the next two years, players are increasingly likely to be offered higher compensation abroad. The current narrow definition of an international player will offer these players no relief when faced with the buyout from their European team.

Who should bear this burden? Currently, the players (non-international players), even if they are incorrectly advised, must pay their entire buyout. While the players are highly compensated, and in some cases compensated so that they buyout may not be an issue, it will likely remain a factor in their decision to return to the NBA. The NBA's question is how much it desires to have these players in the NBA. Is David Stern as unconcerned as he claims or does the NBA seek to have the world's top players in its league?