Can the NBA right the NCAA's wrong?

It has now been over a week since the NCAA and college basketball coaches instituted their heinous, self-serving rule that sets the cut off date for declaring for the NBA Draft the day before the start of the early spring signing period, or a week after the season ends.

The rule is atrocious, but you don't need me to tell you this. Every writer on every college basketball media outlet has (justly) ripped this legislation to shreds.

The rule may also be irrelevant.

Let me explain.

The NBA's deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is 60 days prior to the draft, or somewhere around April 25th. For any and all underclassmen considering declaring for the draft, the smart (read: stick-it-to-the-NCAA) move would be to refrain from making an official announcement prior to the NCAA's deadline. Since testing the waters has been eliminated, any player that chooses to declare will immediately forfeit all remaining eligibility. If the declaration ends their college career, what sense does it make for the player to abide by NCAA rules?

None.

While that only gives the prospects that are not guaranteed to be top ten picks only two extra weeks to gather information and make a decision, it triples the amount of time after the season ends.

But with a little help from the NBA, that time frame could increase. The NBA is currently facing the possibility of a lockout as owners and players try to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement. If the NBA was smart, they would reduce the deadline for underclassmen to enter the draft from 60 days to 45 or 30 days, moving the deadline into mid to late May.

Its not the same as allowing the prospects to test the waters, but more time to decide on their future would mean that fewer players would make poor, rushed, and ill-informed decisions.

That is good for all parties involved.

Except the NCAA and its coaches.

(h/t Marc Isenberg)