This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Ben Simmons didn't go to Louisiana State University to be a college student. He didn't even go to LSU to be a college basketball player.
In truth, Ben Simmons went to LSU because the NBA makes him bide time before he can declare for the draft and become a pro. That was made obvious when it was revealed he wouldn't be eligible for the John Wooden Award — college basketball's highest honor — because he didn't have a 2.0 grade point average.
Honestly, it's tough for me to blame Simmons. The mind of a college basketball player — from personal experience — can be awfully narrow at that age. Many are able to balance books and ball. Many — and I was one of them — are not able to achieve that balance. Everyone matures at their own pace. Some are late bloomers.
As for Simmons, he shouldn't have been put into that position anyway. At worst, he'll be the No. 2 pick in this upcoming NBA Draft. At 6-foot-10, he has a chance to be a generational talent. He's already in possession of a pro body. He passes the ball as well as any forward prospect since LeBron James, he handles the ball like a new-school Lamar Odom, and he's a superior athlete, capable of playing four positions.
He's now also a walking billboard as to why the one-and-done rule should be thrown out, or at least heavily modified. It sounds good on paper, not allowing a kid fresh out of high school to be prematurely tossed to the wolves of the NBA. But it does more harm than good. Or more to the point, it's making a mockery of the process. Simmons' plight is embarrassing for him and LSU. But in truth, he's a dime a dozen when it comes to blue-chip prospects matriculating on college campuses, doing enough in the first semester to stay eligible for the second semester and then never stepping foot into a classroom for the remainder of the season.
It happens all the time. Extra light is shed on Simmons only because he's possibly the best player in the country and, if eligible, would've had at least a decent chance of winning the Wooden Award.
Indeed, we have a bunch of players who have no intentions on being students, who simply want to be pros. And that's not a bad thing. If you are good enough to be a pro, go be a pro. School isn't for everyone. If you're good enough to become rich at a trade, I'm not sure anything should stand in your way. What NBA commissioner Adam Silver needs to rectify is that the process becomes stained when we promote the facade of these guys being students. They aren't. Right now, Ben Simmons is a mercenary. Except, he isn't being paid.
There is a way to fix this. Some high schoolers in the past — Brandon Jennings, Jeremy Tyler and Emmanuel Mudiay are obvious examples — went overseas and got paid for a year. That's not easy, despite the money. The game abroad is different from domestically. More than that, a high school kid going across waters for a year doesn't work for everyone.
The better solution is to adopt the baseball rule, with a twist. In baseball, you can declare for the draft out of high school, or you can go to college. But once you step foot onto that campus, you're there for three years.
I submit that would work famously for the NBA. Every year there are 10-12 players ready for the league out of high school. Let those guys go to the league. If any high schooler goes undrafted, he should be eligible for a Division I scholarship, and upon accepting will not be draft-eligible again for three years. And if you accept a scholarship, and leave after two, or even one, there's always the NBA's D-League.
Simultaneously, this rule will be better for the NBA, and for the college game. It's a win for everyone. It would weed out those who don't want to be students, and have no intention of doing so. It would make the college game stronger, because the players and the teams will be better. Fans of blue-blood schools such as Kentucky and Kansas and North Carolina won't have to familiarize themselves with a new crop of recruits every year. The D-League will even benefit from the intrigue of receiving prospects who don't last three years in college.
Maybe this rule is adopted, and maybe not. But one thing is for sure: The one-and-done rule has to go. It's bad for everyone involved.
Twitter: @tjonessltrib Boogie's gone
The Kings suspended All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins for one game this week, after he and coach George Karl had a confrontation during a game. Cousins has always been a volatile player. At this point, it may be in everyone's best interests for the Kings to trade Cousins. It's obvious Sacramento is one of the worst-run franchises in the NBA. It's obvious Cousins would love a fresh start somewhere else.
All about business
On Wednesday night, Grizzlies guard Mario Chalmers tore his achilles tendon and is out for the season. On Thursday afternoon, the Grizzlies waived him, because they needed the roster spot. It's not as cold-hearted as it sounds. Chalmers will receive the remaining money on his contract, and he's a free agent at the end of the season. Still, it's a sobering look at life as a pro athlete. It's hard to ever criticize an athlete for looking out for his own best interests.
Lost one
76ers center Jahlil Okafor has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn meniscus. The No. 3 draft pick has been one of the best rookies in the league, averaging 17.5 points and seven rebounds per game in his initial season.
Team of the week
The Hornets are rolling, winners of six straight, and riding the wave of Kemba Walker, who is turning into one of the best point guards in the league. Charlotte has gone from fringe playoff contender to fifth overall seed and could be a tough out for someone.
Player of the week
Everyone talks about Stephen Curry, but Klay Thompson has been almost as lethal for the Golden State Warriors. He lit Portland up for 37 points on Friday night.
Game of the week
Cleveland visits the Clippers on Sunday in a big game for both teams. The Cavs are trying to hold off the Raptors for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Clippers are trying to catch the Thunder for the third seed in the West.