Dear NBA…we need a change.

Seven young men left the University of Kentucky on Thursday, headed for the NBA. Their careers set for them by some magic number in the upcoming draft.

I applaud them for the great years they had as a team. I personally think five of the seven are not ready for the NBA, but that is for others to write about and discuss.

What I want to talk about is a suggestion that their coach, John Calipari, made about the situation of early exit to the pros — referred to as one and done, although there were several sophomores in the group from the Big Blue heading to dollarsville. His idea was that the NBA push back its rules of allowing early college exit for players to enter the NBA draft. Players entering the draft should have at least three years of college under their belt before being eligible and should they decide to stay in school, for their third and fourth year, the NBA would pay for insurance on those players.

Let me explain what Coach Cal was saying with this. Say you are a twenty-year old and are very good at basketball. Good enough that the pros are drooling over you and want to draft you.  It will mean millions of dollars in your lifetime. Better than a PhD from A&M in farm science. But let’s suppose you like the alma mater and want to stay there for your last two years. Great. The school loves you for it. The alumni love you for it. Your girlfriend who is a sophomore studying nursing loves you for it. But what if you get hurt? (One of the Big Blue broke his leg this year. Ouch. That could have cost him millions.) But there is insurance to cover such calamities.  And the way the NCAA is letting bodies slam under the rim these days, you are going to have calamities.

This insurance is not cheap. It is based on projected worth and draft status. And right now, the player or his family must pay for that coverage. Like I said, it ain’t cheap. But suppose the NBA had to fork over the dough to cover these kids? Changes the balance of power just a tad.

Now a kid who wants to stay in school can do so and be protected by the organization that is wooing him for future employment.

It is a great idea. You don’t have to jump ship just because you fear an injury would set your future earnings back.

There are other proposals out there. Some are blanket three or four years in school until you are legible for the draft period. I even heard one writer suggest that a mock draft would be held each year for freshmen before they enter their sophomore seasons. Their position in the draft would then be solidified, but not exercised until their senior season. They would have a bonus paid to them if and when they graduate or at least matriculate through four years of college.

All interesting. All thought provoking. But one thing is for sure. The NCAA and the NBA are going to have to get together on this in some way. One and done is no fun for the school and the fans. It puts way too much pressure on the athletes and the coaches. Parents, too.

The schools invest a lot in the kids. And vice versa. It is a two-way street.  I want to see their future earning protected, but I also want to see them stay with the U of your choice long enough to enjoy all that college life has to offer.