SCREENGRAB from Eric Menk/ YouTube
Amid all the brouhaha surrounding the reported trade between Kia and San Miguel involving the top pick in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft, a PBA legend had an interesting idea as he gave his two cents worth on the issue.
Former league MVP Eric Menk said that the league should scrap the annual rookie selection proceedings and allow the teams to sign the neophytes free market style.
“Can we please stop this charade every year called the PBA Draft? Instead of playing make believe, just let guys sign where they want,” he wrote on his Twitter account @EMenk30.
I’m all for 1) Eliminating the Draft (system is broke) 2) Eliminating the salary cap. 3) True free agency in the PBA #doubledown #freedom
— Eric Menk (@EMenk30) October 24, 2017
The former Ginebra bruiser even went to as far as suggesting eliminating the salary cap to allow the players enter a “true free agency in the PBA,” further elaborating his ideas on his podcast Staying Major.
Can we PLEASE stop this charade every year called the PBA Draft? Instead of playing make believe, just let guys sign where they want…. https://t.co/36HSwv8DMY
— Eric Menk (@EMenk30) October 21, 2017
Menk’s ideas drew mixed reaction from the public.
The ones who agree with him think that the abolition of the draft could allow the rookies, as well as expiring veterans, to have the luxury of picking their own teams, an event which is unheard of in the league.
@EMenk30 is correct pba is fooling us with this kind of trades. Maybe if direct hire other teams have chance to get quality player
— June Handig (@june_handig) October 21, 2017
Abolish draft. Take out cap on players. Strictly enforce team cap (assuming teams follow). Players deserve be paid as much as they can make
— Virgilio Paolo Layug (@vplayug) October 21, 2017
But some believe that it furthers the gap between the richer and poorer teams, allowing championship-chasing squads to offer boatload of money to bluechip players while leaving the rest fighting for scraps.
Bad idea. You should know that would benefit the rich companies & the fair teams won’t get sh*t. Come on Eric don’t be naive
— 🅱⚡⚡ (@SwaggyPilipinas) October 21, 2017
Bad idea… How about teams that dont have the money to even sign a named/famous player…
— Calvin de Leon (林文中) (@deleon_94) October 24, 2017
The trade between Kia and San Miguel are still pending the approval of the PBA Commissioner’s Office, and with the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft fast approaching, commissioner Chito Narvasa has to decide whether he’ll approve the deal or not before draft day comes.