Categories
Headline NBA Players Sports Business

Positioning in the 2012 NBA Draft

Sponsored Post

When all else fails, try using some logic with a twenty or twenty one year old.  Logic might just sink in and have a profound effect on a possible draftee.

If you’re an agent reading this with a client who has declared himself eligible for the 2012 NBA draft, your client undoubtedly has a lot of emotions running through his mind.  He may even say to you, “I don’t care where I get drafted, I just want to get in and show them what I can do.”  At that point, you may want to advise your client of something else.  He and his family should care about the position he might be drafted, and you’ll do everything in your power to obtain a higher draft slot, as well as pointing out the following:

Take for example the perspective between being drafted at the number six position versus the number seven position.  The player and his family should note that, intangibles aside, the difference in first year salary alone is $222,500.00.  Yes, every player in his right mind wants that much more money, figuring how much more he can then spend.  However, it may possibly have much more meaning to him if you advise him it’s not just the $222,500.00, but rather more like a $400,709.00 difference.  Advising him if he took that $222,500.00, invested it at just 4%, in 15 years it will be worth over $400,000.00.  Training your clients to think future, and not just today’s dollars, may go a long way toward binding the relationship you have with that client.

Should you feel you need more examples related to your specific client, please feel free to contact me.

Disclosures.  The information contained herein is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.  Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.  Further, the information herein is intended solely to provide general information and does not constitute a promotion of any offerings or products.  Donald J. Kushner is an independent financial advisor with Arque Capital, Ltd., and does business as DK Sports Financial.  Arque Capital, Ltd., and DK Sports Financial are unrelated entities.  Securities offered through Arque Capital, Ltd.  7501 E. McCormick Parkway, Suite 111 North Court, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.  (602) 971-9000.  Member FINRA/SIPC.  Any unauthorized reproduction of this information is strictly prohibited.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.