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Agent Selection Scenarios: Syracuse Basketball

Going into the season, I thought Syracuse had a fantastic shot at winning the National Title.  As a #3 seed, the Orange still are in a nice position to make a post-season run; however, unfortunately for Scoop, Kris, et al., they have to make it through a very difficult East Region.  Will they actually put it all together to come out of the East?  The team has a nice list of alumni with NBA experience who are pulling for the Orange to succeed.

  • Carmelo Anthony – Leon Rose (Creative Artists Agency)
  • Donte Greene – Bill Strickland (Lagardere Unlimited)
  • Etan Thomas – Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group)
  • Hakim Warrick – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports)
  • Jonny Flynn – Leon Rose (Creative Artists Agency)
  • Andy Rautins – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports)
  • Wesley Johnson – Rob Pelinka (Landmark Sports Agency)
  • Jason Hart – Bill Neff (Saga Sports)

If you want to go real old school, we can talk about two of my favorite Syracuse Orangemen (that’s what they were called before it became politically incorrect), Rony Seikaly and Danny Schayes (I will also throw current FIU basketball broadcaster Jared Schwartz in the fold).  But let’s stick to the game plan and focus on this year’s Syracuse players who may have a shot at the NBA in 2011.

I was very high on Kris Joseph at the beginning of the season, and still think he has great pro potential, but his draft stock might have gone from sure 1st rounder to middle of the road or high 2nd rounder.  He is only a Junior, so he could opt to come back, which he may end up doing should Syracuse perform poorly in the Tournament.  Rick Jackson does not have that option.  The 6’9 Senior will likely be a mid-to-late 2nd rounder.  Looks like it will likely be a fight between Tellem, Rose, and Duffy.  The three are used to competing with one another.

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.