Is the NBA really this naive that they are having the inmates run the asylum?
The draft ensures that these college players are not free agents. Once you declare for the draft you are subject to the draft rules. You are not a free agent to do as you wish. So here is what the silly league should have had in place.
Each draft eligible player will workout for the teams in the same order that the draft is structured. If you are Josh Jackson, you do not get to work out for #4 if you have not submitted to a work out demanded by #3.
That will solve this problem in a hurry.
Wouldn't solve anything. Teams can trade picks at any time. It would just make thing a scheduling nightmare for some players.
Players are no more inmates than GMs are. I don't see why Jackson should bother to schedule a workout with an employer he isn't interested in. The Celtics had all the power. They could still draft him and he would have no choice but to play for them.
Being in Boston would really hurt his early career due to the less prominent role he would have here. That means lost accolades and lost endorsements. Maybe he doesn't want to end up behind the SF we are trying to acquire and Brown (and Jae if he is still around). Maybe he doesn't want to be trade bait, just an "asset."
He was not a free agent..... the draft means nothing if a player can pick to work out for subordinate teams over preferred teams.
Clearly we weren't Jackson's preferred team. I can understand that considering the player depth on the team, talk of trading the pick and talk of signing Hayward. He can start with the Suns right away.
Players aren't required to do workouts, interviews, etc. They don't have to turn over medical information. It isn't common but it happens. Porzingis wouldn't work out for the Sixers because he wanted to play in New York. He may be regretting that choice now.
The only issue I have is canceling the workout when Ainge/Stevens were in transit. Glad it is being publicized. The agent's reputation should take a hit. As for Jackson, the first time we play the Suns I'd encourage our players to give him a welcome to the NBA 30+ point beatdown.