A draft wont work because of the $$$ involved, and I don't think it's the answer - it's not fair to a player to have to settle for whatever Illawarra or Cairns are offering if United is willing to pay more, and it will send more Aussies to Europe if nothing else.

I would like transparency over the Next Stars program at a minimum. I would like preference to the worst performing teams (or ones with the lowest roster spend). Other than that, I'm ok with HS kids or draft-and-stash players as per the current state, I'd just like it on paper so we all know what the rules are.

Next Stars should all have to sign up by a specific time, all commit to a day where they get put through a "draft combine" of sorts, have a few scrimmages with every teams recruitment department watching in the building. Teams can put in bids for the players they would like on their roster with precedence given to teams finishing lower on the ladder from the previous season. If you don't bid on any players then move on.

Notwithstanding that Drafts are basically illegal in Australia, we're not going to get guys like Didi, Hampton, and Ball, if we impose too many conditions and try to force them to go where they don't want to.

The problem with Next Stars is that it has exceeded the original guidelines, and, if we're prepared to be honest for once, it's Didi.
We don't really care that the two bottom teams have Ball and RJ, but Sydney getting Didi stinks.

I would propose something like the following:

1) Return to 10 man primary squad.
2) As an 11th Man, teams can have a Next-Star, an "Asian Market Player", or simply play an extra DP.
3) Next-Stars broken down as follows:
A) Already drafted, or un-drafted but under a certain age, and the league deems them likely to be drafted next year.
B) Only first eligible for the draft next year, or similar.
C) Young Aussies forgoing College in America to sign on an appropriate program in their home city.
4) The subsidy paid for category A & B would be at the discretion of the league, using funds from the Super Tax.
5) Category A would also count as an import.
6) Category C would be paid for solely by the club. Except clubs receiving subsidy could apply for additional funding.

Obviously, the NBL needs to expand it to 3 per team along with increasing the number of imports to 4 and introducing a rule that every team must have a minimum of 2 players of Sudanese or African American heritage..

..and the white Australian kids can just about give it up completely.

or un-drafted but under a certain age, and the league deems them likely to be drafted next year.

The reason the Draft works in the US is because of money, and also because if you're a basketball player, you're happy to accept almost any taker if you're gonna make the NBA. Top line talents aren't going to feel the same way about the NBL.

"Obviously, the NBL needs to expand it to 3 per team along with increasing the number of imports to 4 and introducing a rule that every team must have a minimum of 2 players of Sudanese or African American heritage..

..and the white Australian kids can just about give it up completely."

LOL. I think the white Australian kids who can actually play basketball will survive quite fine. Brendan Teys is my litmus test. If Brendan Teys is still in the league, we can stand to be a bit more flexible on imports.

The day when potential Boomers future Boomers or future NBL starters can't make the league, I'll say we need to wind things back. Until then I think we just keep working on having the best league we can regardless of where the players come from.

"A next star draft won't work but, an nbl1 draft could work.
Take the best young uncontracted Australian and New Zealand players from the nbl1 season and make a small draft class and let the NBL teams pick from the draft class along the same lines as the nba."

I don't know much about NBL1, but would the uncontracted players be NBL standard anyway?

Strange thing to say, especially when two of those guys are Australian citizens.

The NZ Rugby Team has an all black starting fifteen. What's the big deal?