NBA Trade Rumors 2014 News: Jordan McRae Plays for Melbourne United, Still Owned by Philadelphia 76ers

By Max Bonto, Christian Post Contributor Sunday, August 31, 2014

The NBA Summer League is now over and the teams have selected their respective draft picks. Andrew Wiggins took the no. 1 draft position and is currently signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. There are other surprising picks however, like the case of Jordan McRae.

During the Summer League, McRae pulled off an impressive performance scoring more than twenty-points each in three of four games. Afterwards, the 23-year old had guaranteed himself an contract with the NBA.

He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the no. 58 pick in the NBA Draft but things changed when the National Basketball League tweeted a photo of McRae with the comment, "Get Ready! @MelbUnitedHQ have signed NBA draftee Jordan McRae to their 2014/15 roster."

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Despite having been picked by the 76ers, McRae has chosen to sign a deal to play overseas with CTI Melbourne United of the NBL. Even with McRae playing overseas, the 76ers still rightfully owns him, according to rule 51 of the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Rule 51 states the question, "What if the the team and their drafted player can't agree to a contract? What options does the player have? How long does the team keep his draft rights?"

Directly quoted from the CBA itself, it states that;

"If the player is already under contract to, or signs a contract with a non-NBA team, the team retains the player's draft rights for one year after the player's obligation to the non-NBA team ends. Essentially, the clock stops as long as the player plays pro ball outside the NBA. Players are not included in team salary during the regular season while the player is under contract with a non-NBA team."

While the 76ers still owns McRae, he will not be playing for the team during the regular season until his contract with the NBL expires.