I was just throwing out ideas. The draft is something of an auction already. So, its a part of pro sports culture whether we like it or not. And the pay goes to the player, not an owner. So maybe we could call it something different for sensitivity sake, I just don't know what.
The original idea might be bad on its own merit, but I would not throw it out based upon a connotation.
Isn't pro sports in a different category than people with everyday jobs? Players do start with contracts and, at the end, can choose to sign with whichever team they wish.
The contracts start, of course, with drafts, which were designed to maintain parity, which makes it different from any other work category.
Actors sign contracts with studios. Recording artists sign contracts with CD labels. And even corporate executives sign contracts. They cannot just give two weeks notice and move on.
Although I have no use for any kind of group prejudice, isn't this conversation taking place only because most NBA players are African American? But to equate it to slavery is an invalid comparison.
And isn't it the place of labor unions to handle this matter?