Not sure I really understand. If as an organization you aren't equipped to handle a bunch of teens then don't bring in a bunch of teens into your org. I guess I don't get what is really materially different today than it was years ago. There have always been talented teens.
I mean, it's pretty straightforward. Like when the Cowboys took that WR who needed a babysitter. He's a beast on the field but the team did what they felt they had to do in order to facilitate having a talented guy on the roster.
The NBA draftees may not have needed babysitters, but they need a different support system that wasn't available back then. If a pick struggled on the court, you can't just bench them or they'd never develop. There's not much actual practice during the season.
The CBA (back then) wasn't really available to have a guy play real minutes, develop but be close enough to come back to the team for continued coaching. That is essentially in place now.
You can't just say, "Well, I'm just not gonna take any of these guys 'cause they're young." In that league, you can't pass on talent. Older players are too close to their ceiling as players. Not a winning formula.
And please don't give me San Antonio. None of what they do works if they didn't have multiple hall of famers on the roster.
