I very much doubt the price of scouting a 2nd rounder will change. You don't scout a draft pick. You scout a draftee. Whether that will be used for your late first rounder, 2nd rounder, or a pick you're looking to acquire. I can't be the judge of that when you ask me to find the true potential of a draftee. What if you have a top 2nd round pick, scout someones true potential, then after already paying decide you want to trade to the end of the first round to get him?
There has to be some level of chance here. Think of it this way. When NBA teams go to scout draftees, is it cheaper for them to draft 2nd rounders? No. The fact of the matter is they spend less resources preparing for the 50th pick in the draft than they do for the 5th. The idea with buying potential is that it's more likely to be done for high draft picks that have more to lose.
Take a look at your league. I would have like to have known Brandon Roy's true potential. But at #20, he wasn't worth the price. That's a decision I had to make. I don't agree with the school of thought that "since it's less likely he'll be good, I should get his potential easier".
bods, that's not what i'm talking about.
Of course, BEFORE the draft is done potential of all prospects has to be regarded equal. Everbody could be drafted anywhere.
But AFTER the draft you have 3 groups of players: 1st round draftees, 2nd round draftees and undrafted rooks.
My question was this: is it reasonable to charge more than half a seasons maximum income to find out if MY OWN 2nd rounder I picked at #55 has any potential. Would anyone invest $200 in that ?
I know I'd pay $50 for each 2nd rounder to see, but if I have the choice to spend $400 to find out if Bramble and Smith can become backups anytime or get a $5mio trade exception for the same price, no way .... you get the idea?