The declaration rate for underclassmen entering into the 2010 NBA Draft could increase due to the looming potential of a new collective bargaining agreement, but the rookie pay scale is unlikely to be a main issue in negotiations.

The NBA and Players Association agreed to shorten the length of guaranteed contracts for first round picks from three years down to two years during their previous CBA negotiations in 2005.

"It already sucks for rookies," one agent told RealGM's Christopher Reina. "It's not advantageous economically for rookies."

Underclassmen, particularly juniors, declare for the draft without hiring an agent in order to get a gauge of their pro potential and to ensure they are more prominently on the radar of general managers and scouts. That hasn't changed and won't change.

But layers who do decide to stay in the draft shouldn't be motivated by the CBA negotiations and the possibility of rookie contracts decreasing either in guaranteed years or dollars.

The NBA is most concerned with reducing guaranteed contracts for veterans coming out of their rookie contracts.

"It's not going to get worse (for rookies). You gain nothing by coming out (if you're a borderline draft prospect)," said the agent.

There were 51 underclassmen in the 2009 NBA Draft, up from 39 in 2008 and 32 in 2007.