On the topic of weaker class, I think its more so that top freshman picked shitty teams. I know Porter has been hurt, but it's this AAU mentality picking Missouri over a Kentucky which is hurting college basketball. Sexton is a monster and Alabama probably won't go higher than an 8 seed, Trae Young is on a terribly coached team who might be as low as an 11, Bamba isn't near the impact Ayton is simply because of the schools they picked. Look at Fultz last year, dude was the consensus #1 but played for a team so bad it really did not matter.
I think this is what affects the game more than anything, top players knowing they'll be a lottery pick so they go to an average team because they know a coach, play 30 games and bounce. It's really became a lot like college hockey, half your top teams are loaded with young stars, and half are loaded with well developed upperclassmen, but nobody really is dominant anymore