If all players were paid minimums plus performance bonus, there would be less incentive to sign the player for 'upfront' money, less 'upfront' money for the agent. And less money wasted on players like Russell.

Regulation of agents by the NCAA would probably work better than the current scheme.

The NCAA should tell the athletes "If you work with a registered, approved agent, you're good to go. If you work with a wildcat agent, you're ineligible, and your school is subject to sanctions." It would immediately put the onus on the agents to be registered. Unregistered agents would become pariahs.