The D-League

[Rastapopoulos]

This is worth its own thread, especially given our need to develop players now. Turns out there was only one D-League team left that wasn't owned by an NBA team, the gloriously named and mascot-ed Fort Wayne Mad Ants (a team made up of whose alumnae are about to compete for the $1M prize "The Tournament"), and The Pacers are about to buy it.
Now, we used to own the Stampede, right? Which makes sense, because it's right next door, and there are very few Western D-League teams:

but (for some reason) we gave that up. So what now?

Indiana's decision stands to reverberate throughout the NBA, and could have far-reaching implications for other teams and the D-League as a whole.

Fort Wayne was the lone D-League team without an exclusive or hybrid relationship with an NBA parent club, and the 12 NBA teams without a D-League affiliation all shared the Mad Ants. With the Pacers purchasing the team, 19 NBA teams will have an exclusive affiliate, while 11 will be left without an affiliate at all.

As a consequence of Indiana's purchase of Fort Wayne, the 2015-16 season becomes quite confusing for at least 11 teams: the Hawks, Nets, Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and Washington Wizards.

The NBA will need to work out some system in which exclusive or hybrid affiliates host players from other teams, otherwise the aforementioned clubs would be unable to send players to the D-League.

That could create a moral hazard. A player assigned to another team's D-League affiliate is unlikely to receive adequate attention or playing time with the team totally uninvested in their development. That was a problem with 12 teams sharing Fort Wayne, and it will be an even bigger issue without any shared affiliates.

For 2015-16, it's likely the NBA will use some variation of the flex assignment system, which sees players assigned to exclusive D-League teams willing to accept an unaffiliated player, or otherwise directs them to one of the eight hybrid-relationship teams.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Another case of the Blazers not being able to get out of their own way. We have all these young players in need of development - and no D League affiliate. How could that go wrong?

 

[dviss1]

Should've kept our affiliate.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

I think Seattle deserves a D League team. How about PA puts one there? (Insert emoticon laughing hysterically here)

 

[dviss1]

I think Seattle deserves a D League team. How about PA puts one there? (Insert emoticon laughing hysterically here)

Haha. Cold as ice!

 

[HailBlazers]

Another case of the Blazers not being able to get out of their own way. We have all these young players in need of development - and no D League affiliate. How could that go wrong?

Well it could go right, by keeping them in house and actually develop them. The D league is Crap. Hell Tim Frazier was the 2015 MVP and it looks like he's gonna get cut.

 

[HailBlazers]

Should've kept our affiliate.

I like the Seattle idea, however mean. There was some drama with our affiliate where they wouldn't get in line with what the Blazers needed. Can be hard to force affiliates to develop your players in spurts while their simply trying to win.

 

[ripcityboy]

If and when the Blazers do start up another team. They will need a smooth talking entrepreneur to push their agenda. I got just the guy.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Should've kept our affiliate.

Was there a reason we didn't?

 

[ripcityboy]

Was there a reason we didn't?

My guess is that the Blazers REALLY had a falling out with the executives who ran the team. It's hard to get playing time at ANY level of semi-pro ball. That's why the MLB and the MLS have full control of the rosters of their academy teams. There is a small window for development and the players need to maximize this. A loan system with FIBA based clubs and the NBA would be a way to fix this problem. European teams have a much more extensive schedule and training staff available to them than the D league. Surprised it hasn't been mentioned before.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Now, we used to own the Stampede, right?

We never owned the Stampede, it was just an exclusive affiliate agreement.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

We never owned the Stampede, it was just an exclusive affiliate agreement.

That affiliation came to an end because they entered into talks with the Utah Jazz to purchase the team. The Utah Jazz did complete the purchase of the Stampede.

 

[ripcityboy]

My hope is that the Blazers put their D league team in a local area with a realistic name. Like The Medford Meth Heads, The Coos Bay Stagflation, The Vancouver Cankles....(ahh the lovely ladies of the Couve)

 

[SlyPokerDog]

My hope is that the Blazers put their D league team in a local area with a realistic name. Like The Medford Meth Heads, The Coos Bay Stagflation, The Vancouver Cankles....(ahh the lovely ladies of the Couve)

Gresham Gang Bangers!

 

[BrianFromWA]

In Kent, WA (about 20 min south of Downtown Seattle) there's an arena that hosts WHL hockey, among other things. It has a hockey capacity of 6500 (probably a little less for basketball). The ShoWare center. There's enough advertising/interest, especially if you use some of the non-NBA-affiliated slots for some of the not-ready-for-primetime talent in the SEA area, whether from UW or some of the better HS in the area.

I know many of you were joking about SEA getting a team, but it actually makes a lot of sense.

 

[ripcityboy]

In Kent, WA (about 20 min south of Downtown Seattle) there's an arena that hosts WHL hockey, among other things. It has a hockey capacity of 6500 (probably a little less for basketball). The ShoWare center. There's enough advertising/interest, especially if you use some of the non-NBA-affiliated slots for some of the not-ready-for-primetime talent in the SEA area, whether from UW or some of the better HS in the area.

I know many of you were joking about SEA getting a team, but it actually makes a lot of sense.

I don't think Seattle would except a Portland affiliated team, would they? They would have to admit we are culturally relevant in the first place. People in Seattle think that Oregonians are so incestuous that are family trees look like stumps.

 

[BrianFromWA]

It's not Seattle, just like Fort Wayne is not Indy and Bakersfield is not LA and Canton is not Cleveland, etc... You wouldn't call them the Seattle Whatevers, but the Kent Whatevers. I'd say go to Tacoma and use the Tacoma Dome, but it probably costs a lot more in overhead that you won't recoup and I imagine the concert dates are more solid. With Kent, you'd flip-flop with the hockey team and have stuff to do all winter long.

 

[ripcityboy]

It's not Seattle, just like Fort Wayne is not Indy and Bakersfield is not LA and Canton is not Cleveland, etc... You wouldn't call them the Seattle Whatevers, but the Kent Whatevers. I'd say go to Tacoma and use the Tacoma Dome, but it probably costs a lot more in overhead that you won't recoup and I imagine the concert dates are more solid. With Kent, you'd flip-flop with the hockey team and have stuff to do all winter long.

Makes sense. I know the hockey team is popular there.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I grew up in Kent. Is this facility on the east hill or down in the valley? Been about a decade since Ive done a memory lane drive around Kent, but I didnt know of an arena like that. Maybe next to the big jail in he valley? Near Kent Commons?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Again, this sounds like a bad fetish movie

 

[SlyPokerDog]

This is what's wrong with the Blazers. LMA said he wanted to play in Texas, why didn't they buy a Texas D-League team?

 

[BrianFromWA]

I grew up in Kent. Is this facility on the east hill or down in the valley? Been about a decade since Ive done a memory lane drive around Kent, but I didnt know of an arena like that. Maybe next to the big jail in he valley? Near Kent Commons?

Yeah, it's in the Valley a couple of blocks west of Kent Station, right before you go under the Valley Freeway. It was built in 2008 or so...?

 

[riverman]

Eugene has the population, the Padres minor league team in the Ems and the facility to provide the best D League situation for an expansion team in the NW

 

[BonesJones]

In Kent, WA (about 20 min south of Downtown Seattle) there's an arena that hosts WHL hockey, among other things. It has a hockey capacity of 6500 (probably a little less for basketball). The ShoWare center. There's enough advertising/interest, especially if you use some of the non-NBA-affiliated slots for some of the not-ready-for-primetime talent in the SEA area, whether from UW or some of the better HS in the area.

I know many of you were joking about SEA getting a team, but it actually makes a lot of sense.

ahh the good ol ShoWare Center. I was supposed to play in a high school basketball game there but I was suspended for sneaking in our sexy (female) basketball managers into my hotel room. They tried hiding between the beds when the coach checked. Never even got to suit up

 

[ripcityboy]

ahh the good ol ShoWare Center. I was supposed to play in a high school basketball game there but I was suspended for sneaking in our sexy (female) basketball managers into my hotel room. They tried hiding between the beds when the coach checked. Never even got to suit up

Driven From The Court By Lust new Harrlequin Paperback Romance Novel

 

[BonesJones]

Driven From The Court By Lust new Harrlequin Paperback Romance Novel

- Based on a true story -

 

[SlyPokerDog]

View attachment 5613 Eugene has the population, the Padres minor league team in the Ems and the facility to provide the best D League situation for an expansion team in the NW

How much would you pay per game or per season to watch D league basketball? How many Duck BBall have you seen in the last couple of years? I just don't see that many people being interested in the Eugene area or Ducks wanting the competition for fans.

 

[riverman]

How much would you pay per game or per season to watch D league basketball? How many Duck BBall have you seen in the last couple of years? I just don't see that many people being interested in the Eugene area or Ducks wanting the competition for fans.

Track town USA man..I have no idea what tickets cost for D league games but I'd try to see as many as possible. Brand new arena..parking, Ems fans would go to the games and they've supported the team forever. Eugene is sports crazy. We even have Rollerderby here, soccer. Phil Knight has deep pockets for sports in the community.

 

[Pinwheel1]

View attachment 5613 Eugene has the population, the Padres minor league team in the Ems and the facility to provide the best D League situation for an expansion team in the NW

Matt court is on campus. Parking can be an issue and you won't get students to go. They have a hard time filling it for the Ducks. It needs to be in a place where there is no other game in town. Maybe Corvallis......

 

[Hobbesarable]

Matt court is on campus. Parking can be an issue and you won't get students to go. They have a hard time filling it for the Ducks. It needs to be in a place where there is no other game in town. Maybe Corvallis......

They have football, parties, and booze. That's all anyone needs, right?