September 20, 200521 yr No longer will Dorrel Wright and other future superstars have to sit on the bench and never play, now they'll be able to develop in the NBDL and then be called up to the show. NBDL to serve as farm clubs BY BARBARA BARKER STAFF WRITER September 20, 2005 What do the Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Bobcats and New York Knicks have in common? They're all going to be paying extra attention to a team called the Fayetteville Wildcats. The NBA took its first significant step in establishing a formal minor league when it assigned each of its 30 teams to one of eight National Basketball Developmental League teams. The league also announced some details of its new program, including allowing NBA teams to send first- and second-year players down to their affiliate. "This has been received very positively by the clubs," NBA vice president Stu Jackson said. "As our league is continuing to get younger and younger, and our draft is one of drafting potential, this gives them an avenue to develop the player quicker and under game conditions." The NBDL - or D-league, as it is being marketed - is owned by the NBA and has been around for four seasons. The league, which plays in smaller markets, has mostly been a stomping ground for has-beens, never-beens and longshots. The infusion of young, drafted talent could change all that. Under the new rules, players can be sent down as many as three times, but no team can have more than two players on their farm team at once. D-league players sent down still will receive NBA salaries and benefits. NBDL team assignments Fayetteville, N.C.: Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, Detroit Pistons. Austin, Texas: Denver Nuggets, Spurs, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers. Fort Worth, Texas: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers. Arkansas: Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors. Florida: Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves. Tulsa, Okla.: New Orleans Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls. Albuquerque, N.M.: Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics. Roanoke, Va.: New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards. http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/n...tball-headlines
September 20, 200521 yr Author Another article.... New York, NY (Sports Network) - The National Basketball Association has strengthened its ties with the NBA Development League, announcing Monday an assignment system that allows NBA teams to send players in their first or second year down to their new affiliates for an unlimited amount of time. The eight NBDL programs will work with three or four NBA teams each, with many division rivals lumped together in the new system. For instance, the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets and Washington Wizards can assign players to the Roanoke Dazzle; the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Hornets can suit up players for the Tulsa 66ers; and players for the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers can be members of the Austin Toros. "This is another step in the right direction to assist in the continuing development of players," said Stu Jackson, the NBA Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations. "It has long been our goal to have team affiliations between the NBA and the D-League, and this structure should be mutually beneficial to both leagues and the players." Each NBA team can assign any player with under two years experience to their new D-League affiliate. They will not be permitted, however, to have more than two players on assignment at once. Also, an individual athlete may not be sent down more than three times in one season, but there is no time limit for how long an assignment may last. "This is terrific news for basketball fans in D-League markets," said NBDL President Phil Evans. "Now, in addition to seeing the best basketball players in the world not playing in the NBA, they will have the opportunity to see current NBA players as well, some of whom will be future NBA stars. We've now made a quality entertainment product even better." Each player will be carried on the Inactive List of his NBA team while on assignment. Other assignments include: Phoenix, Sacramento, Seattle and Utah for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds; Atlanta, Cleveland, Memphis and Toronto for the Arkansas RimRockers; Charlotte, Detroit and New York for the Fayetteville Patriots; Boston, Miami, Minnesota and Orlando for the Florida Flame; and Dallas, Golden State, LA Lakers and Portland for the Fort Worth Flyers.
September 20, 200521 yr Is there enough players and a large enough draft to really make htis beneficial? Alot of times even late 2nd rounders contribute to a teams sucess in their first year.
September 20, 200521 yr eh ... european leagues are better off. plus they get to really learn the game but as long as they dont have stupid high school immature thugs that cant play in the NBA im all for it
September 20, 200521 yr It works as two fold...Players develop and sales go up for NBDL products/tickets.
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