Brooklyn and Chicago toss their hats into the D League ring as the NBA sets its sights on 30.
The NBA D-League has been growing in popularity and success over the past few years, with the number of teams swelling to nineteen for the 2015-16 season. The trend has been towards each team having a single-parent NBA club, and with Indiana’s acquisition of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants all the teams are now singularly affiliated. The NBA has been outspoken about wanting a D-League team for each NBA franchise, and after Charlotte announced last month they would be founding a team in Greensboro, NC, the count stands at 20 for next season. In the last week those ranks have now swelled even more.
Big Apple Expansion
The Brooklyn Nets announced Friday that they will once again have a D-League team tied to the organization. Five years ago the Nets worked out an agreement with the Springfield Armor to set up a “farm team” to run the same offensive sets and defensive schemes as the Nets, one of the first teams to do so. However, last summer the owners of the Armor looked to sell, and Brooklyn elected not to buy, and the Armor moved to Grand Rapids Michigan to become the Detroit Pistons’ affiliate as the “Drive”. Brooklyn’s time without a team will come to an end in Fall of 2016.
This team, already labeled as the “Long Island Nets” will begin their play next season in the same arena as the Nets, Barclays Center, before moving to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum once its renovations are completed. While no official announcements have been made, it seems likely this team will function similarly to their previous developmental team, mirroring the style of its parent club and working with a clear channel for players to move up and down.
Suburban Bulls
Wednesday the Chicago Bulls joined the D-League ranks, announcing they will operate a club beginning with the 2016-17 season. It was also announced that the club will play its home games at the Sears Centre Arena, located in suburban Chicago. Unlike Brooklyn, Chicago is yet to name its team, launching a “Name the Team” program over the next two weeks; however all entries must “end in Bulls” so the creativity is limited – although some of the guys over at SB Nation think otherwise. This addition will make 22 franchises in the NBA Developmental League, and it will make Chicago the 13th NBA club to own and operate a directly affiliated D-League team.
An Open Door in Washington
Earlier this fall Washington Wizards’ owner Ted Leonsis was on the record as in “serious discussion” to find a D-League team to play in Washington. Sometime next year the Wizards will open a new practice facility in the District, one that will also serve as the home arena for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. If Leonsis gets his wish – and let’s be honest, the man is a billionaire, so he generally gets his wish – he could use that facility to host a D-League franchise. While no further progress has been announced, it does seem only a matter of time. Should they go with “Washington Gandalfs” or “Washington Dumbledores”?
The Future of the D League
The NBA’s vision is 30/30; one team each for every NBA franchise. With revenue exploding and greater numbers of Americans following basketball than ever before, this seems not only attainable but almost a no-brainer. In addition, the successes of both teams using their D-League affiliates (both Golden State and Houston are heavily involved and invested in their teams) and players emerging from the D-League ranks (Danny Green, Hassan Whiteside) should encourage the last teams to get on board. One of Adam Silver’s passions is profitability, and he will try to guide teams in providing D-League experiences that attract fans, are affordable, and allow the parent teams to improve. The next few years will show if this is realistic on a grand scale, but for fans of basketball in Brooklyn and Chicago a more affordable option will be opening its doors next year. Fans in Washington and elsewhere may have to wait a little longer, but with the way things are headed, not too much longer.
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