Basketball decisions for D-League teams to shift to NBA clubs

[Fran]

By JOHN LOMBARDO
Staff writer

The NBA Development League plans to convert its ownership model into a structure in which franchises are owned by private investors but basketball operations are funded and controlled by its parent NBA teams.

The 16-team D-League, which next year will expand to 17 teams, has private ownership for all but three of its franchises. Three NBA teams — the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder — own their own D-League teams outright, but the league’s private ownership groups share multiple affiliations and fund both the business and basketball operations.

The D-League next year will begin to change to a more conventional minor league model in which parent NBA teams will begin to have single affiliations with minor league franchises and have full control of basketball operations. The league has just informed its teams of its conversion effort.

“We are still … changing the structure, but we are working on a model that will allow teams to control the basketball operations of the D-League teams without having to own the teams outright,” said D-League President Dan Reed. “NBA teams are interested in getting more control and giving the teams greater flexibility.”

The new model, however, does not mean that the D-League will look for short-term expansion to 30 teams to allow each NBA team its own affiliation. “We’ve doubled the size of the league in three years, but we are not going to grow at that pace,” Reed said. “We want to make sure we are sustainable in our growth.”

The D-League ended its 2008-09 regular season with an average attendance of 2,713 fans a game, down 3 percent from the 2007-08 average of 2,813, an all-time high for the league.

[jjbballfan]

This should help a lot on both ends of the spectrum.... More like baseball, where the investors will compete for the best bids from the parent club, so they can consitrate on making there franchise more attractive.... And the parent club can consitrate on more development....

[panchess]

The change should mean the NBA ends up paying all the player expenses, like MLB does. It will be tough for a D-League city with a NBA team stressing "development" and having a losing record. There have been a few AHL teams in that boat, and it's tough.

[a1sports]

Interesting is that some d-league owners have contacted the owners of the PBL. Seems like the PBL has the better business model.

[bdyer]

Being released for the requirement to complete a full season would be a godsend to many owners, I agree.

[skippy]

[quote=""a1sports""]Interesting is that some d-league owners have contacted the owners of the PBL. Seems like the PBL has the better business model.[/quote]


I agree that the PBL model is better. The D-league would be wise to follow that example.

First, allow someone with a vested interest in ONE team's success to make decisions for the entire league, definitely no conflict of interest there.

Next, when the rules don't benefit said team, change them.

Finally, fill the entire league with weak sister teams, and beat your chest loudly when you dominate.

So, next year I expect that Dakota and Iowa will each have their own league, with television contracts in China.