NBA Announces Portland, Seatte as Stampede Affiliates

Published on July 5, 2007 under NBA G League (G League)
Idaho Stampede News Release


Boise, Idaho (July 5, 2007) - The National Basketball Association announced today that the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics will be the two affiliate teams for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League during the 2007-08 season. The Trail Blazers and SuperSonics had the number one and two picks in the 2007 NBA Draft. Each of the 14 NBA D-League teams will be affiliated with one-to-three NBA teams.

"We are excited to continue our relationship with the Sonics, and look forward to working with our new affiliate in Portland during the upcoming season," said Stampede President and General Manager Steve Brandes. "Our regional ties will be an asset to all three teams as we strengthen Idaho's bond with the NBA family."

The D-League's assignment system with the NBA will enter its third season in 2007-08. Over the first two seasons, NBA teams have assigned 53 players a total of 77 times, including 30 selections from the 2005 and 2006 NBA Drafts. Last season, a total of 47 former NBA draft picks played in the D-League. Lottery selections such as Portland's Martell Webster (6th pick overall in 2005), Golden State's Patrick O'Bryant (9th pick, 2006) and Seattle's Mouhamed Sene (10th pick, 2006) were assigned to their respective team's D-League affiliate.

"As we develop the young talent on this roster, the D-League will continue to be a tremendous resource for us," said Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard. "Oregon and Idaho are neighbors, so I'm excited about the regional connection and how we can grow our partnership to be mutually beneficial."

The affiliation system for the 2007-08 D-League season features several intriguing storylines:

- The San Antonio Spurs are the second NBA team to own their D-League affiliate, joining the Los Angeles Lakers. The Spurs purchased the Austin Toros on June 28 and will oversee the team operations from San Antonio. Former University of Missouri coach Quinn Snyder enters his first season as head coach of the Toros.

- The Detroit Pistons will re-connect to their roots in Fort Wayne, IN, as they will be affiliated with the new Fort Wayne Mad Ants. The Pistons entered the NBA in 1948 as the Fort Wayne Pistons. The Pistons will share their Mad Ants affiliation along with the Indiana Pacers.

- The Idaho Stampede will be the affiliate for both the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics, the teams with the top two picks in the 2007 NBA Draft.

- The Cleveland Cavaliers will be affiliated with the new Rio Grande Valley Vipers, which is owned in part by two Cavaliers season ticket holders along with several local owners in the Rio Grande Valley area. The Cavaliers share its Rio Grande Valley affiliation along with the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Hornets.

- The Boston Celtics will be affiliated with the Utah Flash. Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge played his college basketball in Utah at Brigham Young University. The Flash will also be affiliated with the Utah Jazz.

* The Memphis Grizzlies will be the affiliates of the 2006-07 D-League champion Dakota Wizards. The Grizzlies recently hired former Dakota coach Dave Joerger as an assistant coach. The Washington Wizards will also be affiliated with Dakota.

"This season the D-League will be stronger than ever, with an increase from 12 to 14 teams, exciting new markets and several strong new ownership groups," D-League President Dan Reed said. "With this strong foundation in place, the D-League will continue to serve as a critical resource for NBA teams seeking to develop the skills of their top young players."

"We expect to continue to expand the number of D-League teams going forward which will benefit all NBA teams as they seek to develop their young talent," said Reed.

As part of the upcoming 10th anniversary season, the Stampede will promote at least one NBA Affiliate Night, with special activities planned to showcase the NBA parent team. Some of the special items included with Stampede Affiliate Nights during 2006-07 season were, each team playing in official NBA affiliate uniforms, a SuperSonics poster give-a-way, Sonics mascot Squatch performance, Jazz Mascot Bear performance, Jazz NuSkin Dance Team performance and much more! Details about affiliate nights for the 2007-08 season will come in the near future.

Each NBA team can assign up to two players to a D-League roster as long as those players are in their first or second NBA season. Players can remain with the minor-league team for as long as the parent club wishes, and be recalled to the NBA at any time. But players can be sent to the D-League a maximum of three times during the season.

In addition, D-League teams can be awarded up to two allocation players. Typically, these are players with significant local appeal.

During the 2006-07 season, the Stampede were affiliated with the Sonics and the Utah Jazz, however NBA D-League expansion into Orem, Utah made the regional choice easier for NBA officials to bring Portland in as Idaho's new affiliate, and put the Utah Flash in partnership with the Jazz.

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