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NBA Development League tips off with more teams, hope

Jeff Zillgitt
USA TODAY Sports
  • NBA Development League enters 13th season Friday with 17 teams%2C but goal remains at 30
  • D-League%27s success in recent seasons has shown across NBA%2C from players to coaches to front offices
  • 14 of 17 teams have direct affiliations with single NBA teams%2C allowing for greater interaction
Seth Curry will start his pro basketball career with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA Development League.

NEW YORK — NBA Development League President Dan Reed has a map of the United States in his office, with push-pins indicating the location of the 17 teams in the league.

One day — he doesn't have the exact timeline — Reed envisions 30 push-pins: one D-League team for every NBA team.

"One of the things we're very focused on is how do we meet that demand," Reed told USA TODAY Sports. "It's the ultimate good problem to have. I do think there will be eventually 30 teams. I do think every NBA team will have their own exclusive D-League affiliate.

"If you had asked me this three or four years ago, I would have said it will be a very long time horizon. If you ask me now, that time frame has shortened substantially. I don't know exactly when. I can't give you specifics, and we're going to be very measured and cautious and have a sustainable mindset toward expansion. But expansion will occur in the relatively near future."

The D-League begins its 13th season Friday, and of those 17 teams, 14 have single-affiliate relationships with an NBA team. That affiliation includes outright ownership or a hybrid basketball operations situation.

Ten of the single-affiliate relationships developed in the past three years, including three new single-affiliate relationships this season: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Delaware 87ers, who are playing their first D-League season; the Miami Heat and the Sioux Falls Skyforce and the Sacramento Kings and the Reno Bighorns.

"NBA teams are rushing in to acquire their own NBA D-League team," Reed said. "That just creates a cycle that means better talent on the floor, more exciting games, more fan support, more games on TV and ultimately tremendous growth for the league.

"What we're most excited about it that we're really beginning to thrive as a farm system for the NBA."

The Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets have expressed interest in owning their own D-League team.

There are logistical and financial issues to consider as the D-League expands and moves toward an affiliate for every D-League. Some NBA teams are in proximity of their D-League team. But Miami is 1,800 miles and a five-hour flight from Sioux Falls.

"All things being equal, an NBA team would to have a team within driving distance," Reed said. "That said, what's happening now and what you see with Miami, the value of having your own D-League team is trumping the importance of proximity."

After initial and expected ups and downs, the D-League has turned into a valuable minor-league. NBA teams have witnessed the success of not only players, but coaches and executives, too, and understand the importance of developing talent on their watch and in their system.

The success stories are widespread, including Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin and San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green, and the D-League now is a viable and acceptable path for players trying to reach the NBA. Europe is still an option, but Reed said, "Approximately half of the players who were most recently in NBA training camps, who were released, have already signed to play in the D-League. In previous years, we would have not gotten that number. It would have been much lower."

Reed also pointed out, "We had 31 players called up to the NBA last year. Those 31 players collectively made $8 million in the NBA just last season. It really is the fastest way to the NBA."

On last month's opening night NBA rosters, an all-time high 102 players had D-League experience.

NBA teams calling up players also are sending players to D-League teams for development and rehab assignments. There were 184 D-League assignments last season, triple the previous high.

The Spurs with the Austin Toros, Oklahoma City Thunder with Tulsa 66ers, Boston Celtics with Maine Red Claws, Los Angeles Lakers with Los Angeles D-Fenders and Golden State Warriors with Santa Cruz Warriors are among the teams who regularly send players to the D-League.

"What we're seeing, as more NBA teams come into the D-League, is they're using that system more," Reed said.

The 2011 collective-bargaining agreement also altered the way teams can use the D-League. Before that CBA, only rookies and second-year players could be sent to the D-League and for no more than three times. The new CBA allows unlimited D-League assignments for rookies and second-year players and players with three years or more experience can be sent to the D-League with their consent.

"It's much more important to develop your own talent vs. acquiring it on the open market because of the economic ramifications," Reed said.

The Atlanta Hawks have capitalized on D-League experience in all facets. Seven Hawks players have D-League experience; assistant coaches Quin Snyder, Darvin Ham and Taylor Jenkins were D-League head coaches; and Hawks assistant GM Wes Wilcox was GM of the D-League's Canton Charge while serving as the Cleveland Cavaliers' director of player personnel.

Even Hawks GM Danny Ferry spent some time with Austin Toros when he worked for the Spurs.

"Early on, there was value in scouting and finding players for your NBA team in the replacement market," Ferry said in an e-mail. "As the model has changed, this scouting element still exists but the player development component has evolved. The D-League is now a valuable tool to create in-game opportunities for young players in the middle of the development process.

"Additionally, I see the potential value with rehab assignments for veteran players. This is the newest frontier from a value perspective. Another area of value for an organization is staff development. Coaching or management of a D-League team allows you to put less experienced members of your staff into real coaching or management positions."

More than 40 coaches have gone to the NBA in the D-League's 12 years, and 10 former NBA players are coaching in the D-League this season.

"As coaches and executives are coming through the D-League, and they know the talent level and the expertise that exists, they're bringing more people with them," Reed said.

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