The best investment the Jazz can make...

pickIBL · Post #1 » by **pickIBL** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:51 pm

is to have their own D-League team. D-League teams still seem like an after thought... but the sooner NBA teams see a D-League affliate like baseball teams see a triple A affilate... the better.

I like how Dallas (and GS) has their own D-League team right nearby. If I was the Jazz I'd be looking to do the same thing. More and more I see the D-League as the best place to cultivate young talent. I sure could have learned a lot more about Wolters this year in the D-League than playing in the summit league.

I would look at it as both a way to develop young talent (under the current Jazz system) and to better compete with college basketball. Outside of prospects on the roster you of course want to fill it with BYU, Utah, Utah State, and Weber State grads.

The MLB basically looks at college baseball as it's bitch. I'm surprised the NBA is not looking to duplicate what the MLB has done. The NCAA makes a lot more money on Football and Basketball for sure. But from a micro point of view the Jazz can increase their marketshare of local basketball revenues by starting a D-League team in a place like Ogden.

I think it is a worthwhile investment... and it makes taking projects more reasonable in the draft.

I'd love for there to be a 3rd round and for 18 year olds to be back in the draft. But I think a more realistic compromise is for D-League teams to be able to claim athletes with local ties & possibly get the NBA and players union to allow for a "16th" man that is 22 or under to be allowed on the payroll if he plays in the D-League. And like in baseball... come March the NBA should allow for an expanded roster so that prospect can come up for some NBA games.

Just an idea. A D-League team with future NBA stars (more like Triple A baseball) with other local talent could mean a larger marketshare of basketball revenues from the community to the Jazz. And in theory that translates to a higher payroll.

The argument is always I'd rather have my prospect practicing with the "big club" rather than down in the D-League. The best of both worlds is to have both.

hoops4life · Post #2 » by **hoops4life** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:08 pm

It wasn't owned by the LHM group but they did have the Flash as an affiliate. I am not sure how much it really helped other than being able to call up a guy and he can take a 45 minute drive to report to practice.

I wonder if it would be more viable in Boise.

pickIBL · Post #3 » by **pickIBL** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:12 pm

Idaho Stampede is in Boise.

Post #4 » by **StocktonShorts** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:42 pm

The D-League is VERY different from MLB's minor league program.

The biggest difference is that there are no minor league contracts in the NBA. If the Jazz don't sign a player to their 15-man NBA roster, they don't have any rights to him, even if he plays for a D-League team owned by the Larry H Miller group. They can send up to two guys on their 15-man roster to play for their D-league affiliate (as the Jazz did with Kevin Murphy). There used to be a limit to how many times they could assign a player, but that limit has been removed starting this season.

Personally I'd love to see a true farm system: give each team a D-League affiliate, establish D-league contracts, expand the draft and get rid of the stupid age limit.

pickIBL · Post #5 » by **pickIBL** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:31 pm

I 2nd that. But I think it's a process. If it gets done it would be by baby steps.

MeestR · Post #6 » by **MeestR** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 1:42 am

StocktonShorts wrote:The D-League is VERY different from MLB's minor league program.

Personally I'd love to see a true farm system: give each team a D-League affiliate, establish D-league contracts, expand the draft and get rid of the stupid age limit.

i agree and here's my idea...

expand to 32. then split into 2 16 team leagues (an A league and a B league, so to speak.) involve a 4 team relegation/promotion playoff system or something. but the A and B league would operate under the same rules and contracts and trades and cap and basically, no changes except for opportunities to compete for a championship and drafts.

the "D" league would be for rookies or players who opted not to go to college. (i support a 2 year college or pro-experience requirement and NOT an age requirement.) it would be populated entirely by players just learning how to play pro ball, and under rookie or minor league contracts with the other 32 teams.

then the NBA can purchase a "C" league. there are a few leagues around the nation i think that are professional but plays with lesser talent and in smaller gyms already. it can be kinda what the d-league is now. it would be populated with veteran free agents.

this way, the nba could contract the season somewhat, (maybe have the 2 leagues play each team in the other league once. but play themselves 3 or 4 times?) this would reduce injuries and fatigue to players but have more total games played among the leagues and thus not lose ticket or tv revenue. the talent and entertainment value would not be diluted, it would be enhanced. the teams in the B league would have more motivation to improve their teams because it would take 2 years at minimum to win a championship. the teams in the A league wont tank because relegation. the B league would have first dibs on the lottery and maybe a softer cap or something.

Post #7 » by **StocktonShorts** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:07 am

Interesting idea. I really like the idea of promotion/relegation within the A/B league.

So would you let teams draft players whenever they want, but not sign them to an NBA contract until they have 2 years other experience? So you could sign an 18 year-old to a minor league contract, but not an NBA contract?

I think that could work, since the NBA's biggest reason for having the age limit is to protect teams from drafting 18-year olds and paying them millions of dollars during what should be a period of player development.

Fido · Post #8 » by **Fido** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:34 pm

The big problem for the NBA team would be making the team profitable. The Utah Flash (not Jazz owned but....) struggled with that up until it folded and the team went up for sale.
http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/baske ... 002e0.html

The Flash began in 2007 as an NBA D-League expansion team. They played their games in the UCCU Center, but like most D-League teams, they struggled to make money. The D-League model makes it difficult for any team to make money, and with an NBA team 40 miles north and with a minor league baseball team also in Orem, there wasn't enough sponsorship dollars and ticket sales to make the team profitable.

According to the team source, the Flash lost nearly three million dollars since they began operations. The Flash were on track to break even last year but didn't collect money from a major sponsor and ended up losing about $200,000.

Since the Flash won't be playing this season, the Utah Jazz will have to find another team to be affiliated with because the Jazz and the Atlanta Hawks were both affiliated with the Flash.

Several NBA teams have bought a D-League team, but the Jazz aren't interested in buying the Flash, a fact that was confirmed by the Jazz on Friday.

It sounds like there are flaws in the business model. And the team would need to be located where there aren't as many competing interests as Salt Lake/Utah county area seems to have. We've seen the Utah Starzz (WNBA), Utah Flash (NBA D-League), and Utah Blaze (Arena Football) all struggle in the market that also features many other teams like Utah Jazz (NBA), Real Salt Lake (MLS), BYU/Utah, Salt Lake Bees (AAA baseball), Utah Grizzlies (minor league hockey), Orem Owls/Ogden Raptors (minor league baseball). The Idaho Stampede seems to be doing fine in Boise so that seems to fit the bill for now.

pickIBL · Post #9 » by **pickIBL** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 3:17 pm

There is only 1 flaw with the D-League... they do not showcase future "stars" like AAA baseball. And this would require the NBA to stop playing nice with the NCAA that frankly takes advantage of kids under the notion that we are educating them... as if the NBA is not capable of providing tutors and access to a college education in the classroom and online.

MeestR · Post #10 » by **MeestR** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 1:05 am

StocktonShorts wrote:Interesting idea. I really like the idea of promotion/relegation within the A/B league.

So would you let teams draft players whenever they want, but not sign them to an NBA contract until they have 2 years other experience? So you could sign an 18 year-old to a minor league contract, but not an NBA contract?

I think that could work, since the NBA's biggest reason for having the age limit is to protect teams from drafting 18-year olds and paying them millions of dollars during what should be a period of player development.

yes, that is kind of the idea.

but i dont think this is much the jazz can do, but something the league needs to change. but i dont think it would be that hard to change to. same cap rules, same players, same tv deal, basically the same league, but restrictions based on playoffs and the lottery. we already have 2 conferences. the divisions can be assigned 2 to each team, an A division, should they deserve it and a B division. or maybe re allocate the teams within divisions each year. still, 16 teams in each league isn't much, and all need to be played. i think with a longer road to a championship, contracts would have to lengthen, and B league teams can have a softer cap or something.

the D league would be assigned to each team. players who are drafted by teams out of highschool would have to play there for at least 2 years. OR players could play college ball for 2 years, then enter the draft, and play for the team who drafted them right away. that team could have an option to send them down to the d league for a maximum of 2 years, if they don't wish to keep them on their current roster. after 2years, they either have to release them to the c-league, where they would be a free agent and any team can snatch them up, or sign them to their roster. this would crack down on losing players to europe, trading players who will never play in the nba, or keeping players on the team who likely will never play consistent minutes. at least they can be entertaining and getting better in the process.

only if.... :pray:

jman2585 · Post #11 » by **jman2585** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 6:42 am

I don't doubt Lindsey is pushing it, the Spurs got on board early and it's been very useful indeed. But setting one up now might prove more expensive, and I'm not sure the owner wants to risk it while tanking at the same time. When the Spurs originally bought the Toros and set them up they had multiple other teams who did it with them. Those other teams shortsightedly pulled out, and left the Spurs to take over the Toros and use it to season and test young players (but minus some of the original set up cost).

RyanStorm · Post #12 » by **RyanStorm** » Fri Apr 5, 2013 1:27 am

I think it would make life easier for guys like Murphy who are good enough to be in NBA, but not good enough to make roster in a system that has millions of dollars on the line every night and can't afford to train non-super star status younglings in the middle of the season.

countrybama24 · Post #13 » by **countrybama24** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 6:49 am

They should start a d-league team in China. It'd make a ton of money unless the CBA shut you Down. Easily pay for plane tickets IMO.

pickIBL · Post #14 » by **pickIBL** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 6:33 pm

not china... hong kong or taiwan. Manila would work too. The problem is that other D-League teams aren't going to want to cover the cost of those flights so you'd have to subsidize them somehow. It would probably be worth it you are right. Just have a private plane and fly teams out to play you.

Nuevo Laredo is close and would make a lot of sense. Reykjavik would probably even lead the league in attendance. Not too far from east coast teams. Maybe not Asia but an international d-league team makes sense even if it is just winnipeg or Nuevo Laredo