At the league meetings in Vancouver, NBA Commissioner
David Stern said the league "might place a developmental
league" overseas within five years, according to Chris
Sheridan of the AP. Stern said that the league "would be
modeled" after the WNBA with the league "owning all
franchises, setting salary levels and centralizing business
operations." Stern: "We might be the first league that
decides to have a minor league that will move lock, stock
and barrel to another continent for another season. An NBA
developmental league, once it exists, has enormous potential
for international play." Stern added that the "biggest
impediment" is the "lack of state-of-the-art" arenas outside
the U.S. Sheridan called Stern's comments a "significant
shift" in the NBA's "position" on overseas expansion, as the
league previously didn't "want to place its own product into
those markets for fear of diminishing the home-grown
commodity" (AP, 9/25). Meanwhile, Stern and NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik said that a farm system for NBA
teams, like the CBA or IBL, "appears imminent." Granik:
"Sometime in the not too distant future we hope to have some
situation, maybe not quite like the baseball model, where we
have some sort of participation of a minor league. ...
That's going to require some participation from the [NBPA]
and they've indicated a willingness to have some sort of
dialogue" (Steve Wyche, WASHINGTON POST, 9/26).
TEST ME, TEST ME...: CBS SportsLine's Mike Kahn
reported that the NBA will test for marijuana, ecstasy and
PCP, instead of just cocaine and heroin, for the "first time
ever" in training camp. Kahn added that veterans "will only
be tested" in training camp, "unless the league is notified
for just cause," while rookies will be tested during camp
and three other "random times" (CBS SportsLine, 9/24). NBA
coaches, trainers and front-office execs will also be
tested. One NBA GM: "It'll be interesting. I don't think
anyone knows what to expect" (SEATTLE P-I, 9/27).
