Some NBA Teams Cite Dual Affiliation As D-League Negative

NBA Teams Not Making Full Use Of D-League

NBA teams are “barely using the [NBA Development League] for developing draft picks,” as only 14 of last year’s 60 draft picks were assigned to the league “for any period of time,” according to John Smallwood of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Eleven teams sent no players to the D-League last season. Joint affiliation of D-League teams “seems to be one of the major concerns” of NBA teams. Magic coach Brian Hill: “The concept is great, but right now it’s difficult to send a player down. You don’t know what type of system he’s going to be playing in, what defensive concepts he’s going to be learning, and things of that nature.” But Smallwood notes the Lakers now own their affiliate, the D-Fenders, whose players “will learn basketball the way the Lakers want it to be played.” D-Fenders coach Dan Panaggio: “Hopefully, we can provide a pool of guys that are familiar with that system so that, if they do need a player, they have one that’s semitrained.” Raptors coach Sam Mitchell added, “I think the D-League is very valuable. It gives guys an opportunity to play. I would much rather see a guy playing in the D-League than sitting on the bench for 82 games” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/18).