The Warriors yesterday announced the purchase of the Dakota Wizards, who "become the fourth D-League team to be owned by an NBA club," according to Lou Babiarz of the BISMARCK TRIBUNE. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. The Warriors are "considering relocating the team after this season." Warriors VP/New Franchise Development Jim Weyermann will serve as Wizards President. He said that the Warriors "were drawn to the Wizards because of their success on and off the court, and that the Warriors will be evaluating all aspects of having the team in Bismarck this season." Warriors GM Larry Riley: "It's our position to come here and go to work with the Dakota Wizards. All options are on the table." Warriors Dir of Basketball Operations Kirk Lacob noted that the Warriors "have two years left on their lease" with the Bismarck Civic Center. The Warriors "do have an option to buy out the second year if they choose not to play in Bismarck in 2012-13." Former Wizards co-Owner & President Dawn Kopseng said that the ownership group "talked to several potential local investors, but couldn't get together a group or find anybody willing to run the team" (BISMARCK TRIBUNE, 6/29).
BENEFITS OF OWNERSHIP: In S.F., Rusty Simmons reports the Warriors bought the team for about $2M. The purchase "will end the Warriors' two-year affiliation" with the Reno Bighorns, a partnership that was "shared with the Sacramento Kings." The Warriors also had an agreement with the Bakersfield Jam from '06-09. Riley said, "This will be more of a hands-on experience, where we can hire our own coaches and put our own system in." Simmons notes the D-League is "expected to operate regardless of an NBA lockout" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/29). Riley said that Warriors co-Owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber "quickly began looking into the possibility of forming a closer affiliation with a D-League team" when they bought the NBA club last year. Kirk Lacob said that he "evaluated four or five teams and he was drawn to the Wizards." Lacob: "We knew that we weren't going to be right on top of it geographically, but that we could trust the people here, and that everything would continue to run smoothly on and off the court" (BISMARCK TRIBUNE, 6/29).
