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Adam Silver Makes Naming-Rights Deal Top Priority For New D-League President

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver "has a list of priorities" for new NBA D-League President Malcolm Turner, and "finding a naming-rights deal for the NBA's 18-team -- and growing -- minor league" is at the top, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY. Silver said, "For the D-League to go to the next level, one of the top items on our agenda is potentially selling a naming-rights deal for the league." Silver also wants Turner to "continue to use the D-League to make the NBA better, as a testing ground for potential on-court improvements in the NBA." The D-League yesterday announced a set of rules changes, "including a coach's challenge and an increase the penalty foul limit to five from four, in an effort to speed up the game." Silver also would like Turner to "increase the D-League to 30 teams, so every NBA team has its own minor-league team" (USA TODAY, 11/6). Meanwhile, SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Lefton & Lombardo write NBA execs are "wondering how much a D-League franchise can be worth." They are "further encouraged, if not exhilarated," by the $6M price tag that was paid for the Knicks' new D-League team, which begins play this season. Turner said, "There's so much potential to grow the D-League and to grow the sport, with the D-League serving as an R&D lab. I see it as a blank-sheet-of-paper opportunity with tremendous upside to build a really successful stand-alone business. We're building a brand and a property" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/3 issue).

SOUTH OF THE BORDER: The NBA D-League Texas Legends have signed a presenting partnership deal with the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. The deal names the Legends' home floor Chihuahua Court and puts the state of Chihuahua on the team’s jersey. In addition, the franchise -- located in Frisco, Texas -- will relocate training camp to Chihuahua from Nov. 7-10 ahead of the start of the D-League season on Nov. 14. Chihuahua is the home state of Legends GM and coach Eduardo Najera. The Legends are owned by Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson (John Lombardo, Staff Writer).

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