The T'Wolves have "agreed to purchase" their own NBA D-League team by buying the Iowa Energy from the Grizzlies, according to Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The Energy play in Des Moines’ "16,000-seat Wells Fargo Arena." The D-League "likely will have at least 25 teams by next season." T'Wolves President of Basketball Operations and coach Tom Thibodeau will be able to use the Energy to install his "system of play and groom coaches, front-office management and training staff for the big-league club." The T'Wolves "considered starting a D-League expansion team in Rochester, Fargo or right in the Twin Cities area." They also "considered taking over the existing Sioux Falls Skyforce in South Dakota" before ultimately deciding on the Energy. Energy Managing Owner Jed Kaplan will "continue as partner and remain active in the team's management." By purchasing the Energy, the T'Wolves "will not be able to shuttle players back and forth in mere minutes." But at 230 miles away, it is "less than a four-hour drive." Zgoda notes "no purchase price was announced" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/24). The Energy were affiliated with seven NBA teams between '07-14, including serving as the T'Wolves affiliate for '13-14 campaign (T'Wolves).
KEEP IT LOCAL: In Memphis, Ronald Tillery notes the Grizzlies will "own and operate" an expansion D-League franchise locally starting next season. There is "no name yet for the affiliate that will play a 24-game home schedule in the Landers Center" in Southaven, Miss. The Grizzlies’ new D-League team will "work out of the FedExForum practice facility." The Grizzlies join 10 other NBA teams that either "own or are affiliated with D-League teams within their metropolitan areas." Grizzlies VP/Basketball Operations John Hollinger said, "It’s a complete game-changer. ... To operate our own D-League team in your backyard -- the direct access to the development process of our player talent -- makes the process so much more efficient" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 1/24).
MAKING A CONNECTION: In San Antonio, W. Scott Bailey noted the D-League Austin Spurs in March will play a "regular season game at San Antonio’s AT&T Center." The expectation inside the Spurs Sports & Entertainment camp is that the move will "help draw the two markets closer together, generating more fan and sponsor interest in both teams." SS&E President of Business Operations Rick Pych said that Austin "represents new growth opportunities for the Spurs on multiple fronts." It is one reason why the "parent company of San Antonio’s lone major league franchise decided to place" a D-League team in the Capital City and later rename it the Spurs. SS&E is "arguably making deeper inroads in Austin now than it has in the past in large part because of the way the organization has tied its NBA and D-League teams together" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/23).
