The Cavaliers Thursday announced that they have purchased the NBA D-League New Mexico Thunderbirds and will relocate the team to Canton, Ohio, beginning with the '11-12 season. The Cavs will fully control both the business and basketball operations of the team, which will be their lone D-League affiliate. The Cavs become the fifth NBA team to own and operate its D-League affiliate. The D-League team will play the '11-12 season at Canton Memorial Civic Center, and the Cavs are encouraging fans to submit suggestions for the team's name. AHL Lake Erie Monsters VP/Ticket & Corporate Sales Scott Woodruff will now serve as the team's COO (Cavaliers). The Cavs "will be in charge of the player acquisition, although no current NBA players or draft choices can play in the D-League during the lockout." Cavs GM Chris Grant said, "It gives us another step in our player development. It gives us an opportunity to run the same system. ... From a proximity standpoint, this is fantastic. A player could practice with us in the morning and play (in Canton) that night. It doesn't disrupt what's going on" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/8). Former Thunderbirds Owner Sam Bregman said that the sale "was bittersweet but also the right move for everyone involved." He cited the "lack of a modern Albuquerque sports arena as an ongoing problem for the franchise" (ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, 7/8).
WELCOME TO OHIO: In Canton, Ed Balint notes the city located one hour south of Cleveland "beat out other communities, including Youngstown, to land the franchise." The deal stipulates that the D-League franchise "will be the Civic Center’s primary tenant." As part of the agreement, a "fee will be paid per game to the city and SMG based on attendance." In addition, the Cavs "plan to renovate the Civic Center, including the locker room and basketball court so the playing area meets league standards." SMG and Canton "will share in advertising revenue, which includes the Cavaliers paying an annual $100,000 fee to serve as the exclusive sales agent for naming and advertising rights for the venue." Derek Gordon, a Management Assistant in the office of Canton Mayor William Healy II, noted that ad revenue "will pay for Civic Center renovations" (CANTON REPOSITORY, 7/8).
MEET YOUR MATCH: The NBA and the D-League announced on Thursday that the Wizards will now be affiliated with the Iowa Energy. The Bulls and Hornets "will also be connected with the Energy" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 7/7). The Grizzlies joined the Hawks and Kings on Thursday "in using the Reno Bighorns" as their D-League affiliate. The Grizzlies, like the Wizards, had been associated with the D-League Dakota Wizards, bought last month by the Warriors (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/8). The NBA announced that the Heat "will continue to be connected to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, sharing that affiliate" with the Magic and T'Wolves (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 7/7). The Jazz "will again be affiliated with the Boise-based Stampede," along with the Trail Blazers and Nuggets. The Jazz had been affiliated with the Utah Flash, but that franchise is "up for sale and has suspended operations for at least the 2011-12 season" (DESERET NEWS, 7/8). The 76ers have joined the Celtics and Bobcats as NBA affiliates of the Maine Red Claws. Last season, the 76ers and Nets shared an association with the Springfield Armor, but that D-League franchise has since "switched to a single affiliation" with the Nets (KENNEBEC JOURNAL, 7/8).
