Magic Eyeing New D-League Affiliation; Knicks Set To Drop Erie BayHawks

Magic CEO Alex Martins said that the team has "begun discussions with an existing D-League team to create a one-to-one affiliation arrangement" that could begin as early as the '14-15 season, according to Josh Robbins of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Team execs "want to create a hybrid relationship with a D-League team in which the Magic would run a D-League team's basketball operations but would not own the team and would not run the business side of the team." Martins "would not disclose the identity of the existing D-League team that the Magic have targeted as a potential partner." But a spokesperson for the Erie BayHawks said that the team's three-year partnership with the Knicks "is scheduled to end this season." The Magic's current D-League affiliation is with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, "but the Magic share the Mad Ants" with the Bobcats, Pistons, Pacers, Grizzlies and Bucks. The sharing arrangement and the Indiana location are "less than ideal for the Magic." The Magic "haven't sent any players there" this season, and "would prefer to have a hybrid relationship with a D-League team that's located within Florida." But there are no D-League teams in the state, and or anywhere "in the Southeast outside of Texas" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/27). Westchester County (New York) Exec Robert Astorino said that the Knicks "are plotting to drop" their affiliation with the BayHawks and "start up one in White Plains next season" (N.Y. POST, 2/27).