Suns Will Be 15th NBA Team With D-League Deal After Aligning With Bakersfield

The Suns are starting a "hybrid affiliation with the D-League's Bakersfield franchise" in an agreement that "is expected to be finalized next week," according to Paul Coro of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The Suns "will finance and run the basketball operations of the D-League franchise while Bakersfield's ownership will continue handling business operations, community relations and other non-basketball functions." The Suns "have shared the Bakersfield Jam as their D-League affiliate for player assignments since 2011 after previously sharing Iowa and Albuquerque with other NBA teams." The Suns will be the 15th NBA team to have a single-affiliation relationship with a D-League team (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/9). The Jam were affiliated with the Hawks, Clippers, Raptors, Jazz and Suns last season. The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are now the only NBA D-League club to be completely independent, having affiliations with the Bobcats, Pacers, Bucks and Magic (THE DAILY).