The Pistons have "agreed to purchase" the G League Northern Arizona Suns from the NBA's Suns, according to Omari Sankofa of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. As part of the deal, the Northern Arizona Suns "will be re-branded and play in Wayne State's new basketball arena, which is being constructed and will be open before the 2021-22 season." The Grand Rapids Drive, which moved to Grand Rapids in '14 and "have had a 'hybrid' affiliation with the Pistons since then, will continue its relationship with the Pistons through the 2020-21 season." The Drive previously announced that they "did not plan to relocate to Detroit," so the Pistons "acquired their own G League franchise instead." The announcement comes a year after the Pistons "partnered with Wayne State" to open a new $25M, 700,000-square-foot athletic facility. The facility "will be in close proximity to the recently-built Little Caesars Arena, where the Pistons play home games, and Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center, where the Pistons practice and house their business operations" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/30).
SUNS' REASONS FOR SELLING: In Phoenix, Duane Rankin notes the Suns provided "factors" for selling the G League team. First, the Suns’ said team priorities "drive our decision-making which in this case is the development of the youngest roster in the NBA." Second, roster positions 11-15 are the "focus of the organization’s developmental time and efforts." Additionally, the "teaching experience of the Phoenix Suns coaching staff operating within a shared set of guidelines creates an effective learning environment and growth opportunities for our players" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/30).
