NBA Changing Allocation Rules for the D-League

by Kris Willis on Sep 26, 2010 1:44 PM EDT

The NBA has made a rule change that potentially moves its Developmental League one step closer to being a true minor league system. This rule change gives teams the opportunity to send players that were cut in training camp to their D-League Affiliate.

Allocation Rule Change Strengthens NBA, D-League Affiliate Bond - NBA FanHouse Scott Schroeder

In accordance with the NBA, the NBA Development League will implement a rule change with regard to how D-League rosters are assembled. Beginning this season, up to three players cut last from the roster of an NBA team before the D-League Draft will be allocated to that team's D-League affiliate provided they sign the standard D-League contract.

So for example, The Hawks have 14 players with guaranteed contracts for this season. They have invited 17 players to camp with Evan Brock, Richard Delk, and Ricardo Marsh coming to camp with non guaranteed deals. If the Hawks like what they see from these three players then they could choose to allocate them to their D-League Affiliate, the Utah Flash, even after being cut from the final roster. The only catch would be that those players would have to agree to join the D-League by signing a standard contract and possibly forgoing more money overseas.

More after the Jump:

Personally I think this is a good move by the NBA although it is still not perfect and may have some adverse effects on some D-League teams. It does give the NBA affiliates more options in keeping players around that they are interested in. It could adversely effect the D-League if not all of the NBA teams buy into the idea. Some D-League teams will get some very good players that were cut in camp and some won't. That will slightly alter the playing field in the D-League.

How will this effect the Hawks? The Hawks to this point have had very little interaction with their D-League affiliate although it is possible that second round pick Pape Sy could see some time in Utah this season. I'm not sure if the Hawks have any interest in possibly sending any of this year's camp invitees to the D-League for observation but lets look at last year's camp roster as an example. Garret Siler and Courtney Sims would have been possible candidates to be allocated to Utah as players that the Hawks might have wanted to keep around.

The system isn't really perfect as the Hawks affiliate being located in Utah is less than convenient. This is however a step in the right direction as the NBA teams should have more influence on those D-League rosters than they have in the past.

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I like it

And I think they should continue down this path. If they were to implement rights to those players then we could see teams trading D-League players and more than two rounds in the draft to stock those D-League teams with potential future talent.

I think this is an overall good move for all involved. The NBA teams get a place to stock talent, the D-League teams get better players to showcase, and the players get to stay home and show their skills in front of local scouts and teams.

"Everybody talks about SEC speed. The 27 fastest guys at the (NFL) combine, how many of them were from the SEC? Three. But if you say it enough, everybody will believe it."
-CPJ

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Sep 27, 2010 8:14 AM EDT reply actions

I agree

Anything that moves closer to have one D-League team per NBA club is a good thing. The you could potentially talk adding another round to the draft. Of course the problem would be getting those guys to choose playing in the D-League rather than going overseas.

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/

by Kris Willis on Sep 27, 2010 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Though, according to most no player in his right mind would ever choose playing international ball over the chance to play in the states.

"Everybody talks about SEC speed. The 27 fastest guys at the (NFL) combine, how many of them were from the SEC? Three. But if you say it enough, everybody will believe it."
-CPJ

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Sep 27, 2010 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions

So you’re saying Josh Childress and Brandon Jennings are insane? :p

by redwards95 on Sep 27, 2010 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

The Problem is

The Standard D-League contract pays very little. It is really not financially smart for some of these guys to go the D-League route when they can go overseas and make a lot more money.

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/

by Kris Willis on Sep 27, 2010 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Haha

Not at all, but I’ve definitely gotten that impression from others. It easy for someone to say that they would rather take less money from a better organization when they’ve never been presented with that choice before. Money is a powerful motivator and anyone who thinks professional athletes don’t go after the money when presented, well, those might be the ones who aren’t in their right mind.

Back to the point though, I think that if the NBA can continue down this path and steadily grow the D-League and it’s association to the NBA, then we may see those contracts increase in value (speaking to Kris’ point below). Give the players an incentive to stay home in the D-League and you give the people an incentive to go check them out; give the people an incentive to go to the games and you give the commercial investors and businesses an incentive to buy more advertising space. The level of play increases, the revenue from seats and retail increases, the revenue from advertising increases, and the whole product wins. Getting over that initial hump will be the key, but if you can begin that cycle, it’s easy to see how this is a win for everyone in the future.

My personal opinion and experience is that it could work this way. People who follow more than just their team will want to see up-and-coming players. When I moved to Huntsville, AL many years ago I found that they had a AA baseball team for the Brewers. They were always drafting early and I got to see those guys play and got a few things signed as well. Prince, Tony Gwinn Jr, Corey Hart, Braun, Weeks, Hardy, etc. And those are just the guys from the Brewers organization, not to mentio0n all of the guys from the other teams I saw play. Maybe it’s just me, but from what I saw (the extremely long lines of people trying to get signatures) I’m willing to bet that there are just as many people who love basketball enough that if they had the option they would go watch some of these college stars play, even if it were the D-League.

"Everybody talks about SEC speed. The 27 fastest guys at the (NFL) combine, how many of them were from the SEC? Three. But if you say it enough, everybody will believe it."
-CPJ

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Sep 27, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

But the key is needing it to grow in interest...

right now, I don’t see enough revenue from it to justify one team per team. Maybe one per two teams, but that’s about it to my eyes.

by Mr. Sanchez on Sep 27, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I don’t see it working one-to-one right now either. Two-to-one might work out well starting off to help build it up, giving it a foundation to grow from.

"Everybody talks about SEC speed. The 27 fastest guys at the (NFL) combine, how many of them were from the SEC? Three. But if you say it enough, everybody will believe it."
-CPJ

"You could spend the next fifteen seconds of your life watching a man and a tiger scream together, or you could be an idiot."
Fact.

by Jesse28 on Sep 28, 2010 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions