New Jersey Nets to take full control of Springfield
In their bid of being more competitive in the next few years, the New Jersey Nets will take full control and be the single affiliate partner of the NBA Development League team Springfield
Armor, the team announced on Thursday, 11 November.
According to a press release from the team, the Nets and the Armor struck a single-affiliate partnership deal that will take effect in the 2011-12 season, giving the Nets the sole control
of the team that will still be affiliated with the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers this season.
“The Nets organization is very pleased to enter into this agreement with the Springfield Armor,” said Nets general manager Billy King.
“We feel that the ‘hybrid’ arrangement will allow our basketball team to maximize its affiliation with the NBA D-League and allow Springfield to serve as a fertile training ground for
our players, coaches and front office personnel, only strengthening our basketball product.”
King also said that they made the decision to prove that they are serious about rebuilding their team after Russian Mikhail Prokhorov took over the ownership of the team. During the off-season,
New Jersey’s front office underwent a major shakeup, including the hiring of their new head coach, Avery Johnson.
NBA D-League president Dan Reed was also pleased upon hearing the news that the Nets will took over the Armor, which he said is a proof that the NBA teams are recognizing the value of the
Development League.
“The New Jersey Nets’ decision to enter into a single affiliation partnership with the Springfield Armor is yet another example of NBA teams understanding how integral the NBA D-League can
be to their success,” said Reed, who also cited that the D-League helped a lot of young talents to become competitive in the NBA.
The Nets became the second NBA team to have a single affiliation with a D-League team, next to the Houston Rockets, who are in full control of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, who were the champions
last season.
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