Currently, the only D-League players tied to specific NBA clubs are those on assignment. Joey Dorsey is a member of the Rockets who plays for the Vipers. But the rest of the Vipers are free agents and can be called up by any NBA team.
For NBA teams that have made the financial commitment to run D-League clubs, one reward could be holding rights to additional players on those rosters besides those who are assigned. For example: if the Suns want to call up one of the Vipers, maybe the Rockets would have the ability to match.
via NBA.com: Plenty of suggestions to improve NBA D-League.
Art Garcia lays out a fine list of proposals to improve the D.
Couple of interesting notes here. I quoted the above because I’m not in favor of forcing teams’ hands. I don’t feel that drastic increases in forced contributions from the NBA teams is a good idea. But I do like removing restrictions on what teams can do. The cap structure is mind boggling, and all the contracts are with the league. If the Rockets want to sign Michael Harris to an $80,000 contract to keep him available for call up where he would make the prorated minimum, shouldn’t they be allowed to do that? Removing those restrictions is what the league should shoot for.
Garcia notes the CBA-change necessity in all these conversations, but also mentions that these changes are likely to be at the bottom of the list.
At the same time, the league and owners can get a lot out of a system revamp because it means more effective player management. Not only can you assign players to get them more time and possibly have more control over how they’re coached (hybrid system), but you can develop a full blown farm system, invest in assets and keep them in your system without wasting a roster spot. And the players union needs to evaluate this as well. One of the best things about the PA is that instead of working to protect guys who have done nothing in this league (hello, NFL rookie scale), they protect veterans. But at the same time, they can keep the rookie scale which helps the veteran contracts (owners don’t feel as burned as they would after giving Darko $100 million), while protecting the bottom end as well by supporting the D-League. Revamping the D-League will add to their numbers by allowing players to sign with D-League teams for staying salary.
Everyone wants these changes to be put in place. It just sucks we have to wait another year and a half to see if they happen.
