The Colorado 14ers have been purchased and are relocating to Frisco. It won’t be until 2010, and the team name is still TBD (my choice: Squares), but it’s happening. More details after the jump.
NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE TEAM COMES TO FRISCO TEXAS
-COLORADO 14ERS TO MOVE OPERATIONS TO FRISCO-
-TEAM TO BEGIN PLAY IN 2010-
FRISCO, TX June 18, 2009 – Texas D-League Management, LLC, has purchased
the Colorado 14ers and will relocate the team to Frisco, Texas, it was
announced today by NBA Development League President Dan Reed. The team
will begin play in Frisco at the Dr. Pepper Arena for the 2010-11 season,
but will not play during 2009-10 in order to transition.
Donnie Nelson, Dallas Mavericks President of Basketball Operations and
General Manager, will be the principal owner and operator of the team.
Nelson brings 23 years of NBA experience with him to the team in Frisco,
including 11 years in Dallas’ front office, along with coaching stints with
the Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns.
Nelson’s ownership group includes Evan Wyly, a Dallas native and the
Chairman of Green Mountain Energy, the nation’s leading provider of cleaner
electricity and carbon offset solutions. Colorado 14ers owner Tim Wiens
will retain a minority ownership stake in the team. Nelson, Wyly and
Frisco Mayor Maher Maso joined Reed at today’s announcement, which was held
at the Mavericks’ practice facility located inside American Airlines
Center.
“We’re very excited to be in Frisco, an area with deep fan support and a
history of successful sports teams,” said Reed. “We’re thrilled to welcome
such a well-respected and experienced group to the NBA D-League ownership
ranks.  Not only are Donnie Nelson’s basketball credentials terrific, but
he has assembled a group with impressive business credentials as well.
Donnie’s investment in an NBA D-League team is a great validation of both
our league’s past success and future growth prospects.”
The Frisco team’s new name, colors and logo, along with the coaching staff,
will be announced at a later date.
“Texas is one of the hottest basketball markets in the world. We plan to
bring an exciting, high octane brand of basketball that’s both affordable
and fun for the entire family,” said Nelson. “Our team will have a chance
to hone their skills in the newly renovated Dr. Pepper center in Frisco.
The NBA D-League continues to provide high level competition and excellent
opportunities for both its fans and players.”
When the team begins play in 2010, it will be directly affiliated with up
to three NBA teams, which will be able to assign first and second year
players to the club up to three times during a season.
The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor
league and featured 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams during
the 2008-09 season. This Fall, two new NBA D-League teams will begin play
in Portland, Maine and Springfield, Mass.– the birthplace of basketball.
Eighty-four former NBA Development League players were on 2008-09 NBA
end-of-season rosters, amounting to almost 20 percent of NBA players, and
the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff
for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league’s connection to the
community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness,
support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development
through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the
game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA.
Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA
Futurecast,   the   free  live  Web-streaming  initiative  found  at
nba.com/futurecast.
