The Memphis Grizzlies announced Tuesday that they will be acquiring a new NBA Developmental League team that they will operate in the Mid-South.
The team will begin play during the 2017-18 season as the team’s contract with their former D-League team, the Iowa Energy, is set to expire after this season.
Memphis joins the growing number of NBA teams that own or are affiliated with D-League teams in their metropolitan area. This list includes the Los Angeles Lakers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Toronto Raptors, the Brooklyn Nets, and The Chicago Bulls. The Cavaliers, Spurs, 76-ers, Suns and Hornets.
The team will bring the total number of D-League teams to 23, and D-league president Malcolm Turner was quoted in an NBA.com article as being “thrilled’ about the news.
“It’s a time of tremendous growth in the NBA D-League, and I’m excited to continue our expansion into the South,” Turner said. ““I’m thrilled to welcome the Memphis Grizzlies ownership group and franchise into the NBA D-League family of owners, and I can’t wait to watch the team compete in the Mid-South next season.”
The new team will play all of their home games at the Landers Center located in Southaven Miss, 20 miles south of Memphis. The 8,400 seat area hosts many concerts and events as well as the home of the Mississippi River Kings, a Southern Professional Hockey League team.
As part of the announcement, Chris Makris, current general manager of the Iowa Energy, will finish his tenure and remain with the organization for the rest of the season before moving into his new role with the Grizzlies D-League team next season.
Interim Energy coach Greg Cyprien will also finish out his role with the team this season before moving with the Grizzlies organization next season.
This move makes more sense in terms of convenience. Travel will be a 20 minute drive down I-55, instead of a four hour flight to Iowa. On days where there are no games, players and coaches will have little to no commute for practices at the FedEx Forum. The team will use the same facilities as its NBA counterpart.
Currently the Grizzlies have three players assigned to the D-League. Rookies Wade Baldwin IV and Troy Williams and second year forward Jarrell Martin have all spent time in the D-League this season.
The move is beneficial for the Grizzlies because they will have easy access to their younger players. John Hollinger, Grizzlies executive vice president of basketball operations, described the move in an NBA.com article as a “complete game changer.”
“Our affiliation with Iowa has been very effective for several years, both in terms of player development and basketball ops to both cities,” he said. “To operate our own D-League team in your backyard - the direct access to the development process of our player talent - makes the process so much more efficient.”
