According to Times Warner Cable Network, the Toronto Raptors are in negotiations to have the Rochester RazorSharks as their exclusive D-League Affiliate.
These quotes are from Upside and Motor:
Ever since the Raptors made it clear that they intended on developing Bruno in house rather than overseas, I've thought the need for an exclusive D-Leauge Affiliation was crucial.
Sharing the Mad Ants with 12 other teams would guarantee Bruno no playing time, or personalized coaching to fit with the Raptors long term vision/goals for him. He could spend a year in Fort Wayne and have wasted a year of development.
If the Raptors can close the deal with Rochester, it could mean big things for their young talent. And to have a team that is as close to Toronto as Rochester NY would just be gravy.
These quotes are from Upside and Motor:
The RazorSharks would become the 18th D-League team to have an exclusive affiliate relationship with an NBA team. Rochester is an already existing team, which means the Raptors would be spared having to find an ownership group to run the team. Founded in 2005, Rochester is far and away the most successful team in Premier Basketball League history, with four titles since league play began in 2007. Previously, they were a member of the American Basketball Association.
Currently, the Raptors assign their players to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, who they share with 12 other organizations. There is no promise of playing time or development with the Mad Ants. In fact, their players would most likely be better off staying with the team on the bench and getting access to their resources. With long-term projects Lucas Nogueira, DeAndre Daniels, and especially Bruno Caboclo in tow, getting a singular affiliate that they can send players to develop seems like a no-brainer.
It’s honestly a surprise to me that the Raptors hadn’t already invested in one. With Masai Ujiri running things for the past two offseasons, the organization is in possession of one of the more forward thinking front offices in the entire league. And as the Josh Huestis saga showed, there are major advantages for teams that have single affiliates.
Currently, the Raptors assign their players to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, who they share with 12 other organizations. There is no promise of playing time or development with the Mad Ants. In fact, their players would most likely be better off staying with the team on the bench and getting access to their resources. With long-term projects Lucas Nogueira, DeAndre Daniels, and especially Bruno Caboclo in tow, getting a singular affiliate that they can send players to develop seems like a no-brainer.
It’s honestly a surprise to me that the Raptors hadn’t already invested in one. With Masai Ujiri running things for the past two offseasons, the organization is in possession of one of the more forward thinking front offices in the entire league. And as the Josh Huestis saga showed, there are major advantages for teams that have single affiliates.
Sharing the Mad Ants with 12 other teams would guarantee Bruno no playing time, or personalized coaching to fit with the Raptors long term vision/goals for him. He could spend a year in Fort Wayne and have wasted a year of development.
If the Raptors can close the deal with Rochester, it could mean big things for their young talent. And to have a team that is as close to Toronto as Rochester NY would just be gravy.
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