Dwight Buycks Watch - Also, Raps Need Their Own D-League Team!

[OldSkoolCool]

^I still like Stone....I think he is one of our better deep bench options. I just think he is used improperly (Casey ftw)

Stone is a good player to put in the game and told to run a full court press and be a terror on the defensive end, because his size and speed can allow him to do so. Run him in short stints (3-4minutes) so he can play with a high intensity, and play him with players who can be the primary ball handler due to Stones lack of offense, tell Stone to crash offensive boards (again size will help here, even if he only gets 1 or 2 a game, that's huge) and it will also set him up to put full court pressure on the ball handler (Vasquez). (also instead of running the 2pg lineup..). (Nando could also work well if Salmons/Vas is having a rough go). But no, Casey has Stone running PnR's when he is on the floor

*2 cents

[Nilanka]

Remember in September when Buycks and Stone were lauded as Lowry's eventual replacements?

Those were the days....

[Just Is]

They really need to fix up the D-League in this regards. It honestly has a lot of potential for use thats just hampered by certain teams being allowed exclusive teams while others have to share a single team with 3 to 4 other teams.

I really don't understand how the concept of each NBA team having its own D-League team being so hard. If they did something like this, I just don't see how it wouldn't help increase D League visibility and the manner in which its viewed.

[k.m.]

I believe it ended. The Bayhawks are solely for the Knicks players to send down. Right now the Raptors are sharing a d-league team with the Hawks, Jazz, Suns, and Clippers.

So... the Knicks just announced they'll have a new D-League team in Westchester, and will sever their ties with the Bayhawks.

This means the Bayhawks could either be a shared team, or a single-affiliate.

If shared, it would make some sense - you'd have 4 teams shared between 16 clubs - a nice even 4 each, theoretically. Instead of the 5 or 6 NBA clubs per the 3 shared D-League teams right now.

However... Erie is actually very close to Toronto. Of the other NBA teams without a single affiliate, Toronto is among the very closest to Erie. Detroit might be the closest, but then their current affiliate Fort Wayne is even closer yet. Washington also currently shares Fort Wayne and might be interested in flipping to Erie. All others are further away.

Hmm...

[Employee]

The Raptors ARE associated with the Erie Bayhawks are they not? Or did that deal end?

I believe it ended. The Bayhawks are solely for the Knicks players to send down. Right now the Raptors are sharing a d-league team with the Hawks, Jazz, Suns, and Clippers.

Oh yeah Dwight Buycks!

Last night's loss 106-104 loss to the Bighorns:

26:48 MIN, 5-11 FGM-A, 1-2 3PM-A, 2 RBS, 4 AST, 1 STL, 3 TO, 14 PTS.

[Joey]

The Raptors ARE associated with the Erie Bayhawks are they not? Or did that deal end?

[JRedmond14]

It's much important in hockey and baseball where farm guys turn into stars all the time. Stars come into the NBA directly, all a farm team is good for is deciding the battle for the 10th-14th spots every training camp.

Thing is they actually have a developed farm system. I bet there are many people outside of the NBA who if they had not been good enough to get drafted and put onto a farm team, they would have the chance to develop into a solid player on an NBA team. Having a roster of only 15 there are only so many guys who can come out of college and be NBA ready. A lot of 2nd rounders don't make it past there rookie contract before they are out of the league. There are late bloomers in every sport and a good example is Jose Bautista. He played occasional games but didn't get a permanent spot on an MLB team until he was 26 and now he is one of the best outfielders in the game. Who knows what the NBA can do with a proper farm system. People like Jordan Farmar, who is a very good player, won't have to drop off the map for 4 years and play basketball overseas.

[Pele]

Doing so also creates a developmental league for coaches and referees. It also puts high-quality near-NBA level basketball into many more North American cities, which could really help improve local interest and national (US & Canada) exposure especially for the small market teams.


This, I think, is the best reason. I know I go to Hamilton Bulldogs games...good hockey atmosphere, heck of a lot cheaper then the ACC.

I'd (censored) if the Hammer were to get an NBADL team.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

You can blame David Stern for taking out the high school rule. If a grown man (18 years old) is good enough to play professional basketball, he's in. This "1 year of college" thing just ended up making a mockery of programs because it just comes down to the top 6 or 8 schools recruiting the 4 best high school players every year for a shot at the 1 and done.

Ooops, I misread your message. I actually like the removal of the high-school rule and wish the NCAA rule was increased to 2 or 3 years minimum.

[Employee]

You can blame David Stern for taking out the high school rule. If a grown man (18 years old) is good enough to play professional basketball, he's in. This "1 year of college" thing just ended up making a mockery of programs because it just comes down to the top 6 or 8 schools recruiting the 4 best high school players every year for a shot at the 1 and done.

Maaaaaaybe. I don't think this should even be considered unless there's a legit farm program. No need to bring the talent level down in the league b/c players aren't ready. The reality is that you have to save GM's from themselves from taking huge risks on high school kids and banking the future of a franchise on "upside".

[KeonClark]

haha good luck with that! That's an entirely different conversation. I absolutely agree that these 1-and-down basketball factories that churn out NBA prospects is a complete joke that makes a mockery of post-secondary education.

Baby steps...

You can blame David Stern for taking out the high school rule. If a grown man (18 years old) is good enough to play professional basketball, he's in. This "1 year of college" thing just ended up making a mockery of programs because it just comes down to the top 6 or 8 schools recruiting the 4 best high school players every year for a shot at the 1 and done.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

In my perfect world a proper farm system would replace college basketball. The college system is effed up, imho. A multi-billion dollar industry that's a perversion of both the institutions of education and basketball. Time to separate them.

haha good luck with that! That's an entirely different conversation. I absolutely agree that these 1-and-down basketball factories that churn out NBA prospects is a complete joke that makes a mockery of post-secondary education.

Baby steps...

[S.R.]

I think it would be great for the NBA to expand the D-league into a true farm system, similar to the NHL/AHL or MLB/AAA. Toronto having a farm-team in Montreal, for example, would be awesome for both player development and increasing national exposure of Canada's lone NBA team.

In my perfect world a proper farm system would replace college basketball. The college system is effed up, imho. A multi-billion dollar industry that's a perversion of both the institutions of education and basketball. Time to separate them.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

It's much important in hockey and baseball where farm guys turn into stars all the time. Stars come into the NBA directly, all a farm team is good for is deciding the battle for the 10th-14th spots every training camp.

Who said anything about stars?

I think a lot of fringe NBA players, especially young kids coming out of the NCAA, would greatly benefit from playing in a North American league run by the NBA (to play NBA style basketball), developed by NBA player development folks. I'd be willing to bet you'd see many more fringe NBA'ers and undrafted players stay in North America and stick with the game, with some developing into legit NBA rotation players.

Maybe the NBA teams would only keep 13 players on their active roster (instead of up to 15), with another 12 on their farm-team. That creates 10 more roster spots per team (subtract the current d-league spots to find incremental gain), allowing teams to develop their own prospects and create depth at every position (who know the system and style of play their corresponding NBA team utilizes).

Doing so also creates a developmental league for coaches and referees. It also puts high-quality near-NBA level basketball into many more North American cities, which could really help improve local interest and national (US & Canada) exposure especially for the small market teams.

I bring this up not just as my own idea, but I thought I recalled Silver - the new commish - mention this as an idea to explore, sometime last offseason.

[KeonClark]

I think it would be great for the NBA to expand the D-league into a true farm system, similar to the NHL/AHL or MLB/AAA. Toronto having a farm-team in Montreal, for example, would be awesome for both player development and increasing national exposure of Canada's lone NBA team.

It's much important in hockey and baseball where farm guys turn into stars all the time. Stars come into the NBA directly, all a farm team is good for is deciding the battle for the 10th-14th spots every training camp.