http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13770514p-14612620c.html
By Sam Amick
A place where princes could become Kings
The NBA's new farm system could help cultivate young talent.
Ronnie Price landed in Albuquerque, N.M., Tuesday night, along with the rest of the Kings. According to the rookie's itinerary, the squad will face the Phoenix Suns tonight, then head to Las Vegas having spent less than 30 hours in the Land of Enchantment.
With all due respect to New Mexicans, Price will be less than enchanted if he comes back a second time.
Albuquerque is the home of the Kings' team in the NBA Developmental League, the farm system of sorts entering its inaugural season with a link to the big leagues. The Thunderbirds, as they've been named, will serve the Kings, Suns, Utah Jazz and Seattle SuperSonics.
In theory, it is a new way to groom players with little hope of leaving the bench. It's an option only for rookies and second-year players who would benefit more by playing than practicing.
In accordance with the new collective bargaining agreement, NBA teams can have up to 15 players (12 active, three inactive) on board. A player can be sent to the D-League three times per season, with no minimum or maximum stay required.
They would be carried on the inactive list, with their pay and benefits unchanged. They would join a squad filled not only with NBA reserves but non-NBA players trying to play their way in.
All eight teams in the NBADL held open tryouts earlier this month, and the league's draft is Nov. 3.
The Thunderbirds play a 48-game schedule, with their home site at Tingley Stadium and the opener at Tulsa on Nov. 18.
They are coached by Michael Cooper, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980s "Showtime" era. Cooper was an assistant and interim head coach with the Denver Nuggets last season after leaving the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.
His name was known around town long before his pro career, as Cooper played two seasons with the University of New Mexico Lobos (1976-78) and was selected to the Lobo Hall of Honor in 1992.
But because the Kings already exceed the salary cap, they plan to carry only 13 players, meaning the season could come and go with nary a King joining Cooper in New Mexico.
"I don't think you're going to see (teams) sending people there unless they have 15 people," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "If you have just 13 guys, that 13th guy is valuable for practice."
And that 13th guy, in all likelihood, will be Price.
"I could see a value in it, I guess, if you're not playing and you're sitting on the sideline," Price said. "You can learn from the sideline, but you can also learn and grow as a player by playing. Whatever happens, a player just has to make the best out of that situation."
Tuesday's practice supported Adelman's claim that he needs all the bodies he can get. Point guard Mike Bibby left practice early to have an MRI on his sore foot, backup point guard Jason Hart was limited because of a hip pointer, and shooting guard Kevin Martin had a sore ankle that slowed him. Adelman, meanwhile, had a patchwork practice.
"I would like to have more than 13, just because the more bodies you have, the more you can do with injuries in practice and get things done," Adelman said. "That's where it comes in handy for us. Plus, if they're young, you want to see them a little longer."
His view could change in Year 2, when the D-League likely will be tweaked and modified after the first season's evaluation.
One idea has the number of teams doubling from eight to 16, with only two NBA teams being assigned to a D-League squad instead of four. Since, conceivably, a D-League team could hold eight NBA players at once, playing-time issues could arise.
Still, Adelman said the time might come when he sends someone such as Price packing.
"We may be healthy and have a three-week stretch where we're on the road a lot and we're not going to practice," Adelman said. "And that's a good time to send a guy down and let him play some games. I think we'll just evaluate that as it goes."
By Sam Amick
A place where princes could become Kings
The NBA's new farm system could help cultivate young talent.
Ronnie Price landed in Albuquerque, N.M., Tuesday night, along with the rest of the Kings. According to the rookie's itinerary, the squad will face the Phoenix Suns tonight, then head to Las Vegas having spent less than 30 hours in the Land of Enchantment.
With all due respect to New Mexicans, Price will be less than enchanted if he comes back a second time.
Albuquerque is the home of the Kings' team in the NBA Developmental League, the farm system of sorts entering its inaugural season with a link to the big leagues. The Thunderbirds, as they've been named, will serve the Kings, Suns, Utah Jazz and Seattle SuperSonics.
In theory, it is a new way to groom players with little hope of leaving the bench. It's an option only for rookies and second-year players who would benefit more by playing than practicing.
In accordance with the new collective bargaining agreement, NBA teams can have up to 15 players (12 active, three inactive) on board. A player can be sent to the D-League three times per season, with no minimum or maximum stay required.
They would be carried on the inactive list, with their pay and benefits unchanged. They would join a squad filled not only with NBA reserves but non-NBA players trying to play their way in.
All eight teams in the NBADL held open tryouts earlier this month, and the league's draft is Nov. 3.
The Thunderbirds play a 48-game schedule, with their home site at Tingley Stadium and the opener at Tulsa on Nov. 18.
They are coached by Michael Cooper, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980s "Showtime" era. Cooper was an assistant and interim head coach with the Denver Nuggets last season after leaving the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.
His name was known around town long before his pro career, as Cooper played two seasons with the University of New Mexico Lobos (1976-78) and was selected to the Lobo Hall of Honor in 1992.
But because the Kings already exceed the salary cap, they plan to carry only 13 players, meaning the season could come and go with nary a King joining Cooper in New Mexico.
"I don't think you're going to see (teams) sending people there unless they have 15 people," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "If you have just 13 guys, that 13th guy is valuable for practice."
And that 13th guy, in all likelihood, will be Price.
"I could see a value in it, I guess, if you're not playing and you're sitting on the sideline," Price said. "You can learn from the sideline, but you can also learn and grow as a player by playing. Whatever happens, a player just has to make the best out of that situation."
Tuesday's practice supported Adelman's claim that he needs all the bodies he can get. Point guard Mike Bibby left practice early to have an MRI on his sore foot, backup point guard Jason Hart was limited because of a hip pointer, and shooting guard Kevin Martin had a sore ankle that slowed him. Adelman, meanwhile, had a patchwork practice.
"I would like to have more than 13, just because the more bodies you have, the more you can do with injuries in practice and get things done," Adelman said. "That's where it comes in handy for us. Plus, if they're young, you want to see them a little longer."
His view could change in Year 2, when the D-League likely will be tweaked and modified after the first season's evaluation.
One idea has the number of teams doubling from eight to 16, with only two NBA teams being assigned to a D-League squad instead of four. Since, conceivably, a D-League team could hold eight NBA players at once, playing-time issues could arise.
Still, Adelman said the time might come when he sends someone such as Price packing.
"We may be healthy and have a three-week stretch where we're on the road a lot and we're not going to practice," Adelman said. "And that's a good time to send a guy down and let him play some games. I think we'll just evaluate that as it goes."
