Hawks need new D-League affiliate

The D-League will play with 18 teams for the 2014-15 season, with only three not currrently singly affiliated. The Hawks will have an affiliation with either the Erie BayHawks, Fort Wayne Mad Ants or Idaho Stampede. However, the Magic and the Erie are reportedly the verge of a one-to-one relationship agreement, which could be announced later this month. That would leave the Hawks an affiliation with Fort Wayne or Idaho. An announcement on all D-League affiliations will be made later this summer.

The Suns are the 15th NBA franchise to have a one-to-one relationship with a D-League team. In a hybrid relationship, the Suns will oversee and fund all aspects of the Jam’s operations with the local ownership managing the business operations and community outreach, according to announcement. The Suns named Bubba Burrage as general manager and Nate Bjorkgren as head coach of the Jam Tuesday.

The Suns become the seventh NBA team to enter inter a hybrid affiliation with a D-League team for the 2014-15 season. They join the Celtics (Maine Red Claws), Pistons (Grand Rapids), Rockets (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), Grizzlies (Iowa Energy), Heat (Sioux Falls Skyforce) and Kings (Reno Bighorns). Seven other NBA teams own and operate their D-League affiliates. They are the Cavaliers (Canton Charge), Warriors (Santa Cruz Warriors), Lakers (L.A. D-Fenders), Knicks (Westchester), Thunder (Tulsa 66ers), 76ers (Delaware 87ers) and Spurs (Austin Toros). In addition, the Mavericks have a single affiliation with the Texas Legends by way general manager Donnie Nelson’s ownership of the team.

Hawks players John Jenkins, Dennis Schroder and Jared Cunningham all spent time with the Jam last season. Also, the Hawks signed the Jam’s James Nunnally to a pair of 10-day contract in January.