Clipper Nation Comes to the 661
Credit Jam owner Stan Ellis...he had us all going thinking he had secured an NBA D League affiliation with the Los Angeles Lakers. But in the end he actually agreed to a new affiliation with the Los Angeles Clippers, LA's other team and perpetual lottery participant.
The NBA D League announced the affiliations on Monday with the Jam V. 2.0, landing the Clippers along with renewing their commitment with the Golden State Warriors who for all intents and purposes has been a great parent club sending several players this way from the Bay Area of the last few seasons.
The Clippers though are new to this affiliation game. While being associated with the now defunct Anaheim Arsenal, the Clips didn't use their minor league team last season but promise to make Bakersfield a temporary home for their future stars.
While it's not the Lakers, the Clippers and Warriors have the possibility of adding lots of flair to the new Jam this season. While we won't be seeing Clippers #1 draft pick Blake Griffin anytime soon, I wouldn't be surprised to see Warriors #1 pick Stephon Curry spending at least a few games at the Jam-Nasium, given head coach Don Nelson's policy of not giving rookies a ton of playing time.
The Clippers however are the team that owner Stan Ellis told me has the potential to eventually be the sole parent club for the Jam under a new NBA-Hybrid model that see's NBA franchises controlling their D-League teams like an MLB club controls their AAA farm team.
If you ask me, the concept of a "minor league" team for the Clippers is an oxy-moron, given the fact the Clippers have historically played like a minor league team in the NBA, but that's in the past right? The Clippers would tell you so, Head Coach and GM Mike Dunleavy would sure hope so for his sake.
While the Clippers try to usher in a new era on the floor with Griffin and company, off the court they're trying to usher in a new era as well as a parent club in the NBA D League. Let's hope for everyone's sake that fans can actually tell the difference between the Bakersfield Jam and the "Big" club. It may be 2 hours by car to Los Angeles, but the talent level may be much closer.
By the way, the Jam are in the market for a new coach, can you see this want ad: "Wanted: Head Coach for Minor League Affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers," could be a tough sell, even in this economy.
The NBA D League announced the affiliations on Monday with the Jam V. 2.0, landing the Clippers along with renewing their commitment with the Golden State Warriors who for all intents and purposes has been a great parent club sending several players this way from the Bay Area of the last few seasons.
The Clippers though are new to this affiliation game. While being associated with the now defunct Anaheim Arsenal, the Clips didn't use their minor league team last season but promise to make Bakersfield a temporary home for their future stars.
While it's not the Lakers, the Clippers and Warriors have the possibility of adding lots of flair to the new Jam this season. While we won't be seeing Clippers #1 draft pick Blake Griffin anytime soon, I wouldn't be surprised to see Warriors #1 pick Stephon Curry spending at least a few games at the Jam-Nasium, given head coach Don Nelson's policy of not giving rookies a ton of playing time.
The Clippers however are the team that owner Stan Ellis told me has the potential to eventually be the sole parent club for the Jam under a new NBA-Hybrid model that see's NBA franchises controlling their D-League teams like an MLB club controls their AAA farm team.
If you ask me, the concept of a "minor league" team for the Clippers is an oxy-moron, given the fact the Clippers have historically played like a minor league team in the NBA, but that's in the past right? The Clippers would tell you so, Head Coach and GM Mike Dunleavy would sure hope so for his sake.
While the Clippers try to usher in a new era on the floor with Griffin and company, off the court they're trying to usher in a new era as well as a parent club in the NBA D League. Let's hope for everyone's sake that fans can actually tell the difference between the Bakersfield Jam and the "Big" club. It may be 2 hours by car to Los Angeles, but the talent level may be much closer.
By the way, the Jam are in the market for a new coach, can you see this want ad: "Wanted: Head Coach for Minor League Affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers," could be a tough sell, even in this economy.
posted by Corey Costelloe at
9:13 AM
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