Oklahoma City's NBA team has agreed to purchase the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Developmental League, becoming only the third NBA franchise to own a D-League team.
The Los Angeles Lakers own the L.A. D-Fenders. The San Antonio Spurs own the Austin Toros.
The Professional Basketball Club paid $2.25 million for the 66ers, according to Oklahoma City's NBA team chairman Clay Bennett, and will now have full control of the franchise's business and basketball operations.
The 66ers also will become the sole affiliate of Oklahoma City. As part of wholesale changes to the D-League's affiliation system, the NBA announced on June 11 the 66ers would serve as the affiliate for the franchise formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics as well as the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2008-09 season. The D-League hasn't announced which team will now become Milwaukee's affiliate.
"It gives you a consistency and a purpose of what it is you're trying to accomplish both on and off the floor,” said Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti of the acquisition. "And we'll look to implement the same system so that there's almost a corporate knowledge from a basketball standpoint between our team and our team in Tulsa. So it just continues to breed consistency and allows us to build more depth in the organization.”
Presti was assistant general manager in San Antonio when the Spurs began planning to acquire the Austin Toros. He was hired in Seattle three weeks before the Spurs announced their acquisition. Oklahoma City coach P.J. Carlesimo was lured from his assistant coaching job in San Antonio one week after the Spurs announced their agreement.
In addition to now having the ability to create an organization-wide philosophy, Bennett said the 66ers present a profitable business opportunity and create a presence of Oklahoma City's NBA team in Tulsa.
Although the NBA franchise's official name is Oklahoma City rather than Oklahoma, Bennett has long touted the team as the state's team and Tulsa as an important city to the franchise's long-term viability.
"We are going to attempt to connect with the NBA team in Oklahoma City,” Bennett said. "We intend to have a presence in Tulsa with our NBA team. We intend to do a lot of cross-promotion and cross-presence with activities and events and things with our games that hopefully bring value to the Tulsa operation.”
The new 4,500-seat Spirit Bank Events Center in Bixby also played a factor into the ownership group's decision to purchase the 66ers, Bennett said.
Bennett said the ownership group wants to align more closely with the 66ers, which could lead to a name change and team colors for the franchise, although the team will continue to be called the 66ers for the coming season.
"We're really pleased and thrilled about the opportunity to expand our basketball operation into Tulsa,” Bennett said. "Tulsa has been an important part of our efforts to be successful in Oklahoma City with the NBA relocation.
"Ultimately the team must be a state-wide team, and we've committed to that and believe in that. We know it will work, but the first place we need to be is in Tulsa.”
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MAPS has been a huge benefit to our community but a lowlife Seattle loser pretending to be from here wouldn't know anything about that. Like I said, he wishes he was me. I'm sure his wife wishes he was too....
"That guy posting with my name is a fake from Seattle. He's been doing it for months." It's probably "Ted", Phillip. There's no way he could quit posting altogether.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Aug 1, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I worked in downtown OKC during the first part of the 80's. The difference between then and now is huge. MAPS has helped alot more peole than the rich, imo. There are so many more jobs now. I'm just guessing, but it's probably more than doubled the jobs.
I wish imposter Philip would quit idolizing me. I have been against the shady dealings of this team and how MAPS is paying out to the wealthy since the beginning. Any post with my name indicating I am for it is false. Most likely some high school kid with nothing better to do.
Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City - Aug 1, 2008 at 3:17 pm
This is a great move. To have both teams on the same page as far as the systems they use and team philosophy and goals will pay dividends in the future.
That guy posting with my name is a fake from Seattle. He's been doing it for months. He is so unhappy with his own sad, pathetic life, that he pretends to be me. I guess I should consider it a complement that he wishes he was me but it comes across as more of a sick example of penis envy.
Say What? All that extra cash just sitting around for ole Clay and co. to spend. Also love the way the oklahoman is cashing in on the name game with their "be the first to know the okc NBA name" by people having to text a number.Good thing there is plenty of oil in these parts because when bennett, slick mick and co. are through there will be more than enough gas from the idiots that wanted this crap to start with.
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