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Jazz move their D-League affiliate renamed *Salt Lake City Stars*

I didn't expect them to move the team to SLC, but it seems like the best scenario from a player development perspective. Does this mean they could conduct joint practices? I assume so. It also means they can easily move players back and forth, and that they can take a really good look at a lot of guys. This looks like a very clear commitment to success. I've never bought into the notion that ownership is trying to milk the fanbase for all they can by running the team on the cheap, and I think this move is further proof (though I won't be surprised if some people weighing in saying the opposite).

Also saves time when we need to call up Tibor Pleiss... all that traveling must take its toll.
 
being married to someone from idaho, i have to wonder how they are taking the loss. how was their attendance? does it suck to lose the team, or is it more of a 'we had a team?' kind of thing?

i wonder what the ticket price will be? their season mirrors our own, and now the fan base is the same, so i doubt that people who are already watching a full season of nba ball will have the time or interest to watch dleague ball, and anyone who likes bball who isn't watching the Jazz will probably be watching college ball. I just can't figure that folks will be attending the games...........at all.

According to the new website "Season Tickets start as low as $3.25 per ticket."



I mean.. that's cheaper than a cup of coffee...
 
1280px-Salt_Lake_City_Stars.png
 
Can you imagine the excitement level of Dennis O Lindsey today? Jazz will probably work out 150 players this summer. Then Lindsey can sign, trade, cut and move players at the end of the Jazz bench AND for an entire D-League team roster.
This might be enough to keep Randy Rigby from retiring (someone will have to drive to the airport to meet all these players).

In all seriousness, this is a smart move. The Millers are committed to the community, this gives them another tool to reach out to the community and to show the community to the world.

Just a few possibilities I was considering...

The Jr. Jazz program can give away all kinds of free Dleague tickets--it makes the kids happy to see a game, and it frees up more tickets to sale for Jazz events. It improves the quality of fan experience for both the kids going to a free game and the patrons paying full price to see a Jazz game.

It is easier to find D-League players willing to go on the Utah Jazz summer road trip.

D-league coaches can be part of the Jazz organization. They can develop and build a following while doing more community events than the Jazz schedule and contracts allow.


This concept will be too much for some of you, but try thinking long term (a perspective mostly lost in this age of smart phones and Netflix). One of the problems facing the Jazz is how NBA perceive SLC. The Jazz, and Dennis O Lindsey often say they have a great story to tell if they can get a guy to listen. It is the pre-judgement that is the obstacle. So why introduce a bunch of fringe NBA players, their families, friends, coaches, former teammates (and their families) to Boise? Why not show case SLC? Admittedly, this small action will not result in Durant signing here on July 1, but in the long run it might mean that some future FA might consider the Jazz because his brother or cousin had a good experience in SLC (think Andrew Wiggins and his brother who came to Jazz camp). Any positive talk about SLC in the cirlces of AAU coaches, basketball players, and their families is better than the possibility of another "You go live in Salt Lake" moment.

Smart strategic move by the jazz.
 
Can you imagine the excitement level of Dennis O Lindsey today? Jazz will probably work out 150 players this summer. Then Lindsey can sign, trade, cut and move players at the end of the Jazz bench AND for an entire D-League team roster.
This might be enough to keep Randy Rigby from retiring (someone will have to drive to the airport to meet all these players).

In all seriousness, this is a smart move. The Millers are committed to the community, this gives them another tool to reach out to the community and to show the community to the world.

Just a few possibilities I was considering...

The Jr. Jazz program can give away all kinds of free Dleague tickets--it makes the kids happy to see a game, and it frees up more tickets to sale for Jazz events. It improves the quality of fan experience for both the kids going to a free game and the patrons paying full price to see a Jazz game.

It is easier to find D-League players willing to go on the Utah Jazz summer road trip.

D-league coaches can be part of the Jazz organization. They can develop and build a following while doing more community events than the Jazz schedule and contracts allow.


This concept will be too much for some of you, but try thinking long term (a perspective mostly lost in this age of smart phones and Netflix). One of the problems facing the Jazz is how NBA perceive SLC. The Jazz, and Dennis O Lindsey often say they have a great story to tell if they can get a guy to listen. It is the pre-judgement that is the obstacle. So why introduce a bunch of fringe NBA players, their families, friends, coaches, former teammates (and their families) to Boise? Why not show case SLC? Admittedly, this small action will not result in Durant signing here on July 1, but in the long run it might mean that some future FA might consider the Jazz because his brother or cousin had a good experience in SLC (think Andrew Wiggins and his brother who came to Jazz camp). Any positive talk about SLC in the cirlces of AAU coaches, basketball players, and their families is better than the possibility of another "You go live in Salt Lake" moment.

Smart strategic move by the jazz.

This is a good post. Also the Stamps weren't making money the last two years in Boise and for all the reasons listed above why not have them within a 5 minutes drive like OKC, Dallas, the Lakers, Golden State, the Knicks and the Sixers.
 
This is a good post. Also the Stamps weren't making money the last two years in Boise and for all the reasons listed above why not have them within a 5 minutes drive like OKC, Dallas, the Lakers, Golden State, the Knicks and the Sixers.
My guess is that within 10 years it will be the norm to run a D-League team alongside each NBA franchise. I love that the Jazz are ahead of the curve on this.
 
Maybe this is a step towards rebranding the Jazz and selling the Jazz name back to New Orleans. Perhaps they sell the name but keep the note. Maybe they turn the note into a treble clef that's the first letter in STARS.

Back to reality, I'm a little bummed that the colors are blue and yellow with no green. With News that the Jazz are going to have new unis next season this makes me think the green ones are out. :(
 
On another DLeague note Tibor Pleiss finished 3rd in the DLeague in rebounding at 10.5 board per game and tied for 8th in blocks at 1.4 per game. He also shot 87.5% from the foul line.
 
They should get off to a good start by sending Burke to the D-League where can be a real star. Also that way he can still preach that Salt Lake's his town.

"Look mama, I'm a star!"
 
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