Report: Nuggets likely adding D-League team next season

When Nuggets president Josh Kroenke was asked about the possibilities of adding a D-League team at media day last week, his answer was encouraging.

“Yes, there’s been a lot of dialogue about that,” Kroenke said in response to if talks have taken place about adding a D-League team in the near future. “As the NBA as a whole continues to evolve more and more teams are having a direct relationship, more and more teams are having a direct relationship and we look forward to being one of those teams in the near future.”

Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post reports that the Nuggets are in fact likely adding a D-League franchise next season, but details are still fluid and no imminent plans are in place.

Currently the Nuggets are one of just eight NBA franchises that does not have exclusive 1-to-1 affiliation with a D-League team. As the league gets closer towards every franchise owning and operating their own D-League team, teams without an affiliate are making plans for one in the coming years.

The Nuggets did have had D-League team before. The Colorado 14ers originated in 2006 but relocated to Frisco, Texas in 2009 where they’ve been ever since. They are now owned and run by the Dallas Mavericks.

Denver just wrapped up training camp in Omaha, Nebraska this preseason and the Nuggets have been linked to Omaha as a location for a D-League affiliate in the past. Omaha is an option but current trends suggest teams are looking for affiliates that are within an hour or so of their parent NBA club. Loveland and Colorado Springs are locations within the state’s borders that make sense both geographically demographically for a franchise.