Blazers vs. Bobcats, CJ McCollum debut in Boise, McCollum debut in Boise

Rookie CJ McCollum, seen here in the Idaho Stampede locker room, is the only Blazers player this season to be assigned to the D-League.

(Bruce Ely/The Oregonian)

After a two-year

with the Idaho Stampede, the

have decided to go in a different D-League direction.

Following the 2013-14 season, the Blazers will end their "hybrid" relationship with their NBA Development League partners in Boise and pair up with a different minor league franchise.

It’s unknown what D-League affiliate the NBA will assign to the Blazers next season, but it will be a joint relationship that includes multiple NBA teams.

“We recognize the value in having a single affiliate in the NBA Development League, but at this time, we aren’t in a position to maximize that value," Blazers general manager Neil Olshey said. "So, we’ve decided to end our single-affiliation with the Idaho Stampede after this season. We’ve had an excellent working relationship with the Stampede, and wish the organization nothing but the best.”

A variety of factors precipitated the decision. Distance certainly played a part. But even more, Olshey’s background in player development was a factor.

Olshey broke into the NBA in player development and he values the impact

Jay Triano, Nate Tibbetts, David Vanterpool, Kim Hughes and Dale Osbourne can make on the team’s young talent. The Blazers only have utilized their partnership with the Stampede once this season, assigning rookie

to Idaho for

while he was rehabilitating an injured left foot.

Instead, the team has placed great value and, by its estimation, seen better player development results, by keeping players such as Allen Crabbe, Will Barton, Victor Claver and McCollum in Portland with the NBA team, working out with coaches and teammates during practices and workouts on a daily basis, rather than playing in D-League games.

It came down to: Do the players benefit more by being around their NBA teammates, player health and performance staff and coaches, or playing in D-League games? The last four games, as the young reserves have sparkled and carried the Blazers to victories while the team endured a rash of injuries, only reinforced the philosophy that being around the big-league club is most valuable.

In the end, the Blazers decided it makes more sense to take resources away from a single-affiliation in the D-League and devote them into other areas of the NBA team.

--Joe Freeman