With apologies to Monta Ellis, summer league GAWD Myles Turner, Joseph Young - shouts to the comments section! - and others, the biggest offseason addition for the Indiana Pacers this year was not a player. Instead, the best move the Pacers made was announce the upcoming purchase of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

The move may occur before the 2015-2016 season, but, given the complexity involved in transitioning the D-League affiliate currently shared by 12 NBA teams (Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards), it is more likely to occur before the 2016-2017 season. Another former affiliate of the Mad Ants, the Toronto Raptors, recently purchased a D-League team of their own, Raptors 905.

The significance of this move by the Pacers and entering into a one-to-one affiliation with the Mad Ants is enormous. From an off-the-court standpoint, it publicly proclaims that Indiana's front office and Herb Simon will take the steps necessary to position the Pacers among the league's elite franchises. The purchase, along with the recently announced building of a new practice facility worth approximately $50 million, is an attractive message to players as well. Personally, I am smitten with the new glitzy side of the franchise. The aforementioned moves build on the already-solid culture the Pacers have developed to this point. The move also represents a sea change for an organization that to date has not called a player up from the D-League.

Foremost, though, this a move about the on-court product. This demonstrates that the Pacers are placing an emphasis on player development. With the recent additions of Turner, Young, Glenn Robinson III, Rakeem Christmas (for my money, best name in the NBA), and the continued development of Shayne Whittington, this squad is younger than it has been in years, with an average age of 27.3 years old.

Simply put, there is no substitute for playing time. In order to foster the growth and development of each of these young players, each will need minutes. Owning and controlling the Mad Ants will allow the Pacers to cycle each player back and forth between Ft. Wayne and Indianapolis as necessary. The Pacers will be able to have the Mad Ants run their sets, install their defense, and familiarize each player with playing in the Pacers system. In addition, if the Pacers want to take a gamble on any player or stretch their roster, owning and operating the Mad Ants will allow them to do so.

Part of winning in the NBA is exploiting inefficiencies. The recent emphasis on the value of three pointers illustrates that point. As far as obvious examples go, owning and operating a D-League franchise is one of the current inefficiencies that can be significantly advantageous to those organizations that use them well. It is certainly no coincidence that four of the most successful current NBA franchises, the Spurs, Warriors, Thunder and Rockets all display heavy involvement with their respective D-League affiliates (the Thunder's D-League affiliate is now the "Blue"). One study has found a distinct correlation between D-League assignments and success. The Rockets used their D-League affiliate as a basketball laboratory where the team's strategy was built on eschewing midrange shots in favor of threes and shots in the restricted area. However, merely owning a D-League team is not a guarantee of success all on its own. After all, the New York Knicks have a D-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.

This is a move about the future. More than a one year boon, this move has the potential to provide massive value for the Pacers both short and long term.