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Toronto Raptors New Developmental League Affiliate Named – Fort Wayne Mad Ants Replace Bakersfield Jam

As Doug Smith reported this week, the Raptors have been assigned a new D-League affiliate for the 2014-2015 season. The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are in. Bakersfield Jam is out.

The news of this “assignment” shows just how poorly the Toronto Raptors have managed the D-League as a site for development of players, coaches, and staff.

Since 2005, the Raptors have assigned players to the D-League 14 times. The list of assigned players includes Dwight Buycks, Solomon Alabi, P.J. Tucker, and Ed Davis.

Since 2003, they have made 12 call-ups. Rafer Alston and Alan Anderson joined the Toronto Raptors as call-ups.

Despite this activity, the Raptors have yet to secure their own D-League team.

17 teams in the NBA have their own D-League squad. So, where do the players from the other 13 NBA teams send players ticketed for the D-League?

All to Fort Wayne.

Jun 27, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lucas Nogueira walks on stage as he is selected as the number sixteen overall pick to the Boston Celtics during the 2013 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The problems with this arrangement are many. Raptors players sent to the D-League certainly won’t learn the systems in place with the NBA team. Heck, it’ll be hard for Lucas Nogueira and Bruno Caboclo to find meaningful minutes, if sent down.

The solution?

As Smith added,

Owning your own team, though, alleviates all of that. You can put your coaches in place and run the same stuff in the D League that you try to run in the NBA, there will be a consistency of message and teaching that is important and worthwhile. Doug Smith, Toronto Star

The advantages are clear. And, other NBA squads are on board.

If one-to-one affiliates are the way to go for the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors (all playoff locks during the past few seasons) the D-League investment is one the Raptors need to make.

With MLSE adding farm teams for the Toronto Maple Leafs (Toronto Marlies) and Toronto FC (TFC Academy), it’s reasonable to assume that money would be available to secure the services of a D-league squad.

What do you think, Toronto Raptors fans? Could the D-League make a difference to the NBA Raptors or is a shared situation with 13 other teams good enough?