The Nuggets and three other NBA teams will start the first minor-league affiliation in Austin, Texas.
NBA senior vice president Stu Jackson and NBA Development League president Philip Evans are scheduled to announce team affiliations today. The Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers are expected to be affiliated with the new NBDL franchise in Austin. The NBA will be affiliated with the now eight-team NBDL for the first time in the 2005-06 season.
NBA teams can send players with less than two years’ experience to play for the NBDL teams. Players on the Nuggets’ roster eligible to play for Austin include rookies Julius Hodge, Linas Kleiza, Ricky Sanchez and Luke Schenscher. NBA teams will pay the salaries of players sent to the NBDL and will lose a roster spot for any player sent down. Teams can option a maximum of two players at one time to the minors. A player can’t be optioned more than three times.
The Austin Toros begin play Nov. 25 at Arkansas (Little Rock) and open at home Nov. 26 against Fayetteville (N.C.). The team will be coached by former NBA coach and player Dennis Johnson, who coached NBDL Florida last season.
Former Nuggets interim coach and NBA player Michael Cooper is coaching NBDL Albuquerque.
Staff writer Adam Thompson contributed to this report.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
