Broomfield, Colo. - (Courtesy of NBA D-League Communications)The Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League will be one of four teams to participate in the 2006 D-League Expansion Draft on Sept. 19 starting at 1 p.m. MT.
The 14ers will have the first selection in the Expansion Draft, which will be conducted via conference call from the D-League Office. The Bakersfield Jam will have the second pick, followed by the Anaheim Arsenal and the Los Angeles D-Fenders. An independent agency conducted a random drawing to determine the Expansion Draft order for each of the 10 rounds.
NBADLEAGUE.com and NBA TV will provide extensive coverage of the Expansion Draft. The web site will follow the selection process with live audio of the draft conference call, as well as provide an up to the minute selection tracker. NBA TV will cover the selections through the eyes of 14ers head coach and former Denver Nugget
Joe Wolf.
"It is particularly nice for a first-year team to have the first pick. Tomorrow's Expansion Draft will be a good start to stocking our roster for the 2006-07 season," said Coach Wolf. "In the end, the players invited to training camp will not only come from both drafts, but also local tryouts."
The list of available players is comprised from a list of 44 players that played in the D-League last season but are not currently on a roster. Following the Expansion Draft, each team will submit a preference order list of its selected players to the D-League Office. Four players from that list can be signed to a league contract.
"The Expansion Draft is an effort to give new teams an equal footing in regard to rights to returning players," D-League Senior Director of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel Chris Alpert said. "The league will sign up to four players from season-ending rosters of returning teams, so this levels the playing field somewhat heading into the regular Draft."
Along with returning D-League teams, the Dakota Wizards, Idaho Stampede and Sioux Falls Skyforce, which competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) last season, were allowed to submit a returning player list from their 2005-06 season-ending rosters. Four players from each list can be signed to a league contract.
The regular 2006 NBA D-League Draft is scheduled for November 2, with training camp beginning on November 12. The 2006-07 regular season gets underway with five games on November 24.
Colorado is one of seven new markets and 12 teams for 2006-07. The 14ers will join the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, Anaheim Arsenal, Bakersfield Jam, Idaho Stampede and Los Angeles D-Fenders to make up the Western Division. The Arkansas RimRockers, Austin Toros, Dakota Wizards, Fort Worth Flyers, Sioux Falls Sky Force and Tulsa 66ers will comprise the Eastern Division.
The 14ers' 50-game regular season schedule features 30 contests within the Western Division and 39 weekend games (Fri-Sun). In addition, the first ever D-League All-Star Game is set for Saturday, Feb. 17, to be played during Jam Session at the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas.
Season seats are available now for the 2006-07 season by calling 303-465-HOOP. Season seats range from $10-$37 per game. For more information on season tickets and a full list of season ticket holder benefits, visit www.BroomfieldEventCenter.com.
About the Broomfield Event Center: Currently under construction on the south side of U.S. Highway 36, between 112 th and 120 th Streets, the Broomfield Event Center will be a state of the art 180,000 square foot multi-purpose event center and will include 6,000 seats, including 25 suites, 900 club seats, a sit-down restaurant, two themed bars and a separate basketball practice facility. The Broomfield Event Center will host more than 130 events per year, including concerts, trade shows, rodeos and sporting events. It is the future home of the Rocky Mountain Rage Professional Hockey Club (Central Hockey League) and the Colorado 14ers Professional Basketball Club (NBA Development League, Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors affiliate team). The new venue is scheduled to open in November.
About Arista: The Broomfield Event Center is a major anchor for the 215 acre multi-use development known as Arista. Other than the event center, the Arista development will include retail, office and residential space.
www.14ersHoops.com