JUNE 21ST, 9:14am: The Celtics made their partnership with the Red Claws official today, announcing the agreement in a press release. The single-affiliation hybrid partnership will take effect for the 2012/13 season.
JUNE 16TH, 12:45pm: The Celtics are the latest NBA team to take over the basketball operations of their D-League affiliate, Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside reports, as they're nearing a deal to form a "hybrid partnership" with the Maine Red Claws. Presumably, this means the Red Claws will become solely an affiliate of the Celtics and end their relationship with the Sixers and Bobcats.
When the deal is finalized, the Celtics and Red Claws will have an arrangement similar to that of the Rockets, Nets, Knicks, Blazers and their D-League affiliates. The business side of the team will still based in Portland, Maine, where the team is headquartered, while the Celtics will be in charge of coaches, players and other basketball decisions. Coach Dave Leitao and GM John Jennings left the Red Claws on Friday in advance of the news.
The Blazers announced their hybrid partnership with the Idaho Stampede last month as the D-League moves closer to aligning each team with a single NBA affiliation, a long-term goal that D-League president Dan Reed reiterated last month. In addition to the hybrid partnerships, six teams — the Spurs, Warriors, Thunder, Lakers, Cavaliers and Mavericks — fully own and operate their D-League affiliates.
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Good move for the celtics and redclaws