The Minnesota Timberwolves will be among the 13 independent NBA teams affiliated with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for the 2014-15 NBA season.
It will be the first season the two teams will be paired as affiliates. Minnesota was paired with the Iowa Energy last season and the Sioux Falls Skyforce previously.
FOX Sports Net points out that Wolves players may not necessarily play for the Mad Ants. D-League roster rules dictate a maximum of four NBA players, or two NBA players at the same position allowed at any point in time.
If there isn’t room on the Mad Ants’ roster, those players could be assigned or chosen to play for another D-League team.
Last season an all-time high of 62 players – including Wolves rookie Shabazz Muhammed – were assigned to D-League teams a record 187 times.
The league is moving in the direction of NBA teams establishing a one-to-one relationship with D-League teams similar to the NHL and Major League Baseball; 17 NBA teams now have the one-to-one relationships.
According to the Pioneer Press, the Wolves’ front office has explored an exclusive relationship with a D-League team, but those plans have been put on hold with the focus now on construction of offices and a training center in downtown Minneapolis.
The Wolves open training camp in Mankato on Sept. 30.
