National Basketball Association

Nets, D-League's Springfield team to join up

Published Nov. 11, 2010 11:29 a.m. ET

foxsports

The New Jersey Nets will take control of the operations of the NBA Development League's Springfield entry starting next season, becoming the second NBA club to enter into a single affiliation partnership.

The Nets will cover the expenses of the Armor's basketball operations and partner with local ownership, who maintain responsibility for business off the court.

The Houston Rockets and reigning D-League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers have the only similar arrangement.

NBA D-League president Dan Reed says Thursday in a statement that the new partnership ''an important step in our continued evolution as a true minor league for the NBA.''