The below statement is about Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner of the NBA, regarding the NBDL continuing operations through the lockout:

“@DLeagueDigest NBDL is still slated to go on regardless of NBA CBA outcome? Thought Adam Silver was quoted as yes-Looking for clarification”

http://twitter.com/#!/LarryCoon

Please take this with a grain of salt as it’s essentially a question coming from a Twitter account.

But, I thought it would be an interesting discussion point.

If NBA Franchises are currently in a position to send players to D-League teams, does this mean rookies would be eligible to play in the league during the lockout? If so, it would be a viable alternative to the recently cancelled Summer Leagues and would also serve as a nice outlet for NBA fans looking to get a semblance of professional basketball during the lockout, while watching this year’s rookie class compete.

An additional question is whether unrestricted Free Agents would be eligible to play if they met the general NBDL parameters listed below:

a.   The player (i) is or will be at least eighteen (18) years of age during the calendar year in which the NBA D-League Draft is held, and (ii) with respect to a player who is not an International Player (as defined below), has graduated from high school (or, if the player did not graduate from high school, the class with which the player would have graduated had he graduated from high school has graduated); and

b.   Either (i) The player has not attended a college or university in the United States during the academic year that takes place during all or any part of the Season; or (ii) The player has no remaining intercollegiate basketball eligibility.

c.   For purposes of this section, an "International Player" is a player: (i) who has maintained a permanent residence outside of the United States for at least the three
(3) years prior to the NBA D-League Draft, while participating in the game of basketball as an amateur or as a professional outside of the United States; (ii) who has never previously enrolled in a college or university in the United States; and (iii) who did not complete high school in the United States.
(Source: NBDL Player Release and Eligibility Form)

While there would be far more risk than reward for any mid-top tier Free Agent, I’m curious if some border line players (i.e. Patrick Mills) may use this as an opportunity to showcase for perspective franchises. I will acknowledge that foreign leagues will serve as more competitive and lucrative options. However, this could evolve into a nice domestic alternative.   

I’m sure a majority of people couldn’t care less about the NBDL operating during the lockout. However, if there was an opportunity to see players such as J. Johnson and E. Moore compete for the Red Claws, I’d definitely tune in. Additionally, I’m sure someone will throw water on my fire by mentioning that rookies are now part of the Players Union and won’t partake.
I’m naïve to this point, so I’m open to any clarification….

Also, I would love for this outcome to result in a nice revenue and potentially notoriety boost for these NBDL programs. There are countless benefits to this development system and the model of bringing minor league programs to small and otherwise excluded cities/states, such as Maine and the Dakotas, is a great way to spread a credible brand of professional basketball while also promoting professional talent development.

I’m curious what others think.
If the NBDL were to continue operations through the lockout, do you think it would draw enough talent that it would be worth watching?  Would you watch?