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Jam establishes affiliation with Orlando Magic
| Wednesday, Jun 4 2008 9:55 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Jun 5 2008 7:51 AM
The Bakersfield Jam is ready to join the Orlando Magic family.
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Guard Mateen Cleaves is a key member of the Bakersfield Jam.
David Higdon, the Jam's managing general partner, confirmed Wednesday that Orlando is expected to join the Golden State Warriors as the two affiliates of the Jam for the 2008-09 season.
The final decision on affiliations throughout the D-League will be announced by the league next Wednesday or Thursday. There is a remote possibility that Orlando could be pulled out at the last second and replaced by another team, Jam coach Scott Roth said.
"This is all unofficial," Roth said. "But that's the last word we were given: Golden State and Orlando."
Roth added: "That's fine with me. I know all of their coaching staff and their front office people."
Higdon indicated that the decision has been finalized.
"It's a great thing for us," Higdon said. "They utilize the D-League. They have the 22nd overall draft pick this year, which is a good sign they'll send us someone. This is why it's important we have a person like Scott Roth here."
Roth took over as the Jam coach last January. He has extensive NBA experience, as a player and front-office official, with countless contacts throughout the league.
The Sacramento Kings, who have not sent a player to Bakersfield in their two seasons as an affiliate, will no longer be affiliated with Bakersfield. The Kings could wind up as the affiliation of a D-League expansion team that has been awarded to Reno, Nev.
Higdon said he hopes Roth's NBA experience will help propel the Jam to better on-court success. From a won-loss perspective, the Jam has been among the worst teams in the D-League in their two seasons.
"Scott is very well respected in the NBA," Higdon said. "He's opened a lot of doors for the Jam. The phone hasn't stopped ringing from all these NBA people that keep calling him."
PRACTICE FACILITY SET
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for next Thursday for the Jam's new practice facility, a $1 million, 22,000-square-foot building that will be constructed adjacent to the Jam offices on Norris Road in northwest Bakersfield.
Higdon said the facility will include a video viewing room, a weight room, showers and a full kitchen.
Higdon said the facility could be utilized by the community and the $1 million price tag shows the ownership's commitment to Bakersfield.
"We want to send the right message to the community," he said. "The D-League has said that you want to model yourself after the NBA, and this is the model Stan (majority owner Stan Ellis) and I decided to follow.
"There are a lot of club teams in town without a place to practice. We could turn part of it into a community room."
HIGDON, ELLIS TO RUN THINGS
The recent resignation of team president Michael Hirsch has prompted a change in how the Jam will be operated, Higdon said.
"Right now, we're not going to be hiring a team president," Higdon said. "Stan and I will step in to kind of oversee the everyday operations."
For now, that philosophy will continue into the season, Higdon said.
Hirsch, who has moved back to the East Coast, remains involved with the team as a consultant.