The Hawks recently announced that they’ll purchase and control a D-League franchise, making them the 23rd NBA team to get an affiliate. An announcement on a 24th D-League team could come soon, according to Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times. Bucks president Peter Feigin tells Woeflel that the club is expected to make a decision on a home for its D-League affiliate “before Thanksgiving.”
[RELATED: Hawks to purchase, control D-League affiliate]
As Woefel details, the Wisconsin cities of Racine, Oshkosh, and Sheboygan have been cited as the candidates to become the home of the Bucks’ potential D-League affiliate, so the chosen city won’t be far from Milwaukee. Feigin confirmed that all three locations remain in the mix.
According to Woelfel, Racine officials – including Mayor John Dickert – have been negotiating with the Bucks for more than a year about the possibility of the team’s D-League squad playing in the city. Dickert, who says that Racine native Caron Butler could get involved as an investor if the Bucks decide to move forward with the city, intends to pursue an arena project regardless of the club’s decision, since he hopes to attract a minor league hockey team.
[RELATED: D-League affiliations for 2016/17]
Over the summer, Adam Johnson of D-League Digest made a case for why the Bucks should strongly consider Sheboygan for the home of their D-League affiliate.