June 2nd: "Lakers' new NBA Development League Team"

[Phil]

We'll Wait to See How This Story Develops
By Bob Rohwer, Times Staff Writer
June 2, 2006

Will they be called the D-Dogs, D-Fenders, L.A. Caliente, L.A. Breakers, L.A. Next, L.A. Sensation, L.A. Buss or L.A. Evolution?

These are the choices for the name of the Lakers' new NBA Development League team, and the club is asking fans to vote for their favorite at http://www.lakers.com from Monday through Thursday.

The Lakers are the first NBA franchise to own a D-League team, which allows them to control who coaches and who plays on their minor league team, much as a major league baseball team controls personnel on its minor league affiliates.

The D-League season starts in November, and the Lakers' affiliate could play its 25 home games at Staples Center, preceding Laker games.

As for the team's name, sorry, it's too late for nominations, so don't expect to see the L.A. Ponds, L.A. Puddles, L.A. D-List or, as another Times staffer suggested: " 'The Lakers' — 11 of them were development league-quality players last season."