Warriors Purchase D-League Team, Which Could Call San Jose Home
OAKLAND (KCBS) – The Golden State Warriors made a major announcement on Tuesday and it had nothing to do with the rookies they just drafted or any personnel at all.
The team announced that they have purchased the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, with the hope of moving the franchise to the Bay Area and more specifically, San Jose, in the near future.
"We're very excited to announce that the Warriors are going to be acquiring the Dakota Wizards," said Warriors Co-Owner Joe Lacob. "So we're going to have a system here from top to bottom. Our coaching staff, our player development and the systems by which we do that."
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
NBA teams are allowed to send players to assigned D-League teams for developmental purposes. The Warriors and Sacramento Kings had previously shared a D-League affiliation with the Reno Bighorns.
San Jose City Councilman Sam Liccardo said the strongest indication that the team may be moving to the South Bay is the fact that San Jose Giants President and CEO Jim Weyermann has been named Vice President of New Franchise Development for the Warriors.
"It certainly suggests that they expect the Wizards will come here to this area since Jim lives here," Liccardo said. "I know that Jim has a lot of respect around the country in his ability to lead the San Jose Giants to become a big draw and a great success on the field."
In his role, Weyermann will oversee all operational aspects for the Wizards.
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