Pistons getting their own D-League team in Grand Rapids
By Dan Feldman
"The Detroit Pistons will become the third Detroit major-league franchise with a minor-league affiliate in the Grand Rapids area when an NBA Development League team moves there next season, sources confirmed to MLive.An agreement has been reached for undisclosed local owners to purchase the Springfield (Mass.) Armor and relocate the team to Michigan’s second-largest metropolitan area for the 2014-15 season, according to NBA, NBDL and local sources."
"The Grand Rapids franchise will follow the hybrid model, whereby the Pistons will play players’ and coaches’ salaries and run basketball operations, but local owners operate autonomously in other business areas, including marketing and merchandising."