Smith Signs Deal with NBDL, Allocated to Iowa Energy

Winona State's two time NABC Division II National Player of the Year, John Smith, has signed a contract with the NBDL along with being allocated to play for the Iowa Energy. Smith who reported to the Energy this week will take part in a training camp leading up to opening night on December 4th.

The NBA Development League, or D-League, is the National Basketball Association's officially sponsored and operated developmental basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), the D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001. In March 2005, NBA commissioner David Stern announced a plan to expand the D-League to fifteen teams and develop it into a true minor league farm system, with two NBA teams sharing each D-League team. In 2007-08, the league had 14 teams, with each D-League team being affiliated with 1 or 2 NBA teams. For the 2008-09 season, the league will have 16 teams.

Players for D-League teams do not sign contracts with the individual teams, but with the league itself. D-League team rosters consist of a total of 12 players, 10 (or fewer) being D-League players and 2 (or more) NBA players. The rosters are made up in a number of ways - the previous years' players, players taken in the D-League draft, allocation players (meaning players who are assigned to a team with which they have a local connection, such as John was), NBA team assignments, and local tryouts. Each NBA team can assign two first or second year players to its affiliated D-League team. If more than two NBA players are assigned to a team, the team must reduce the number of D-League players to keep the total roster size to 12.

NBA teams can call up players as many times as they choose, but a player can only be assigned to the NBA D-League three times in a season.

To follow Johns progress you can go down to our link section and click on the Iowa Energy link to keep up on how John is playing. The Warriors wish John the best of luck with the beginning of his professional career.