The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

http://www.nba.com/nbdl/nbdl/ash_col_hunt_disband_050505.html

"Asheville and Columbus Sold to Southwest Basketball, LLC
NBDL Will Not Return to Asheville, Columbus and Huntsville

Greenville, S.C., May 4 – The National Basketball Development League announced that teams that previously operated in Columbus, Ga., Asheville, N.C. and Huntsville, Ala. will not return to those markets.

The Asheville and Columbus teams have been sold to Southwest Basketball, LLC. Asheville will relocate to Tulsa, Okla., while Columbus will relocate to Austin, Texas. Whether Huntsville will be relocated or terminated is still to be determined.

“It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to build the level of support that we needed in Asheville, Columbus or Huntsville,” NBDL President Phil Evans said. “It is still our goal to grow the league to no fewer than 15 teams, partnering with strong local owners in strong markets as we continue to develop on and off-court personnel for the NBA.”

The NBDL, the NBA’s Development League, just completed its fourth season. The league includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), as well as Albuquerque (N.M.), Tulsa, Austin and Fort Worth (Texas).

The league offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA’s umbrella. Thirty-four (34) players have been called up the NBA on 50 separate occasions. Nine former NBDL coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up since the start of the league’s inaugural season in November 2001. Six additional front office executives have earned positions with other major league sports.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The NBDL is a source of on-court talent for the NBA’s 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions."