NBA D-League 101: How Do Call-Ups Work? - NBA D-League

NBA Development League [http://dleague.nba.com] Teams Players All Players Prospect Watch NBA Alumni GATORADE Call-Ups NBA Assignments Transactions 2015-16 Head Coaches Schedule Full Schedule ESPNU Schedule News News Archive Photos Archive Prospect Watch Transactions Showcase Expansion Expansion: Bulls Expansion: Hornets Expansion: Nets Stats Stats Hub Sortable Player Stats Sortable Team Stats League Leaders All-Time Leaders NBA Projections Standings Full Standings Playoff Scenarios Playoff Format League NBA D-League 101 FAQ 2015-16 Key Dates Franchise Map Expansion NBA Communications 2015-16 Head Coaches Coaching Alums Video NBA D-League YouTube Alumni Highlights Plays of the Week Training Videos Mobile Connect On Facebook On Twitter On Instagram On Vine Store More Teams Players All Players Prospect Watch NBA Alumni GATORADE Call-Ups NBA Assignments Transactions 2015-16 Head Coaches Schedule Full Schedule ESPNU Schedule News News Archive Photos Archive Prospect Watch Transactions Showcase Expansion Expansion: Bulls Expansion: Hornets Expansion: Nets Stats Stats Hub Sortable Player Stats Sortable Team Stats League Leaders All-Time Leaders NBA Projections Standings Full Standings Playoff Scenarios Playoff Format League NBA D-League 101 FAQ 2015-16 Key Dates Franchise Map Expansion NBA Communications 2015-16 Head Coaches Coaching Alums Video NBA D-League YouTube Alumni Highlights Plays of the Week Training Videos Mobile Connect On Facebook On Twitter On Instagram On Vine Store Search NBA WNBA NBA D-League 101: How Do Call-Ups Work? All 19 NBA Development League teams are singly affiliated with an NBA franchise, but that does not mean that NBA franchises own exclusive rights to all of the players on their NBA D-League roster (like in Major League Baseball). In fact, the majority of players in the NBA D-League are available for any of the 30 NBA teams to sign (call up); most NBADL players have signed contracts with the league rather than their individual team, so by NBA standards they are technically free agents. This is why, for example, the Miami Heat could call up a Memphis Grizzlies “prospect” from the Grizzlies’ affiliate, the Iowa Energy. The Grizzlies may have identified prospects for the Iowa Energy roster, but these prospects are really auditioning for the entire NBA. Click here for the list of all-time GATORADE Call-Ups There are two types of players on NBADL rosters whose rights are exclusively owned by NBA teams: 1) Assignees — An NBA team can assign a player from its big-league roster to its NBADL affiliate. This player remains under contract with the assigning NBA team and can be recalled by only that team. >> NBA D-League 101: Assignments 2) Draft Rights Players — An NBA team can acquire a player in the NBA Draft, decline to sign him to an NBA contract and instead allow him to sign with the NBA D-League. In that case, the NBA team’s NBADL affiliate can acquire that player directly, bypassing the usual NBA D-League player selection processes. (The most notable example of this came in 2014 with Thunder first-round pick Josh Huestis, who spent his entire rookie season with the Oklahoma City Blue.) >> NBA D-League 101: NBA Draft Rights Players The other exception to this rule lies in players who enter the Development League as a path to the NBA Draft . NBADL players who still have NBA Draft eligibility cannot be called up to the NBA. >> NBA D-League 101: NBA Draft History Copyright 2016 NBA D-League Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms of Use NBA Development League League Info Schedule Stats Standings News Archive Transactions Players Head Coaches League Events 2016 Showcase 2015 NBA D-League Draft 2015 Showcase 2015 Summer League 2015 Playoffs 2015 Finals 2015 Elite Mini Camp 2015 National Tryout NBA D-League 101 About the NBA D-League FAQ 2015-16 Key Dates Franchise Map All-Time Call-Ups All-Time NBA Assignments NBA D-League Cares Connect NBA D-League App Newsletter YouTube Twitter Facebook Instagram Feedback? Submit Here NBA Info NBA League Pass NBA TV NBA Account Store Copyright 2016 NBA Media Ventures, LLC | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the NBA.com Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights Terms of Use Ad Choices NBA.com is part of Turner Sports Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. Advertise on NBA.com Career Opportunities Help Teams Players All Players Prospect Watch NBA Alumni GATORADE Call-Ups NBA Assignments Transactions 2015-16 Head Coaches Schedule Full Schedule ESPNU Schedule News News Archive Photos Archive Prospect Watch Transactions Showcase Expansion Expansion: Bulls Expansion: Hornets Expansion: Nets Stats Stats Hub Sortable Player Stats Sortable Team Stats League Leaders All-Time Leaders NBA Projections Standings Full Standings Playoff Scenarios Playoff Format League NBA D-League 101 FAQ 2015-16 Key Dates Franchise Map Expansion NBA Communications 2015-16 Head Coaches Coaching Alums Video NBA D-League YouTube Alumni Highlights Plays of the Week Training Videos Mobile Connect On Facebook On Twitter On Instagram On Vine Store Search NBA WNBA Teams Players All Players Prospect Watch NBA Alumni GATORADE Call-Ups NBA Assignments Transactions 2015-16 Head Coaches Schedule Full Schedule ESPNU Schedule News News Archive Photos Archive Prospect Watch Transactions Showcase Expansion Expansion: Bulls Expansion: Hornets Expansion: Nets Stats Stats Hub Sortable Player Stats Sortable Team Stats League Leaders All-Time Leaders NBA Projections Standings Full Standings Playoff Scenarios Playoff Format League NBA D-League 101 FAQ 2015-16 Key Dates Franchise Map Expansion NBA Communications 2015-16 Head Coaches Coaching Alums Video NBA D-League YouTube Alumni Highlights Plays of the Week Training Videos Mobile Connect On Facebook On Twitter On Instagram On Vine Store NBA D-League Search NBA WNBA Austin Spurs Spurs Bakersfield Jam Suns Canton Charge Cavaliers Delaware 87ers 76ers Erie BayHawks Magic Fort Wayne Mad Ants Pacers Grand Rapids Drive Pistons Idaho Stampede Jazz Iowa Energy Grizzlies Los Angeles D-Fenders Lakers Maine Red Claws Celtics Oklahoma City Blue Thunder Raptors 905 Raptors Reno Bighorns Kings Rio Grande Valley Vipers Rockets Santa Cruz Warriors Warriors Sioux Falls Skyforce Heat Texas Legends Mavericks Westchester Knicks Knicks Loading