The National Basketball Association announced its new affiliation and assignment system for the NBA Development League last month:

Albuquerque Thunderbirds: Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics, Utah Jazz
Arkansas RimRockers: Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors
Austin Toros: Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, San AntonioNB Spurs
Fayetteville Patriots: Charlotte Bobcats, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks
Florida Flame: Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic
Fort Worth Flyers: Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers Roanoke Dazzle: New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards
Tulsa 66ers: Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets

Now that we have official NBDL affiliations for players, perhaps it’s time the NBA starts to serious look at working the CBA into the fold.

The CBA was once bought by Isiah Thomas with his goal being to turn the league into a minor league for the NBA. That dream ended as when Thomas sold the league after being unable to give it the lift that it needed. The buyer? The NBA Players Association. The NBAPA looked at the CBA as a potential home should they be unable to finalize the collective bargaining agreement with the NBA. Ownership of the CBA would give the players an alternative league to play in outside of the NBA.

The NBAPA might not want to give up control of the CBA, but it could come to an agreement with the NBA for the league to be partially merged with the NBDL to form a 16 team league. The agreement would have to allow the CBA teams to operate partially independent from the NBDL

The league would resemble:

EAST:
* Albany Patroons: New York Knicks, Boston Celtics
Roanoke: New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Fayetteville: Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards
Florida: Miami Heat, Orlando Magic
* Dakota Wizards: Minnesota Timberwolves
* Gary Steelheads: Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers
* Michigan Mayhem: Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors
* Rockford Lightning: Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls

WEST:
* Sioux Falls Skyforce: Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors
* Idaho Stampede: Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz
* Yakama Sun Kings: Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers
Albuquerque: Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns
Tulsa: New Orleans Hornets
Austin: Spurs, Houston Rockets
Fort Worth: Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks,
Arkansas: Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks

* = CBA Team