Clippers To Work Key Sponsor Into Name Of D-League Team Set To Debut Next Season

The Clippers are "closing in on an announcement that would establish Agua Caliente Casino Resort ... as the title sponsor of the club's looming D-League affiliate in a unique naming arrangement," according to sources cited by Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The official name of the team, which is set to debut next season, would be the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. Agua Caliente is "one of the club's most prominent sponsors at the NBA level" (ESPN.com, 5/9). Ontario, Calif., is about 50 miles east of L.A., and in California, Bill Oram noted the Clippers are "one of the few NBA teams without a direct affiliate" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 5/10). HOOPSHYPE.com's Bryan Kalbrosky wrote it seems "likely the 'of Ontario' part of the name is a nod to MLB's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim." Instead of "having two city names, it will have a city name and a casino" (HOOPSHYPE.com, 5/9).