The owner of Utah's new D-League franchise pledged allegiance Saturday to the Jazz, who will affiliate with the still-unnamed team when it begins play next season in the NBA's minor league.

"We're looking forward to many, many years of working with the Jazz and helping them in any way possible to develop younger players," said Provo-based businessman Brandt Andersen, who secured rights to a club that will begin play next season at Utah Valley State College's McKay Event Center in Orem.

NBA Development League president Phil Evans said an announcement regarding affiliation will not be made until after the current season, but the Jazz — who this season share the Boise-based Idaho Stampede with the Seattle Sonics as a minor-league affiliate — made it clear they intend to have close ties with Andersen's expansion franchise.

"We look forward," Jazz president Denny Haslam said during a news conference at the Jazz's home, EnergySolutions Arena, "to a strong relationship with Brandt's team."

NBA teams are permitted to assign first- and second-year players to the D-League, though those players still receive full NBA play while in the minors.

Andersen said he has already been "in consultation" with the Jazz regarding issues, including the hiring of coaches who will adhere to the parent club's schemes and philosophies, and he's frequently sought Haslam's counsel throughout the process of pursuing a team of his own.

"Our goal," Andersen said, "is to support the Jazz."

The D-League, run by the NBA, was founded in 2001 and currently has 12 teams throughout the nation that play a 50-game schedule from late November through April.

Its eventual goal is to have one franchise directly and exclusively affiliated with each of the 30 NBA teams, but Evans said it will be "a few years" before that actually happens.

"We'll take our time," the D-League president said. "We don't want to stub our toes."

Andersen, however, seems anxious to dive into the role of team owner.

He's named a club president, Joe Brown, and the franchise already is selling tickets. (For more information, call 801-434-HOOP.)

The 29-year-old Brigham Young University communications graduate, software entrepreneur and Utah County land developer plans to involve the help of the local community in picking a name for the team.

And he said he anticipates no problems selling his team in Utah County, which already is home to two NCAA Division I basketball programs, UVSC and BYU.

"I've always loved basketball," said Andersen, who admits to imitating famous players in the back yard — and soon realizing he'd have a better shot at owning a professional team than ever playing for one.

"Today," he added, "is the beginning of the fulfillment of that dream."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com