UPDATE: TrueHoop reader Brad e-mails: "Isn't what you recommend based on his findings exactly what the Spurs are doing? They bought a D-League team (Austin Toros, 90 minutes up I-35), and as 48 Minutes of Hell wonderfully explicate, the brilliant San Antonio management uses 10-day contracts like ongoing job interviews. They stash and/or farm young guys and bring them up every so often to see how they react. Even if they won't be playing this year, they're grooming them in the "Spurs Character" (not to mention Pop's basketball) system, so that next year, or the year after that, they will be more than ready -- and management will have seen who fits and who doesn't.

I've been wondering (and I've seen others here doing the same) why Paul Allen and Kevin Pritchard haven't followed this model.  One would think Allen could certainly afford it.  And it could fit into a larger plan of developing a NorthWest regional sports empire.  The Boise Stampede seems like a nice starting point, or possibly putting a team in the Tri-Cities.  In addition to putting a development stream in place, Portland could be grooming a new batch of fans who get interested in the team from watching guys who later graduate to the big league team.

I'd take it one step further and purchase a team in Europe.  In fact, should I purchase the winning ticket to Washington's Mega Millions lottery (currently at $207 million), I would be willing to co-invest in such a team (preferably one in Trieste or Gorica, in Italy). 

Who thinks PA should build his own minor league system?

There's supposed to be a poll, but I couldn't figure out how to insert it.