Question: And this is?

Answer: The NBA Development League ("D-League") was created back in the 14th century or so, designed as a minor league of sorts for the NBA. It continues to slowly expand, and, during the reign of Henry VIII, a rule was added whereby the existing D-League franchises were "affiliated" with certain NBA franchises (trying to keep as close of a local match as is realistically possible). This rule allows those NBA franchises to "assign" any first or second year players that they may have to the D-League team's roster, where they can then garner more playing time and experience and groupies and stuff. It's basically the only thing an affiliation offers you, but it's a start at least.

There follows a list of all the D-League franchises, their affiliated NBA teams, along with any and all players on those NBA rosters that are eligible for D-League assignments.

Note: Player lists accurate as of March 17th 2010. I only mention this as I might not update immediately following any NBA transactions, because I'm both lazy and a bit forgetful.

Albuquerque Thunderbirds

Dallas Mavericks : Rodrigue Beaubois

New Orleans Hornets : Darren Collison, Marcus Thornton

Austin Toros

San Antonio Spurs : Malik Hairston, George Hill, DeJuan Blair, Garrett Temple, Cedric Jackson

Bakersfield Jam

Golden State Warriors : Anthony Randolph, Anthony Morrow, Stephen Curry, Chris Hunter, Reggie Williams

L.A. Clippers : Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Bobby Brown

Dakota Wizards

Memphis Grizzlies : DeMarre Carroll, Darrell Arthur, O.J. Mayo, Hamed Haddadi, Sam Young, Marc Gasol, Hasheem Thabeet, Lester Hudson

Washington Wizards : JaVale McGee, Alonzo Gee

Erie BayHawks

Cleveland Cavaliers : J.J. Hickson, Darnell Jackson, Jawad Williams, Danny Green

Toronto Raptors : DeMar Derozan, Sonny Weems

Fort Wayne Mad Ants

Detroit Pistons : Jonas Jerebko, Dajuan Summers, Austin Daye

Indiana Pacers : Brandon Rush, Tyler Hansbrough, Roy Hibbert, A.J. Price

Milwaukee Bucks : Brandon Jennings, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

Idaho Stampede

Denver Nuggets : Ty Lawson

Portland Trail Blazers : Jerryd Bayless, Rudy Fernandez, Nicholas Batum, Dante Cunningham, Jeff Pendergraph, Patty Mills

Iowa Energy

Chicago Bulls : Derrick Rose, James Johnson, Taj Gibson, Joe Alexander, Chris Richard

Phoenix Suns : Robin Lopez, Goran Dragic, Earl Clark, Taylor Griffin

Los Angeles D-Fenders

Los Angeles Lakers : None

Maine Red Claws

Boston Celtics : Marcus Landry

Charlotte Bobcats : Alexis Ajinca, D.J. Augustin, Derrick Brown, Gerald Henderson

Reno Bighorns

Orlando Magic : Ryan Anderson

Sacramento Kings : Jason Thompson, Tyreke Evans, Donte Greene, Omri Casspi, Jon Brockman, Joey Dorsey

Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Houston Rockets : Jordan Hill, David Andersen, Jermaine Taylor, Chase Budinger

Sioux Falls Skyforce

Miami Heat : Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, Kenny Hasbrouck

Minnesota Timberwolves : Wayne Ellington, Jonny Flynn, Kevin Love, Nathan Jawai

Springfield Armor

New Jersey Nets : Brook Lopez, Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Terrence Williams

New York Knicks : Toney Douglas, Danilo Gallinari, Bill Walker, J.R. Giddens

Philadelphia 76ers : Marreese Speights, Jrue Holiday, Jodie Meeks

Tulsa 66ers

Oklahoma City Thunder : D.J. White, Russell Westbrook, B.J. Mullens, James Harden, Kyle Weaver, Serge Ibaka, Eric Maynor, Mustafa Shakur

Utah Flash

Atlanta Hawks : Jeff Teague

Utah Jazz : Kosta Koufos, Wesley Matthews, Sundiata Gaines, Othyus Jeffers

  March 17th: Houston re-assigns Jermaine Taylor to Rio Grande Valley.
  March 16th: Miami signs Kenny Hasbrouck from Rio Grande Valley to a 10 day contract.
  March 16th: Oklahoma City signs Mustafa Shakur from Tulsa to a 10 day contract.
  March 15th: Phoenix assigns Earl Clark to Iowa.
  March 13th: San Antonio signs Garrett Temple from Rio Grande Valley to a 10 day contract.
  March 12th: Oklahoma City recalls Kyle Weaver from Tulsa.
  March 10th: San Antonio signs Cedric Jackson from Erie to a 10 day contract.
  March 9th: Oklahoma City recalls D.J. White from Tulsa.
  March 8th: Memphis recalls Hasheem Thabeet from Dakota.
  March 8th: Utah assigns Kosta Koufos to Utah.
  March 7th: Washington signs Alonzo Gee from Austin to a 10 day contract.
  March 6th: Boston assigns Marcus Landry to Maine.
  March 5th: Oklahoma City signs Antonio Anderson to a second 10-day contract.
  March 3rd: Chicago signs Chris Richard from Tulsa for the remainder of the season.
  March 3rd: Oklahoma City assigns D.J. White to Tulsa.
  March 3rd: Sacramento signs Garrett Temple from Rio Grande Valley to a 10 day contract.
  March 3rd: Utah signs Othyus Jeffers from Iowa to a 10 day contract.
  March 2nd: Golden State signs Reggie Williams from Sioux Falls to a 10 day contract.
  March 2nd: Houston signs Will Conroy from Rio Grande Valley to a 10 day contract.
  March 2nd: Oklahoma City assigns Byron Mullens and Kyle Weaver to Tulsa.
  February 28th: Cleveland recalls Danny Green from Erie.
  February 28th: Memphis assigns Lester Hudson to Dakota.
  February 26th: Cleveland recalls Darnell Jackson from Erie.
  February 26th: Washington signs Shaun Livingston to a 10-day contract.
  February 25th: Memphis assigns Hasheem Thabeet to Dakota.
  February 25th: Cleveland assigns Danny Green and Darnell Jackson to Erie.
  February 24th: Washington signs Mike Harris from Rio Grande Valley to a 10 day contract
  February 23rd: Houston recalls Jermaine Taylor from Rio Grande Valley.
  February 22nd: Oklahoma City signs Antonio Anderson from Rio Grande Valley to a 10 day contract
  February 21st: Minnesota recalls Nathan Jawai from Sioux Falls.
  February 21st: San Antonio recalls Malik Hairston from Austin.
  February 19th: Houston re-assigns Jermaine Taylor to Rio Grande Valley.
  February 19th: Minnesota assigns Nathan Jawai to Sioux Falls.
  February 18th: Milwaukee recalls Joe Alexander from Fort Wayne.
  February 8th: Houston signs Garrett Temple from Rio Grande Valley to a 10 day contract.
  February 5th: Chicago signs Chris Richard from Tulsa to a 10 day contract.
  February 4th: Houston recalls Jermaine Taylor from Rio Grande Valley.
  February 3rd: Golden State signs Coby Karl of Idaho to a 10 day contract.
  February 2nd: Charlotte recalls Alexis Ajinca from Maine.
  January 29th: Boston recalls J.R. Giddens from Maine.
  January 29th: Utah recalls Kosta Koufos from Utah.
  January 28th: Houston signs Will Conroy from Rio Grande Valley to a 10 day contract.
  January 28th: Houston assigns Jermaine Taylor to Rio Grande Valley.
  January 25th: Utah re-assigns Kosta Koufos to Utah.
  January 23rd: Cleveland signs Cedric Jackson from Erie to a ten day contract.
  January 23rd: Portland recalls Patrick Mills from Idaho.
  January 22nd: L.A. Clippers sign JamesOn Curry from Springfield to a ten day contract.
  January 21st: Boston assigns J.R. Giddens to Maine.
  January 20th: Milwaukee assigns Joe Alexander to Fort Wayne.
  January 19th: Phoenix recalls Taylor Griffin from Iowa.
  January 17th: Golden State signs Anthony Tolliver from Idaho to a ten day contract.
  January 14th: San Antonio re-assigns Malik Hairston to Austin.
  January 13th: Portland re-assigns Patrick Mills to Idaho.
  January 12th: Atlanta signs Mario West from Maine to a ten day contract.
  January 12th: Houston recalls Joey Dorsey from Rio Grande Valley.
  January 10th: Golden State signs Cartier Martin from Iowa to a ten day contract.
  January 8th: Oklahoma City recalls D.J. White from Tulsa.
  January 5th: Utah signs Sundiata Gaines from Idaho to a ten day contract.
  January 4th: Portland recalls Patrick Mills from Idaho.
  December 30th: Boston recalls Lester Hudson from Maine.
  December 29th: Phoenix re-assigns Taylor Griffin to Iowa.
  December 29th: Portland assigns Patrick Mills to Idaho.
  December 28th: Oklahoma City recalls B.J. Mullens from Tulsa.
  December 26th: Boston re-assigns Lester Hudson to Maine.
  December 26th: Oklahoma City assigns D.J. White to Tulsa.
  December 23rd: Boston recalls Bill Walker from Maine.
  December 23rd:Houston signs Mike Harris from Rio Grande Valley
  December 20th: Boston recalls Lester Hudson from Maine.
  December 17th: Portland signs Anthony Tolliver from Idaho.
  December 15th: Boston assigns Lester Hudson to Maine.
  December 14th: Phoenix recalls Taylor Griffin from Iowa.
  December 7th: Phoenix assigns Taylor Griffin to Iowa.
  December 7th: San Antonio recalls Malik Hairston from Austin.
  December 4th: San Antonio assigns Malik Hairston to Austin.
  November 30th: Charlotte assigns Alexis Ajinca to Maine.
  November 24th: Oklahoma City recalls Kyle Weaver from Tulsa.
  November 21st: Boston assigns Bill Walker to Maine.
  November 21st: Oklahoma City assigns Kyle Weaver and B.J. Mullens to Tulsa.
  November 20th: Golden State signs Chris Hunter from Fort Wayne.
  November 13th: Houston assigns Joey Dorsey to Rio Grande Valley