PORTLAND – NBA Maine Basketball are asking fans to help name the new NBA Development League basketball team scheduled to start play for the 2009-10 season.

Fans can go online at www.nbamaine.com or call the team’s office at 207-210-6655 to help select the name for their team. The team has chosen seven possible names – Maine Beacons, Maine Crushers, Maine Claws, Maine Destroyers, Maine Red Claws, Maine Swarm, and Maine Traps.

The team will also choose one randomly selected voter to receive two tickets to a 2009 Boston Celtics playoff game.

“We are excited about getting input from our fans on our team name. The fans are what this is all about, and we can’t wait to see what they decide.” said Jon Jennings, Team President and General Manager of NBA Maine Basketball.

Voting is scheduled to end March 31. The team will announce its new team name on or about April 3.

NBA Maine Basketball will begin play in November at the Portland Expo Building. Fans can purchase season ticket packages by calling (207) 210-6655 or visit www.nbamaine.com for more information.

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league and features 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams. The league has produced 15 percent of the players on 2007-08 end-of-season NBA rosters and continues to develop current NBA coaches and referees.

In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote youth basketball, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout this season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.