BOSTON -- The NBA's developmental league is changing its salary commitment and structure to stay competitive in the minor-league hoops market.

	The Greenville Groove and the NBDL's players didn't like being locked into two-year contracts.

The NBDL will issue one-year contracts for the coming season. It signed players to two-year deals in its initial season of 2001-02. The NBDL's Karl Hicks said the move is necessary because players want more flexibility; they don't want to lock in for two seasons, especially when the rival Continental Basketball Association doesn't offer the same thing.

Hicks said the NBDL had the option to pick up the second year of those initial-season deals, but none was exercised. Instead, the league will start fresh with one-year deals for returning players as well as newcomers.

In addition, a league-connected source said a three-tiered pay scale will be used, which could cause stress for coaches.

The rosters will have 10 instead of 11 players, with the team divided among three "A" level players at $28,000 to $30,000 per season, three "B" level players at $20,000 and four "C" level players at $12,000. The NBDL salaries were all set at $27,500 during its inaugural season.

On average, CBA players make more than $20,000 for the season.

The NBDL will have a draft but not a supplemental draft like it did last season after NBA teams made their final cuts. The one draft will occur after the final NBA cuts in late October. The NBDL season starts Nov. 15.

NBDL player personnel director Milt Newton says there is room for 28-year old Lee Benson in the league. Benson served eight-plus years in an Ohio prison and played one season of junior-college ball, but the Washington Wizards cut him before the Shaw's Pro Summer League in Boston.

Hicks said Benson's age wouldn't deter the NBDL from inviting him. He said the developmental league is tied to age, in theory, but not married to it (they prefer not to choose anyone below 20 years old and have made the draft process a prerequisite for all players). If the NBA considers Benson a developing talent, then there could be a spot for him in the "D" league.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.