Hoops

Hodge confident of NBA gig

Having said all this, does anyone know what sort of time frame the club has put on Hodge to decide? If he gets an NBA out clause, then why isn't he signing straight away? If the 36ers really had a good chance of getting him, they would already have a contract signed, Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Hodge back here. I have a lot of confidence that the team with Hodge would be a top 4 team. However, I feel Hodge is playing games with us. If his priority is to play in the NBA, then the 36ers have respected that by offering an NBA out clause. If he wanted to show his commitment to Adelaide as being the team he will play for if the NBA does not eventuate for him, then he would show that commitment by signing.

Billo once again I ask you to read what I said.

"Read what I said. I said if what Boti has said is the case". Now Billo where does this statement state that what Boti has said is fact. Just read properly and don't criticise just for the sake of criticising. By reading my words properly you would have realised that my comments only applied if Boti was correct. He also states that Ninnis has been in constant contact with him and is confident that if Hodge plays in the NBL it will be with Adelaide. The real issue here is that if Hodge has said he is confident of an NBA gig, then what are Adelaide waiting for? Its not worth the risk at the cost of looking for someone else with plenty of time before the season starts. Statistically you should get someone better when you have time to choose rather than rushing into a last minute signing.

Also a contract signed by Hodge when he is confident of an NBA gig is asking for trouble. It means the club can't release him from his contract to pursue another player even though it seems unlikely that they have him anyway.

I think one flew into Adelaide today, from Sweden. May play on saturday. Thet will have a look at, Pero.

It seems to me they may go with nine and add another import when Ballinger naturalises.

Read what I said. I said if what Boti has said is the case, there is no difference. From Boti's words, the only options for Hodge is the NBA or Adelaide. That's exactly what you are getting with a contract with an NBA out clause. Besides, with past experience, how much relief is there in signing a player with an out clause. If anything its worse because the player can be signed and then leave you hanging on to him right up until the last minute when its too late to get a decent replacement quickly. With no contract, you give him a reasonable time frame. A contract with an out clause benefits the player, not the club.

Playing against Hodge would be scary. But if he says he doesn't want to put any NBA team off by signing, we just have to wait.

They can wait for Hodge and Ballinger may get naturalised THIS season. So there's a few options.

Kriss, what you have described is another Hodge. If he is anywhere near as Hodge, he would be doing the same thing as Hodge.

Skip, how does signing him with an out clause make you feel more at ease? Isn't that what we had with Newley this time last year? Besides that, Boti says that its either the NBA or Adelaide for him. If that is the case, a contract with an out clause is no different than no contract at all.