Hoops

Hypothetical - Hodge makes NBA, then what?

Does the team really need to replace Ballinger's import slot once he does Naturalize?

I don't really see the point considering the depth the team already has. Besides, naturalising doesn't change the way a player actually plays his game. All this crap about having multiple imports etc. and always making sure you have two is basically insulting the team you'd be playing for.

"Thank god an import spot has now freed up since Ballinger got naturalised. We REALLY need another import to supplement the crap we have on the team"

Please, just get a 2nd import and playing a full season with the one team setup.

The past 2 years have been a disgrace. This coming season already looks much better. Even so, let another fairly poor year go by for the sake of building for the future. How can anyone go past Ballinger and Rychart playing as Australians and then getting 2 new import guards. I don't think anything can be that attractive at the moment to give up this position for the future. As for Hodge, I've said it before, if he was serious he would be signing with Adelaide straight away with an out clause. Its ludicrous to be waiting for him when he hasn't even shown that he is more than just words.

i do see the logic in your argument and like dusty and think he would be a great addition for the role you have said, but however to me it comes down to a decision of Hodge or Dusty, who would you take??? i would take Hodge personally for this year and the long term, i have know idea what Hodge is thinking or anything but i see him as a potential long term 36er also, he is around 24 years old, should he miss out on the NBA this year most likely he would probably never get back in as the NBA does seem to recruit younger guys ie under say 22 or 23 most of the time, and if its true he does not like Europe then it could be possibel he would do like a Rob Rose/copeland (and many others) did and play the rest of his career out here in Australia. so on both the long and short term i would chose Hodge over Dusty, being the main reason i wouldnt sign Dusty as an import (unless Ballinger naturalises) this season. as a naturalised player i would sign dusty in a heart beat. Should hodge say make the nba, then yes your scenario has some good in it and i wouldnt be against it but my personal preference would still be for the import SG.
The main thing i would absolutly hate to see is us sign dusty as a import say tomorrow, in a months time Hodge call back and say hey guys ive missed the nba im in, and us being like um we have no spot for you and having Hodge possibly sign with someone else and play against us, knowing he wanted to be a 36er!
What would your reaction to that be??? i think most fans would hate to see this, as dusty is great but i think most would chose hodge over him if it came down to that decision.

Great to hear 36ers are still said to be Hodges 2nd choice if he doesnt make the NBA as he is an absolute fav of mine and i think he would be in the top 3 for MVP of the league for sure should he return!
Dicko, without obviously naming names, are the alternatives the 36ers have in place similar players to Hodge being SG/SF's who can also run the point??? have any of them played NBL previously??? or they looking at Hodge or a 'fresh face'???
I would also love to see Dusty back, especially as an aussie, but i dont think we can afford to burn an import spot on him at this point, as especially if we say signed dusty, then a month later hodge says i missed the nba id love to come back, and we are like oh our import spots are full, i would hate to see that scenario, as i am a dusty fan but Hodge is a far better player, legit MVP callibre so would chose Hodge over dusty any day of the week. Having said that should either Ballinger or Dusty naturalise in the near future and dusty still be a free agent i would love to see him back in 36ers uniform, i just dont think we can use our 2nd import spot on him it has to go to Hodge or a SG IMO

I'd trust in Boti telling me that Hodge has been signed somewhere else, or besides that, a "OMFG HODGE SIGNS WITH <random NBA team>!?!?" on this website. Newley will basically be backstabbing the Sixers if he goes and continues playing in Europe for the next 5 years or so, considering his hook to us was "I always wanted to play for the home team". At least that's what I think of it. I would have liked Smyth to have stayed on with the Sixers as a scout; he's always had a knack for picking good imports; but then again, would be interesting to see who Ninnis chooses in potential absence of Hodge. As for the others mentioned: Crowe: He went from top notch import to luke warm over the season; had he played a standard over the whole season, the Blaze would have won their 1st playoff game Groves: Decent SG, but personally think he's past his prime in this league, haven't really seen him pack much punch under Heal's coaching and I'd probably give him this season to see what he's capable of. Ere: Great Shooter, but not really needed in the current Sixers lineup. Already have decent scoring with the existing team, and with Hodge in, you've got a player who has better stats. Hodge would have probably won MVP had he been a sixer since day 1 (I'm talking League and Club MVP)