Hoops

36ers Sign Weigh

I thought the exact same thing Paul but unfortunately it's a bit like saying "if only the Dragons hadn't closed up shop and sent the League into freefall". History will show that it may have been the catalyst that ultimately saved the League from an eventual collapse but it still doesn't stop one from wondering if only.

I would be curious to know if Basketball Australia has a contingency plan in place for the NBL in the event of an NBA lockout. Many good players across the globe will be looking for work and the League may miss the chance to attract some great talent that could give the competition some welcomed appeal outside its core supporter base.

You shouldn't LC.

The lockout will create(at a guess) some 200-250 players looking for a basketball contract. European clubs will have a great opportunity to pick up very good U.S. based players while holding all the cards.

I would expect many foreign players currently in Europe will be offered smaller contracts, if any.

Ok, so it is unlikely we'll see Bogut in the NBL but NBA based players like Mills, Andersen and European based players like Barlow, Newley, Nevill, Jawai, Baynes etc may find it more convenient to come home for 12 months.

Furthermore with the Olympics just over 12 months away Basketball Australia should encourage local players return home. Given the NBL and Basketball Australia are now operating under the same banner maybe an increase in the NBL salary cap for one season might make it a return home a more attractive proposition.

Even with an unlikely salary cap increase, I would expect a number of NBL clubs might be waiting until July to find out the outcome of the lockout before they make any large signing decisions.

Definitely.

Bogut would certainly be a welcome drawcard, and would provide a great start for any new Melbourne based NBL team...I'll stop dreaming now!

You are probably right with regards to Andersen...I think his NBA "experiment" is now over and he is more than likely to head back to Europe. I'd still like to think that a team like Wollongong would make him a reasonable enough offer for him to at least think about.

And yes, I would keep Wilkinson over Marks any day.

I'm with you Paul, I think Mills may be a real chance to play in Oz if the NBA lockout proceeds. And the fact he has a connection with Clarke can only helps the 36ers cause.

With an NBA lockout, I would expect a lot of NBA players to go and play in Europe. Given there are only so many teams with X amount of $$$ to go around, Mills could be competing for the big $$$ with high-profile NBA starter PG's as an example. And plus, Mills does not have a Euro passport either which does not help his cause.

If the chance arises, I'd like to see Sean Marks come back and play for the Breakers too. Maybe there is an outside chance of David Andersen coming home for a season (or two) too? Would be great for the exposure of the NBL and put some names and faces to the NBL that non-core basketball followers may know of already.

Maybe in Europe? I really doubt Australia. Sure it would be great for basketball in this country but he wouldn't get paid nearly enough.

Somebody mentioned previously that if he failed to perform to the expectations (eg. averaging like 20+ ppg etc) in the NBL, an inferior league in comparison to NBA and Europe, it would significantly effect how people perceive his skills. He is a free agent after this season so he needs to ensure he gets that next NBA contract.

As the first of july breaks open
seems there'll be a lockout that......
has players hoping......
to find a pen that will write
and to be wearing a new hat.

Most likely spoke to Gibson Martin Ervin Mills Williams.................
about coming here rather than keeping Carter n Bruce.

Signed Weigh...waiting for Schenscher ,
if yes... then Ng fits n likes Herbert... not sure about the rest... maybe Dowdell n Daly might be it.

I think Clarke knows he has to seriously upgrade the roster so he is trying to sign up the starting 5 including one or 2 stars like Ervin and Schenscher before he signs the rest of bench/back up players,

which i think is the best way to go, sign your starting 5 with the bulk of your points and $$ then worry about the bench,

From what i've heard Marty hasn't spoken to any of the current playing group in regards to next season. Thus we have lost Carter to Sweden, Bruce to Sydney and more than likely Hill to Perth.
I've heard Marty has chased Ervin who has requested 4 weeks to make his decision hence Sydney not wanting to wait and moving in on Bruce.

Isaac, I know what you mean about Weigh. I saw him tear it up in a couple of games, but in others, he tried to force his shot too much.

He is still a pretty poor outside shooter (I think on the NBL site it said around 30% career from three) but I think he could become a very effective scorer from mid-range and in the high post, a bit like Cattalini once was for us.

Oh yeah, getting Mills back for half a season of NBL would be great for the league. He would be like another Gary Ervin and the fact that he is home grown and has been playing in the NBA will capture casual fans attention.

I'd like to see the NBL help make it happen. They could plan an intensive marketing strategy based around Patty and pay him for his services to help sweeten any playing money a team could stump up for him.

I know Mills spent some time in Canberra as a kid, because there is the story that he used to be a floor wiper for the Cannons during their games. I think the connection with Adelaide is that his mum lives here.

looks like Bruce is going to Sydney, think i saw him mention it on twitter, so i guess Daly will be our back up PG,

With Mills (or a import) and Daly our PG rotation still looks good to me.

awesome pick up :)

would be great for the league to have Mills here, but nothing is stopping him from going to Europe.

Also what state was Mills bought up ?

Well id still take Mills if available as what happens if he did decide to play the bulk of the rest of his career in Australia, if we have the chance to get him, then get him as id hate to pass him up because he may not stay long term and then have him play 10 years for another club.

Even guys like Anstey and Heal played a large number of years in Australia around Euro/NBA gigs, so its not impossible that Mills could play a number of seasons in the NBL, hopefully for the 36ers even if not all consecutively.

So yea, id take Patty in a hearbeat, give him all the out clauses he wants, if he plays 2 games and leaves to Europe/NBA then wish him well, in the hope he may one day return. Then get a import, it may be late and risky, but even Corey Williams may still be available mid season and could be a good pick up if we signed Mills and he left during the season.

Good signing getting Weigh, a young guy who has been atleast a pert time starter on championship/playoff teams are always good to get.

Wow imagine if we do get Mills and Schenscher, id assume we would have no imports or maybe a cheap import, depending on what points/$$ we have left.

A team of

Schenscher/Johnson
Ballinger/Holmes (or Hill, who obviously wouldnt actually play PF)
Weigh/Creek
Cheap Import/Herbert (and/or Ng if we cant afford the import)
Mills/Bruce (or Daly if we lose Bruce)

Looks very exciting to me, here is hoping the 36ers are able to pull it off!