Hoops

NBL players out of contract after this season?

I think Madgen just needs some time to adjust. For a while he's had no support around him and needed to make the big plays, then there was his injury and now he has good (better) players around him in AJ and Young. Would still benefit from a real PG being there though. Kings won't make any significant inroads until they swallow their pride and sort that one out.

Damo would just bring that winning mentality. Being able to go up against him every day in training would just make everyone better and that's just one of the things that he does that doesn't show up on the boxscores but makes him such a valuable commodity...

Madgen proved last season that he's capable of carrying a team, and I think that's what is driving him this season, he knows he can do it, but he's still not 100%. I don't think you can judge his output this season when the team itself is in such a mess after early on still carrying an injury... I agree that it would be a good if he was a bit more well rounded, but he lead the team in assists early on, so he's capable of it, and I think if the pressure is off and the team is more organised, he will be able to play his role better... Defensively, he's always had to work so hard at the other end, he got stuck last season guarding a lot of swingmen that were bigger than him, so he was always at a disadvantage... if we have a more legit option at the 3 and allow him to play his more natural position, I think he will flourish more...

As for Bose, I just got the impression that he didn't really want to work hard and was comfortable to just sit back on his natural talents, which was disappointing as he was very talented, but with some work could have really done something great...

Not sure how Jules and AJ could work together. You'd be having two 5s on the court most of the time (and neither of them are good enough man on man defenders to guard smaller more mobile 4s), and while I think they wouldn't step on each others toes too much, the fact that Jules would spend too much outside at times was never a good thing, but a better shooter than AJ (I can't recall AJ shooting too much from outside the key?) so in theory they could co-exist, I just think it's too far fetched... I'd love him back, but didn't Jules sign something like a 6yr deal over in Lebanon?

A front court rotation of AJ, Peach, Garlepp and Ellis (spending a bit of time at the 3 would be interesting, will have to see how his defence is), with Brandt (who just recently had a career high of 27p (10/15 FG) with 6r for Oregon State) backing up the 5 would be a great mix of hard working and being able to put points on the board... Solid team now and being able to build for the future... Having a legit back up 5 as well as more well rounded guard rotation are the two focuses...

@Macdub - glad I'm not the only one in "next season team" mode ;)

Throw the kitchen sink at Ogilvy and Young, scrap the rest of that average boring line up.
Bring back Julian Khazzouh and Anatoly Bose.
Hire a proven coach, like Perth and Adelaide did.

While I like the thinking, and love what Toly is capable of, truth be told he didn't seem too keen on living/working up to his potential... Plus it would either be him or Young and at the moment, while he still puts numbers on the board, Young still hasn't impressed me...

From the Kings FAs, I think Garlepp has deserved another go around, especially if his points remain fairly low... I know we got him for a bargain 4pts for his 2yr signing, but hopefully he's either got an option or drops down a point to a 6, he's definitely worth keeping. And you'd drop Madgen?! Surely that's a typo?

Might be too soon to discuss, but the fantasy at the moment, with who are FA or have options...

Damo (10)^ / Cadee (6)#
Madgen (10)[9?] / White (3)
Import (10) / Ellis (3)
Peach (8)[9?]* / Garlepp (7)[6?]
AJ (10) / Brandt (3)

Total: 70

That's based on this seasons numbers, [#] could be a possible re-rating for 14/15...

^ - This is the most fantasy option of all, but next season will be a big test for Damo and what was really keeping him at Perth... Was it Bevo? Was it the fantastic setup they've got, his teammates? You'd think that whoever signs him will get him for the max length and turnign 30 before season start, he'd be thinking long term, where he wants to settle down, etc... With his girl not having any local ties over there, now could be a good chance, as it's great seeing him catching up with family and friends after Kings games, maybe next time we host Perth we can get a big "Bring Damo 'Home'" campaign going? ;)

# - Not quite ready to run his own team yet, although if Damo isn't an option, having Cadee starting with a combo import guard to share ball handling would be ok... Another guy that would be great to see "come home" and would be great to add his ball handling and decent outside shot depth, especially compared to this season. I know he's got no ties to the Kings, but hopefully can sell the "home crowd" and maybe bringing someone with Western Sydney heritage into the fold might help strengthen the ties out that way and bring some more interest in and go a ways to making it a proper Sydney-wide team... That being said, if Cadee locks into Adelaide, Tomlinson would be another solid option... Not sure about his status, I thought he might have been a FA heading into this season but was already locked in with an option maybe... Lots of game time experience this season at the Tigers, developing his outside shot, currently "back home" for the Xmas break I assume, and the Sydney weather has been turning it on for him... Hopefully he gets some good Shire home cooking and has a think about what could be next season...

* - If we can get a local star PG, I'd take Peach over an import big any day of the week. Of course with his player option, it's likely that especially with how well Adelaide are travelling and how many mates he's got on the team and possibly being reluctant to move his family around again, might keep him in SA... But he's getting on but playing really well, and like Damo, shouldn't settle for anything less than a max deal with whoever he signs with... Sydney is closer to family and friends over here, he'd fit in great, would take a more major role and not be playing back seat to DJ or Big Red but would really compliment AJ and Tommy...

I think that lineup, while completely fantasy, is possible if both caps are in place next season IF the Kings are willing to do some hard work in recruiting. Depending on points movement, White, while I think deserving, is interchangeable for a 1pt shooter, Illiadis looked half decent in limited minutes in the Blitz... Has balance at all positions depending on the import, budget depending... AJ, Madge and Damo would take up most of the cap, with Peach following behind, Cadee and Garlepp wouldn't be super pricey and Ellis and Brandt on rookie deals... Madgen with this season and a full off-season (hopefully) under his belt and working with a proper PG would make it very dangerous...

Ok, I can get back to work and stop daydreaming now... lol...

Don't forget, VOTE WOOKIEE FOR KINGS GM! :D

If I was building my dream roster:

Jamar Wilson (115k) / Cadee (70k)
Goulding (200k)/Demos (55k)
Blanchfield (80k)/Henry (50k)
Vukona (120k)/Conklin (80k)
Ogilvy (180k)/MacMillan (50k)

That lineup!

Basically the whole league will be free agents next season except that silly bloody 3 year contract for Shawn Redhage, I still don't get it