Hoops

NBL considering three imports plus Asian player

48mins was ok for Fox for over two decades. 40mins was changed for One/Ten.

Other than MU and the cats all other clubs can't afford one quality import let at all three

Why? So Fox will stop broadcasting the league?

Or the same players just play more minutes.

I only like this rule if it encourages teams to try and keep imports... If the criteria of the third import is one that's returning or as mentioned above been there three seasons that that's what I'd like .

I hate that the league loses stars like Rotnei Clarke and if we had some rule that encouraged MVP caliber imports to stick around then I'm all for it.

It may have kept Gladness in the league but maybe he was discouraged by the stats people ripping him off with blocks

^ Sorry - I got those years wrong. They had those imports in the years I noted, but their last-placed finish was 2000/01 (3-25 record), followed by 2nd-last (12-18) in 2001/02.

"Canberra had a three-import allowance at some point. Can't remember if that was granted to the bottom team or something else."

Yeah I don't remember the criteria either, but they did finish last in 2001/02 and were allowed 3 imports for the following season. (Dave Thomas, George Banks & Korleone Young)

In 02/03 they finished 2nd-last with a 12-18 record and were again allowed 3 imports for the following season. (Dave Thomas, Mike Chappell & Reggie Poole)

I'm not opposed to 3 imports but I would much rather see the money for a 3rd import going towards getting better quality first and second imports or luring Aussie talent back from overseas.

Pretty sure they used to do that in the early 80s. On the Wildcats Behind the Ball doco Mike Ellis mentions Tim Evans and Billy Keys as imports, and then Dan Hickert as "the import that was the three-year player".

Crawford and Pinder naturalised after 89, allowing Perth to add Grace and Jeff Allen as imports for 1990.

Did the league have a 3 import rule back in the late 80's/early 90's. The 90's Perth team had Crawford, Pinder and Grace....or were Crawford and/or Pinder naturalized.

can't see the Asian player rule working out - if they are a superstar, they're in NBA. If they're a star, I'm guessing they'd be able to make way more money in an Asian league than NBL. So then why would you bring a good/average Asian player in when he's only as good (or more likely worse) than an Aussie player?

Interesting isn't it, this time last year we were not that inspired, not that long ago we were wondering if the competition would actually survive in the current format, or at all!

Now we are talking it up like the NBL is full of millionaires or something...

Let's walk before we start tripping over our own egos I reckon. Maybe we can talk about some adjustments in the structure and maybe even look at a third import down the track, but I would like to see the competition and the teams become stable first.

I recall the A-League getting a little ahead of itself in early days, losing teams and making adjustments to the market before they got to where they are now, and they still don't have it right really, so too early for too much rah rah me thinks...

Brisbane have been confirmed for months. They have staff, a logo, coaches, the whole deal.

"If their is an increase in the salary cap, teams will go bust...its as simple as that."

This is my worry too. Are the weaker teams even paying the full current salary cap? Increasing it further and having them either join the arms race or become less competitive is a recipe for foldage.

Racist!!

3 imports + Asian player on at the same time leaves room for only 1 Aussie on the court. i don't like the sound of that.

Hold your horses, Aussiebballer. I'm not even convinced there will be 9 teams in the NBL next season!
(but to answer your question, yes, Brisbane are the only one confirmed to be added)

I'm all for 3 imports.

As far as restrictions and caps go, they could have a tiered system/option system for imports.

E.g. (figures are just made up to show the difference)

1 - Unrestricted/Marquee Import (no dollar limit)
2 - Standard Import ($150 - $200k)
3 - SEABL/SBL Quality Import ($70k - $149k)

Then there could be alternative situations like, if a club that doesn't seen a marquee import can sign two standard imports and a SEABL quality import, or three SEABL quality imports.

Like MC I would like to know what they plan to do in terms of salary/points restrictions first.

In essence I've got no problem with allowing 3 imports per team, provided it doesn't kill the parity of the comp or financially hurt the poorer teams.
(In other words, in reality I probably will have a problem with allowing 3 imports)