Hoops

Wildcats sign Andre Ingram

Once the Wildcats bigs start setting down screens for him to curl to the top of the key off the baseline cuts hence giving him much better looks this guy will connect on more shots then not. He has a interesting shooting form, but even his misses are looking good. There was two rim outs in the game against the Hawks. He easily could be 7-10 so far from the land of the plenty.


You can clearly see he is trying to figure out where to be on the offensive sets. I think by mid-season this guy will be very handy.

The Cats clearly did more than just scout him

In four days Ingram has flown from the USA to Aus, played a game, flown all the away across the country to play another game and has hit 5/10 from deep. Now that's a shooter!

Looks like he was warming up in the second half today. Was pretty impressed with the corner three. Wesley wasn't helping off that much and he still wasnt close enough.

Considering the circumstances, its been a solid 2 games. He'll improve a lot over the next couple of weeks when he settles in more. Definitely need to run some plays for him though.

Got a couple of shots today where he pulled up after dribbling for a little which was good to see, shows he's not always just a spot up shooter.

I'm liking him so far. Once Perth start to run more plays to get him open he should be more productive.

When he's open he doesn't jump straight up and down, he jumps massively forwards and land well in front of the three point line.

Get buckets or die trying. He is 50 per cent.

So 2 games in, has this been the right decision?

I think so

This sounds very promising...

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/32959878/hawks-get-info-on-new-perth-nbl-import/#page1

"Michael Holyfield actually played with him last season in the D-League with Los Angeles D-Fenders," Hawks' coach Rob Beveridge told AAP.

"He gave us a bit of a brief scouting report on Wednesday morning.

"He says he's the best shooter he's ever played with.

"They called him 99, as in 99 per cent of the time it's going in, if he's open."

Probably because there are no rumours.

Not every player release is a scandal.

Props to the Cats organisation that whatever did clearly happen with JJ behind the scenes has stayed secret. Rumours of that stuff usually leaks out pretty quickly.

The Cats clearly did more than just scout him

If you read his backstory, he sounds like a decent bloke. No problem with that.

It makes sense that they would go for somebody they had previously scouted. But it makes it clear that the Cats had previously spoken to him, and it didn't come off. So its not like this has been in the pipeline. In fact he says that it was very sudden when the call did come.
This just sounds more and more like something happened with JJ, and they had to scramble to find someone quick.

I'm hoping that he could do as discussed and really stretch the offense. Perth hasn't had such a threat before. Beal put up a lot of 3's but only made about 33%.

Any idea what Ingram would have been paid during his D-league run??

Ingram interview (long!) from ~ 2 months ago on the Locked on Lakers podcast.

https://audioboom.com/posts/4967587-locked-on-lakers-8-24-16-andre-ingram-talks-about-his-time-with-the-d-fenders-and-life-in-the-d-league

agreed^^

Sounds like he was approached during the NBA summer by the cats. And told of their situation.

Him waiting for the call could mean numerous things.

Could mean he was waiting for THE call... by any club.

Could mean he was waiting for the Wildcats to call after talks during the summer

Could mean he signed paper work a few weeks back and was waiting on the call for confirmation.

Ingram is also very articulate and well spoken. Johnson was not.

Andre Ingram press conference:
https://audioboom.com/posts/5180874-andre-ingram-press-conference-19-october-2016


"I'd actually been waiting for the call for a while ..."

Ingram has been cleared to play.

Very quick turnaround. makes me think this has been in the works since the start of the season.

Yep, General Consensus = Underwhelming

Was hoping for a flashy 6'4 / 6'5 gun combo with mad crossover moves, eurostep and an awesome nickname and some dunks.. and of course a pretty looking jumper..

Dolla had a sweet looking jumper..

"The guy is 31 too and never played in a real pro league before (d-league is basically jungle ball). He's also spent a few periods of months at a time and in one case a whole season out of the d-league.

I understand he's got other things going on but all this doesn't strike me as someone who is that devoted to being a pro or interested in getting the best out of himself, more like a bit of a hobby something on the side."

I watched a couple of Ingram's interviews on YouTube and he did strike me as a very laid back guy who didn't take the results of the team too seriously. I guess that's what playing in the D-League for 10 years does to you.

And why is Johnson the victim of this? I don't have the numbers but his three point numbers so far wouldn't be too shabby.

This looks a bit of a funny signing by the Wildcats.

You can argue whether Johnson was the right fit as he seemed like he was a bit too similar to Prather but to replace him with a guy who only averages 10 points a game in the d-league as an undersized shooting guard who by the looks of things doesn't do anything in a game other than make 2 or 3 three pointers a game?

The guy is 31 too and never played in a real pro league before (d-league is basically jungle ball). He's also spent a few periods of months at a time and in one case a whole season out of the d-league.

I understand he's got other things going on but all this doesn't strike me as someone who is that devoted to being a pro or interested in getting the best out of himself, more like a bit of a hobby something on the side. He might decide he doesn't like Perth or Australia, being his first real pro gig at 31 and just up and leave and go back home after a handful of games.

Johnson IMO didn't deserve to be cut so quickly but if so you do it if you've got some knock it out of the park star already lined up not a guy who might even struggle as a SEABL level import.

'My spies say Pelicans are keeping a VERY close eye on Prather'

Pelicans already have 18 players signed. Surely we can't be having more before the season gets underway.

The worst day as a wildcat supporter for over ten years. Just when they're cracking record membership as well

So basically Ingram will go stand in the corner and tie up a defender and the rest of the team will play 3 on 4 since Martin is not a threat to score. Sounds like a recipe for dropping to 8th best in the league offensively. If he's not a good defender the cats are screwed.

Exactly right. You need ball handling and shooting guards next to marto because he's not an offensive threat.

So you keep beal or you live with Johnson who is slightly less prolific from downtown but makes up for it in other areas with his athleticism.

Not a guy who just stands in the corner. Not to mention this means marto must have a very big offensive load in addition to his unreal efforts on defense. You are going to wear him out. Gleeson playing him huge minutes too. Just a massive worry

It's certainly an interesting move as a departure from what's worked over the past 7 years.

Martin has always had a combo guard next to him. Lisch and Beal can handle the ball, are creative, decent passers and can shoot the three or take it to the rack. They're versatile players with wide skill sets at the guard spot. Something a specialist 3 point shooter like Ingram presumably is not.

So he's a one trick pony and that one trick is spot up shooting, which is one of the easiest ones to source. In fact I'm pretty sure that's Dexter kernichs role, although he can't buy a bucket right now. I'm pretty sure you can find guys week simply specialise in threes at sbl or seabl level.

And why is Johnson the victim of this? I don't have the numbers but his three point numbers so far wouldn't be too shabby.

If anything you could get rid of McKay, as you have knight returning and you still have Brandt wagstaff redhage. I'm not saying I don't like McKay but I'm saying if it's purely a team balance or more shooters view.

The signing is about team balance, rather than overall talent. It's true that Johnson's D league stats are much better than Ingram, but it's also true that a career clip of 45% from 3, at a high volume is incredibly good in a professional basketball league. He must not have such a great all round game, because most of his points come from threes. Has low assist numbers and barely ever gets to the free throw line, suggesting he's a spot up shooter but won't help with playmaking, creativity or penetration off he dribble.

Surely when knight returns, redhage will step aside to open up a spot for waxy...

Is this purely a money saving move?

epic fail

Is this purely a money saving move? So strange

He gets a free pass from me this weekend. Arriving down under, playing on the Friday, then heading back over to Melbourne for a game on the Sunday ... that's a tough initiation.
But yeah, as out there as it seems, I think I'll reserve judgement until I've actually seen him in action in the NBL. I'm hoping he can handle the ball a bit and his defence is up to Cats standard. If he hits a few shots this round it'll be a bonus.

It's a weird signing, simple as that.

Obviously, my fervent hope, is that it works out.
At the very least I want the Cats to stay competitive, win most of their home games, and make the finals.

Doesn't make this signing any less strange.

Lets give him a go before we start crucifying the guy. If he can blaze away behind the arc at over 40% and is able to get a shots off behind some screens then he will suit the team fine.

It sounds like he chose to play in the D-League due to his family. Maybe now his kids are old enough for him to leave the country and make better money?

Let's give him ONE GAME before we start writing obits for the man. cats wanted a three point GUN they got one. He doesn't need to have other skills. Marto runs the show takes the best opposition wing. This cat comes in to be Kyle Korver lite.

He sounds like someone who would be a good signing for a team looking for a CHEAP import to supplement an already strong offensive lineup.
Well, the Cats have Prather...

Weird, Weird, Weird signing.

They let Beal go to get somebody better, and got JJ.
They let JJ go to get somebody better, and this is it?
If you're shooting 49% from the arc, and averaging 10. points, that means you're putting up 7 shots a game. In the D-League. WTF???

As for nongs saying "D-League is better than NBL," only reason guys go back to the D-League is because they have a shot at the NBA.

Yes, sure, people like me have been whinging for years that Perth needed to improve their 3-point shooting, and this guy sounds like a specialist,
BUT part of the problem with JJ is that he wasn't strong enough in other areas. Well if this guys can shoot 49% and can't make it out of the D-League, WTF does that tell you?

lol @ anonymous troll - d-league better than NBL? Not even close. There's some real talented guys in the d-league, but also a lot of guys would struggle to make the cut as locals in the NBL, let alone imports. And that's not even taking into consideration how awful the product on the court is......

Another insightful post from Benno /s

yeah they should call it the _ League because theres no D hur hurr

D League better than NBL? The defense in D League is utterly appalling, let alone the team work.

Ingram is an upgrade... Over Dexter kernich drew.

Since when is "should of" ever used.

Straight up: we should of retained Beal. The Cats wanted more athleticism but by doing so, severely hurt their three-point game. With Wagstaff, our only three-point threat, struggling to shoot over the 3 over the first two rounds, something needed to be done.

Cheap shooter