Hoops

Mitch Creek first player signed for SE Melbourne Phoenix

As a neutral, I hope that he does go to Phoenix as the team needs some early rivalries and if they attain the services of Creek then it will get people coming to games just to see how he reacts to playing against his old side.., should be fun

LK has cash to splash. Yes he does it's his own team #5?

"Which is quite limited"

Zodiac, I would say a player with the ability to hit pull-ups, finish at the basket, draw fouls, get offensive rebounds, create for teammates and be safe with the ball, while also hitting 33% from outside is not someone with a limited offensive ability.

Whether it's been playing in the NBL, Germany, Boomers or the G-League, Creek has excelled in a number of different systems, so the 'hidden' in Joey's system thing doesn't really stack up. It took him time to develop into that system in fact.

Khazzouh would be ROFLing in his grave if he was alive to read that. uh hang on...

I think a brand new team will need to spend overs in their first year to lure good players early. Nothing wrong with that. Once they are up and running they can be sensible but right now they need to go hard to get what they can from a limited pool of uncontracted players. If your a player coming out of contract at the end of this season and choosing to either re sign with your same club or go to Phoenix it would be offputting if they didn't have any players signed yet. Snagging a couple of quality aussies shows other potential recruits that the team is legit.

The new team has cash to splash, and like others before them they will overpay to lock in headline local talent.

I am with Isaac on this one.

Creek and the Sixers had a discussion during the season with an understanding of a 'number' for an extension.

When it came time for that extension offer, the number was lower than discussed, hence the lowballing part.

Then came the Supreme Court injunction.

Then came the laughable reach out to Creek that he can come home anytime like nothing has happened, which resulted in a regretable firm message from Creek that he will not be playing at Adelaide.

Whilst I understand the need to use the 'he was leaving anyway' line to soften the blow, that point is a weaker one to the importance of keeping a good relationship with the club's longest serving player, once captain and on court leader.

Sorry Sixers but I have lost a bit of respect for the organisation, but won't stop my supporting though.

Can't shoot to save himself and that can be hidden in an up tempo ram it down their throat system like Joey plays but you'll get exposed pretty quickly in a traditional half court set up when you can't get to the hole because your man is standing six feet off of you. It's why I didn't think he had much hope making the NBA.

and is very effective offensively within his skillset.

"Import-level money ranges from $50K-$600K."

The discussion seems to be focused on the fact that he will be one of, if not the highest paid local in the league. Each to their own, but if that handicaps the squad in other aspects (import quality, depth etc) it could easily end up being a mistake.

"Paul, Boti is suggesting they're targeting Brock Motum he's a better player to build around"

Motum is a good offensive player, any team would want him as Luuuc said, but personally I'd have Creek way ahead of him as a franchise player. Mitch helps you in almost every facet of the club, he's great off-court, great at training, excellent defender, generates transition and is very effective offensively within his skillset.

"He'll be a good get but there's no way I would be paying him import-level money."

Import-level money ranges from $50K-$600K. Generally most of the highest-paid players in the league are locals, as they're in more scarce demand, along with the very best imports who have proven themselves as NBL studs.

Yes, again with the greatest respect, he is a great Australian player, but we shouldn't be getting overzealous about his impact/status.

His last season PPG is equivalent to Te Rangi's PPG output this year.

I do know he is versatile (and a great defender) but I think we need to pump the breaks a bit on his value.

Creek to me is a great piece to have; but not someone who can single-handedly win games.

You don't think he is better than jordair jett?

I feel like there is some rose-tinted glasses over Creek. He was a very solid player for Adelaide, but not a game-changer. Good defender & rebounder, but can't shoot and average finisher at the rim.

The whole Adelaide saga has made him overrated in the NBL. He'll be a good get but there's no way I would be paying him import-level money.

I think Creek is more of a complete build-around guy than Motum, but in terms of playing ability any team would love to have either of them so of course they'll both be NBL targets if budget permits.
Creek to SEM is a great get if true.

Random totally unrelated question - do driving demerit points reset to zero if you change states?

If he had exercised his NBA out clause then he would no longer be a contracted Adelaide player. So SEM could still have signed him unless the 36ers had got him to sign a contract for his return to the NBL, but he would have been under no obligation to sign that.

Paul, Boti is suggesting they're targeting Brock Motum he's a better player to build around but Creek would certainly be nice to have too but I would think that kind of money would be closer to a Motum level player than Creek though.

The last post is the most logical one in here

Zodiac, could you think of many better players to build a new franchise around? He's coming into his prime, sets standards, contributes in all facets of the game. He'd be close to my first choice, and if they've got a bit of cash to splash why not spend it on him on the off chance he returns.

Great signing for Phoenix and a great outcome for Creeky.

I think the bitter breakup between Adelaide and Creeky was bad, but then again true love hurts.

If that Creek 3 years for $1.6 million deal is even remotely true good luck to them because he's not worth anywhere near that kind of money lets be honest.

That's true Tornado last season was always going to be Creek's last with the Sixers that was made obvious after he came back from SL with Utah when the rumours started coming out one more year (last season) then NBA/G-League/Europe after that. Not defending the Sixers at all but I suspect they always knew that too hence pushing hard for the now non-existent NBA compo.

FWIW I always assumed once the new SE Melb team was announced that we would lose either Creek or Sobey or perhaps both going back home to Victoria. Hopefully we go all out to try and keep Sobey.

Isaac...not bullshit because that's exactly what they had with Creek. Do I need to remind you of CJ Bruton?

I'm not saying they handled the situation well but the reality is, last season was always more than likely Creeks last as a 36er no matter how they handled it.

Agreed, no guarantee he plays for SEM in the short-term or even at all. He's got higher ambitions and hopefully he achieves them. I see no reason he won't given how driven to improve he is and what a great culture guy he'd be for any team.

I think he would have love to have stayed in Adelaide with his Coach & Teammates but the front office screwed that.
People are just saying it came down to money to make themselves feel better about the situation.
Adelaide burnt the bridge to every other teams advantage and S.E Melbourne played their cards right.

"Bullshit. They could've signed him for a few years, less than this, with an NBA out to let him try his luck. Instead, they screwed it up. Then that would leave SEM spending their marquee money on someone else."

If he had exercised his NBA out clause then he would no longer be a contracted Adelaide player. So SEM could still have signed him unless the 36ers had got him to sign a contract for his return to the NBL, but he would have been under no obligation to sign that.

Jokes on you Adelaide and your horribly run basketball team

Bullshit. They could’ve signed him for a few years, less than this, with an NBA out to let him try his luck. Instead, they screwed it up. Then that would leave SEM spending their marquee money on someone else. Big loss for Adelaide.

Insane to leave your better players coming out of contract in an expansion year too.

Creek was never going to play here this year. That was widely reported early in the prior season and throughout. He was always going to try his hand at the NBA and stick it out in the G-League or Europe hoping to get an opportunity.

And, as has been mentioned above...he would have been out of contract next season at which point the Phoenix (terrible name by the way) would have thrown an offer at him that he couldn't refuse anyway.

So, last season was always going to be the last as a 36er for Creek...probably why ownership/management went after compensation and weren't too worried about compensation.

I'm predicting Joey will be on the Jazz coaching staff next season and Creek will be at least a 2-way contracted player for them as well.

Wow... it must suck being an Adelaide supporter.

I wish people wouldn’t speculate and put out false information. “1.6 over 3” nope, you literally just made that up.

“The Sixers deserved compensation” nope, which is why it never reached actual court. He had an NBA out clause.

Agree with some of the comments above.

Creek sounds like he is being one of the first signed - so you'd suspect he'll be on big coin.

There is enough to deduce that but for the 36ers pushing BKN hard for the money, he would have walked to SE Melbourne anyway (i.e. that the 36ers only would have had him for this season anyway).

Creeks a great player don't get me wrong, but having him take up such a large amount of $ - I'm not entirely convinced. Maybe for someone like Cotton, but not sure about for Creek (I say that with the greatest respect).

Landale next...

oof

Phoenix lock in the guy who probably ends up with a better gig.

The player you end up with to head your franchise isn’t going to be Mitch Creek and I likely to be anyone good. Whoever else is now deemed a second fiddle player, because they played their card that Mitch was who they truly wanted.

Sixers management are up ship creek.

No surprise. Yust makes me angry every time I think about it.

Doubt it was the canteen lady that started this whole affair. Would've come from top so don't think they'll sack themselves.

Ouch! That's a costly bungle if true.