Hoops

Wildcats Import Centre

I wonder if we would sign Ibekwe, could you imagine having the sharpest elbows ever throwing those around... terrible player but good gap filler until we sign a true import big.

Judging by some of the tweets I've seen Jameel "like" on Twitter, im starting to get the picture!

@Senator11 ewwww! I feel sorry for whoever had to room with him.

Just saw that Greg Monroe signed overseas, he would've done ok in the NBL.

What's happened to Roy Hibbert?

"Do tell."

Let's just say The Cats probably had review their team policies to include appropriate behaviour or team trips when sharing hotel rooms. :P

Do tell.

"But there were rumours about more than one player falling fouling of team policies."

Have a mate that played for Rockingham with DKD...he had some stories about McKay...

McKay was good once he got settled.
But there were rumours about more than one player falling fouling of team policies.

Any shortcomings paled when compared to Derek "2 left feet" Cooke.

In other circumstances I would agree that Perth would be going for a McKay type, looking only to supplement, but given the improvements elsewhere I wonder...

Can't wait to find out

To be fair, at least 50% of Jameel's travels were not actually travels.

Wooden Icecream, nice breakdown but I expect you are aiming a little high on offense. Expect the cats import centre to be the Jameel McKay type (hopefully much better though). Run the floor, set picks, rebound, dunk, block shots.

All other aspects of 4/5 offense is covered by Nick Kay. Gleesons runs a very 'know your role' type of offense. And its been very succeessful

What is the 19/20 cap?

^^^^^
Melbourne would be well over the cap, no doubt but Sydney big earners are Ware and Bogut, Lisch and Newley would be on reduced incomes and the balance of the team would not be on massive money, so I’d say there not over the cap.

Hmm, of the top of my head, I can only think of Bairstow, maybe Jawai. I thought Reath had signed a long-term contract in Serbia?

The guys who generally have a good inside line on the Cats aren't saying much, and the rest is just talk really.

Melbourne are stacked and Sydney looking ok but Perth always end up great. All sides looking strong with questions on Cairns and NZ.

Starting to get a bit concerned with how long its taking to get the right guy, don't want all the good players to get taken and have to choose feom the scraps.

Hopefully we still get a star player on not some average role player, otherwise on paper I'm not sure how well the roster can compete with the likes of Melb/Syd.

Rumours flying thick and fast, but I currently don't put much stock in any of them.
Perhaps the most interesting is the contention that Wildcats are not 100% sold on an import being the answer and are in fact still in talks with Australian options. I say it's "interesting" but have no reason to think its any more accurate than others.

One name thrown around for an import is Kevin Hervey, but he's a PF and not overly tall (unless he has grown since his stats were published?)

Who are potential recruits ?
Any rumours

Unfortunately Perth won’t be bringing in Amile Jefferson. After averaging a double double in the G league last season and performing well in Vegas SL Orlando have offered him a one year contract.

Eric Mika would be the perfect replacement for Brandt.

"Brandt just signed in Italy, Pitsioa in there top division, good luck to him"

Well done.

"They'll get a Jameel McKay type (hopefully better). Gleeson does't really do demanding big scorers. The most his offense allows is the odd post up for Kay. Rebound, block shots and play solid D will be the import 5's key requirements"

I tend to agree with this, with the emphasis on better.

Lol, Wood will get picked up by a NBA team

Christian Wood was released by Pelicans today, wasn't he someone the Cats were linked to previously?

They'll get a Jameel McKay type (hopefully better). Gleeson does't really do demanding big scorers. The most his offense allows is the odd post up for Kay. Rebound, block shots and play solid D will be the import 5's key requirements

Jervis only returned to QLD for family reasons.
Plus he struggled for much of the season and was nowhere near starting quality, so its largely irrelevant to this conversation.

Yes, Kay can play some minutes at the 5, and inevitably injury and fouls will mean he does. But that also means the ageing Wagstaff or Vague playing more minutes.

We are the reigning champions, and an "ok" centre would keep us competitive. But everyone else is looking to improve, so we need to step it up a notch. Keep in mind that for all his weaknesses, Hire was a tough defender and good rebounder, so we will miss that.

I'd love to have somebody like Tacko, if only so he could reject a few of Bogut's shots. :-)

But I think the issue with guys over 7ft is that they can tend to be slow and uncoordinated (like Nevill) and if not are generally too good for our league.
Even Gladness, who people still rave about, was under 7'.

We had the exact player you are all clamouring for and now he's in Cairns after only a year back with us so safe to say Gleeson doesn't see a need for a big seven foot centre.

Bottom of the league in blocks? Must be the secret sauce to being champions.

"He can and has."

He can for short spurts in a game, but wildcats need a big unit who is a legit 7 footer to match the big guna centers in the league. Heck even guys like Pledger we struggled against at times last year.

It would be bloody terrific to not be bottom in the league for blocks this season so I'd love a Mickell Gladness type rim protector that changes shots.

A good screener is paramount! Cotton, clint and terrico need to be freed up. We rely on o boards and second chance points too.

Gleeson said something along the lines of over 7fters not doing too well in the NBL history wise, also think Tacko may make an NBA roster.

Kay can't compete with Boone, Long, Bogut and he shouldn't have to, Cats need to get someone in this calibre at least height wise or we won't be going b2b that's for sure.

Yeah, I don't know what Gleeson's motives were the other day for downplaying the spot and just saying he wanted someone to set good screens and get some boards. I guess because quality bigs are rare and expensive so he knows he can't set the bar too high.
Angus was an import-calibre weapon in the middle. With his backup gone as well I don't think we want to be downgrading too much at that spot. The 5 spot will be what brings us back to the pack I think.

The new recruits for the tigers look really solid but their roster has some gaping holes. Burston must go - delivers nothing. What's with Greer and Rush getting minutes? Hopeless. Unsure why they signed Ballinger??

Goulding, Scott and Braswell need a tall to help with the boards.