Hoops

United sign Japanese player Yudai Baba

Looks like this might be come very common.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lEj2PDBSrvs

MU signings:

Goulding
McCarron
Prather
Illi
Lual-Aquil
White
Baba
Peatling (DP)

Oh and Prather technically contracted but apparently Vickerman implied he wouldn't be retained?

Sorry, I forgot Kuany was only a rumour

Signed: Goulding, McCarron, Ili, Baba, Lual Acuil, White, Short (DP)

Rumoured on Hoops: Brandt, Barlow, Kuany

Is that correct?

Yes very odd since he’s never held his spot.

No idea where the Kuany rumour came from but he certainly hasnt signed

So McDaniel dropped for kuany, seems odd.

Melb Utd started a lot of their games last season - esp late in the season with McCarron as PG - and it worked really well - he's very good and creative with his passing - and with Shea lli - two very good defensive guards

It's all about fit and complementary skill sets

Either McCarron or Ili could be "starting point guard", it all depends on the imports

Assuming Brandt rumor is true, starting 5 should be McCarron, Goulding, Brandt and 2 imports with a bench of Ili, Baba, Lual Acuil, White, Kuany... neither of those imports have to be a designated PG like Casper/Trimble. Could have a play making, creating small forward in the mould of a Rashad Tucker for example

They have no hope if McCarron is the No1 PG.

Ra to Perth, hawks, sem hopefully. All need a pf and off the cap, no import.
Who has the 500k to spend though.

As teams should, I think we’ll see a few more Japanese and Koreans in future.

Smart signing to get around the two import quota.

Smart signing to get around the two import quota.

He’s playing point

Has anyone heard anything re McCarron? Did Vickerman mention it?

2 years ago McCarron said he signed with the intention of playing point, after his point guard stint in Slovenia, yet here we are 2 years later....

Mccarron is the point...

Melbourne United-Vickerman

Squad
6’3 M.Mccarron/6’0 S.Ili
6’4 C.Goulding/6’4 Y.Baba(A)
(I)/6’7 J.White/6’6 K.Kuany
(I)/6’9 D.Barlow
6’10 A.Brandt/7’0 J.Acuil

DP
6’5 S.Short PG
6’8 M.Peatling PF
6’9 J.Purchase PF

Kuany plays some 2/3 white 3/4

If you watch this guy's highlights, he's creative, unselfish, throws the odd unorthodox pass, but also strong at navigating traffic and getting to the basket.

A little reminiscent of Manu Ginobili. I like him already!

Looking at his resume, he'll definitely be commanding minutes in the rotation.

If you assume McCarron plays 3 and United signs an import PG like previously, which means Prather would need to have his contract cut:

Brandt*/Lual Acuil
Import/Barlow*/White
McCarron/Kuany
Goulding/Baba
Import/Ili

*Rumoured here but unannounced

That looks a very strong squad in a two import league, assuming two top tier imports which you'd expect from United.

Good signing!

Long is not on 500k u.s. maybe 420 which some players earn more here.

Heijima

Who was that spud who signed for Brisbane and didn't play?

Not really, the top earners are higher in nbl,than Korea or Japan. By about 50k.

Big bucks playing in South Korea

When there are more aus nz teams it won’t matter if you have 3+1

Same timezone as Japan. Will be interesting to see whether NBL.TV or viewership of his games there take off at all.

Agree with Anon, ideally every NBL team would have one Asian player. China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea all have at least 1-2 players of NBL quality. Would the NBL fund their salaries if the viewership of NBL was guaranteed to go through the roof?

To get the top 10 Asian players (not in the NBA) to the NBL would cost around $4 Million.

ASEAN league apparently folded this past week. A lot of handy players going to be floating around.

I’d be after ra if I were Perth. Give him his 450,000

Every team should have 1 Asian player at minimum to draw eyes on league.

Hiejima ain’t in the same ballpark as baba.

Jap n.t standouts are Hachimura, Watanabe and baba. Sometimes togashi.
The rest are a level down but have a few nice kids coming through.

What a smart signing by Melbourne United!

Hoped that maybe Cairns would’ve had a look at him, with a fairly decent Japanese community in the region, and also maybe a decent pick up if they’re willing to let Newbill go and instead sign Machado & Oliver.

Maybe they go after Hiejima? But kudos to United on the saavy signing!

Sem Watanabe maybe

Smart signing

He counts as a local.

And people thought I was an idiot for even mentioning Asian players.
Maybe we see Watanabe?

He scored 18 points against Team USA at the WC last year. He's playing as a local player and with Goulding already there is likely the back up to him. Certainly worth a gamble on a benchie.

Do United still have that assistant coach from Asia with them?

Can play! https://youtu.be/SwidtQGBWfs

Results from Friday......any surprises?