I just dont rate Groves. He stunk it up last season, before he got that injury. I almost wonder if the Dragons created that injury, paid him out, and didnt face any backlash for 'cutting an import'....just my conspiracy.

Grizzard over the course of a full season would be a great addition. Try not to base his career on a shortened stint with the 6ers. he can handle the ball, and throw down dunks. And when that 3 ball clicks he is tough. Was a great guy off the court last season too, seemed to be well liked.

Grizzard for mine!

Grizzard for me too. Expecting him to perform at his best with limited preparation in limited games after the Hodge debacle last season was expecting a bit much. He's a proven performer in the NBL and will round out the 3-4 spot nicely. Groves is too inconsistent and if he gets injured again like last season will be useless. Plus we already have a bunch of guards.

They both kinda suck. Surely we can find a better import than Grizz or Groves? Groves left his game in the Gong and Tyndale had better stats than Grizz. If we resort to signing on of them I dont like out playoff chances.

Rod Grizzard?

the guy who did nothing but suck last season?

I like Grizzard as well,
There is an article on NBL.com about Carins only spending $800,000 out of $1,000,000 of the cap and it mentions there are a few other teams out there doing the same thing, one of them being Adelaide. So even though I would like to go for a new flashy import, I understand there a money restraints and would be happy with Grizzard as he would be fairly cheap and you know what you are getting

Garlepp has the potential to be a good SF/PF but he certainly isn't a centre. He doesn't even play centre in the local league.

Garlepp is a PF and they'd be looking at him probably because he's under 23?

Id still rather a cheap team that sucks than no team at all.

BTW, for those interested, sounds like Burston has been training really well which is good to hear.

Ebi Ere, sixers have got plenty of cap space left. They would have gun team with Gilchrist,Ere,Holmes,Ballinger and Burston.

Taipans are after Import Joe Werner????.

I'd go Griz over Groves if they are the two options. Holmes looked uncomfortable on the court with Griz but I am sure they'll be able to work it out with more time.

Obviously Bobby Jackson & Bonzi Wells & other alternative import options seem off the radar at this stage.

IMO we should be investing in a good quality 2nd Import & spending up to the cap limit. The crowd no's would increase & you would assume the club would recoup this extra revenue via ticket sales & additional play off games.

No denying that a player like Bonzi Wells would be a massive recruit. (Has the NBL ever had a 500+ game NBA player before?) but I reckon even going to the cap limit wouldnt be enough to entice someone of that calibre.

Has Luke Schenscher signed with anyone yet? Maybe drop the import idea, move burston to the back up and spend the money on Schenscher! Try guarding that team with the minimal height around the league. Title right there IMO Sign him over several years, so as to fit him into this seasons salary cap. So pay him less on paper this season, and make up for it with a bigger wage next season or two. Could it happen??

Why does every1 want Grizzard back?

he wasn't good last season.... hell Tyndale was better than him.

How about Antoine Walker? He is out of thte NBA and only 32 years old. Could handle seeing the "shimmy" in a Sixers uni.

Antoine Walker ain't gettin out of bed for $150,000 .
Although if we attached the hundred and fifty to a Philly cheese steak and a six pack of coopers we may lure him over .

Humpa how can you say that Tyndale was better than Grizzard!? Sure Grizzard didnt play very well but lets not get a head of ourselves now!

Just compare the "non-stats":

Mishandle/fumbled passes
Randomly dropped balls
Weird and useless jabsteps
etc.

Milhouse, it could work, we would just have to get SOS to pay for his bail and help write off that 820K gambling debt of his haha

I believe they're spending the cap, just not breaking it. Cairns are specifically spending under the cap. Not sure about Wollongong.

Maybe we are holding out for Ingles or Newley? Doubt the Warriors will pick Ingles up & a season at home with family in the weights room might be what he needs.

Either get Ingles at SG & Grizzard at SF or Ingles at SF & Ebi at SG.

Groves and Motteram for me.

Burston/Motteram
Ballinger/U 23
Holmes/Herbert
Groves/Hill
Gilchrist/Ng

I would love to see cortez here, he never fitted with heal or goorj but was awesome at Wollongong, used to tear farley up every time they went at it too. Grizzard to me never handled the pressure well.

Here is some information I found on Lee McGaffin, decent height doesn't sound like is a PG but one thing going for him is is only 21

Lee McGaffin
Position  Guard/Forward
Height  189cm
Details  With off season ankle surgery Lee has had an interrupted pre season but has recovered nicely. Work ethic and intensity are what Lee prides himself on. Gets a chance this year to play his natural position at the three spot but has the ability to defend bigger opposition. Expect big things from this kid.

Jake, any reason why you mentioned Bonzi Wells or Bobby Jackson as options? A guy like Bonzi would be awesome, but seems a bit out of left field!

I'm liking the idea of getting Antoine out of bed for $150k and a years supply of beer and steak! Maybe we could have a word with Foley and ask him to arrange for Walker to have a stupendous run of luck at the Casino, so he can pay off his gambling debts? No risk, we don't have an ICAC in this State!

Would love to see Ingles back, Jake, just as long as the 'weights room' you're talking about isn't mums kitchen. That would be the wrong kind of weight!

As far as our more likely options - Groves and Grizzard - not feeling real excited about either of them. Hopefully if Gilchrist is a good enough playmaker, Grizzard could feed off him and have a good year, but am not overly confident!

Would prefer a SF to a SG, because I think Holmes unbalances our team starting at SF. I just don't think he's quick enough or a good enough shooter. Would rather live with Hill starting at SG.

If we need another import, why didn't Scotty and co. stay for the Summer League and scout another player instead of flying home with just one?

I guess that is why Boti is thinking we will be signing a recycled import

Beanteam, fair comment that he is out of left field, I agree but IMO he ticks a lot of boxes.

He is a proven scorer, rebounder, defender that can create his own shot of the dribble.

He would be able to play mulitple postions in the NBL & plug the current holes for the 36ers

He would be a big name signing that would attract interest to the league, the club generating increased sponsorship & ticket sales. Imgine the rush to get tickets for the first home game with him in the line up. Look at the interest the marquee players in soccer add. Dwight York gernerated that much interest when he signed For Sydney in their first season.

Would you think someone of that calibre would go to China to play ball? If he can't get a gig in the NBA & doesn't like the language difficulties & lifestyle that Europe has to offer why wouldn't he consider Australia if the $$$ are ok?

Do the 36ers have $300k remaining in the cap & would he come for that? A big risk in terms of $$$ but he is a proven tlaent & IMO the pay off would be worth the risk.

Jake, no chance that they can afford Ingles and Ere or any combo like that.

Loco, they didn't attend the summer league. They were impressed enough by Gilchrist's tapes that they got him out here for trials in person instead of attending the summer league games.

Isaac - I'd have thought they could have postponed Gilchrist's trials by a week or two, watched the D-league in person and brought a second import home to trial alongside him?

Unless they always intended the second import spot to go to an ex-NBL / known import?

It might not be a bad thing to save $$ to and not go all out first season in...rememeber it pays to think for the future..

i think SOS will certainly be thinking further ahead than this year...

building blocks start from the ground up, and with a good foundations comes a strong bulding...

Yeah I think you guys are dreaming with an ex NBA player!!

The reason why they will get a cheaper known import is due to the money reasons. We can't afford to get another expensive import! It's pretty much that simple, dream all you like but that's just the way it is.

Even with Groves or Grizzard we are a much better team then last season and will make the playoffs IMO! Also we will have an entertaining and exciting team no matter which one of them we get.

If Bonzi was $500k in China (who knows), the NBL would be a big step down. Also, it's easy to talk of a supposed $300k left to spend, but that has to be spread amongst 3-4 players (not sure if you were including Gilchrist or not) and there are minimum wages for other positions that would eat into that.

Hey Isaac, what's the minimum wage you can make in the NBL? Does it start at some amount for a development player and then increase for each year of service, or is it less refined than that?

Is $150k a realistic price tag for your average NBL import these days? (As opposed to a gun import like Ere)

How about guys like Ingles and Worthington last year?

Anyone know rough figures?

Jake, I know Bonzi would be a great signing, I was just wondering if you mentioned him because of a rumour, or because he was just a random player who popped into your head?

"Loco, they didn't attend the summer league. They were impressed enough by Gilchrist's tapes that they got him out here for trials in person instead of attending the summer league games."
Isaac, so by not answering the question are you saying it's true. I think Loco was saying, that if we need to fill 2 import spots, why not still attend the summer league because even if you intend to sign one import you still need a second one.
My guess is they have basically signed Gilchrist and have pretty much signed either another very good Australian, someone like Newley or have already done a deal with a second import who has already played here.
Why else would you still not go to the summer league, what happens if Gilchrist doesn't work out? Then you have no idea as to who did what in Vegas!

The Brad. I think it was always going to be like that and that is always the safer bet. Which teams have two brand new imports this season? Its always a bad risk to take.

If Gilchrist is a massive dud which I doubt he is then they will be on a plane to check out the summer league players.

All we need is an import that will fit the puzzle and both Grizzard and Groves fit that role. Why would we want Ebi who would jack up a million shots!! We want a balanced team and that's what these players bring us. We don't require an import that scores 24ppg and 12 rpg like the old days. We have a great mix of players that bring great offence, defence, driving ability and shooting ability.

We have a very talented and exciting team people should be happy about that!

The Brad - no, just saying exactly what I said and not implying anything else.

Boti's article was the first I'd heard about Groves or Grizzard recently and I don't think Gilchrist is locked in either.

They didn't "still attend the summer league" because they were here watching Gilchrist train. Maybe that was timing available - who knows.

Anon, Donta Smith is just too expensive a gamble. Has priced himself out of the league.

I wouldn't touch Grizzard or Grooves.

I don't see too much wrong with going with one import - alot of other teams will be running one import or budget imports and as much as we all hate to admit it it is a stop gap season.

Gilchrist
Ng
Hill
Herbert
Holmes
Ballinger
Burston
Sturt or Garlepp (Sturt is very erratic and dosn't offer alot of inside or bulk for his height, dosnt get into the key alot either, Garlepp haven't seen play.)

Grizzard played very few games last year coming in at the tail end of the regular season. He seemed to improve every game which made me wonder how good he would be now with the 36ers after the initial testing period and then for a whole season. I would be prepared to give him another run.

Would definitely prefer a SF to a CG like Groves. I Don't like the idea of Holmes starting alongside Balls and Burston - too slow. And signing Cortez would make it hard for Ninja, Herbert and Hill to get the minutes they deserve.

Burston/Cooper
Ballinger/Holmes
Grizzard/Holmes/Hill
Ng/Hill/Herbert
Gilchrist/Ng/Burdon

I'd be pretty happy with that team.

If we sign the Grizzz, would people like to see Ng or Hill start at SG? Obvioulsy it could change during the season due to form, but at this point who would you go with?

I still rather Bobby Jones who is on the Blazers summer league team.

http://www.nba.com/summerleague2009/team/index.jsp?team=blazers

7.5 ppg
55% FG
3 RPG
1.5 APG & SPG
25 MPG

XztatiK are u related to cooper? You kind of rate him very highly :P

I agree with EC, Grizzard was placed into a tough situation to begin with and did seem to get better as time went on. He has good range and could work well with Gilchrist at the point. As for the back up center, surely there is more upside in going for a younger player such as Sturt then someone who gets more fouls then anything else.

Nah KJ, I definitely rate him higher than you do but just a few weeks ago I was struggling to decide between him and Sturt. Still wouldn't be too disappointed with Sturt, you can't go too far wrong with either of them when they won't be playing any more than 10mpg.
We know what Coop brings, and yeah that doesn't involve too much offense, but even you know his D and rebounding is outstanding.
We're never going to get a star at this spot, so unless we can miraculously grab Horvath for 50 grand, Coop looks as good an option as any.

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