Dodson would be a terrible choice. The combo guard should be able to hit the 3 and spot Gibbo at the point in spurts. McNeaile would be ok I would think and is still quite young. The scoring import should be a wing able to play the 2 and the 3 and be a creator for himself and others. The 36ers should be looking for their Jermaine Beal or Cedric Jackson, someone who can stay on Sixers colours long term. We haven't had that since Willie Farley. I trust Joeys selection but he has picked two duds two seasons in a row. 2 quality imports are vital to compete in the competitive NBL.

Johnson / Hodgson
Petrie / Walker
Creek / Teys
Scorer* / Combo Gd*
Gibson / Sobey

I want an import to get excited about for once. Sick of these bargain bin duds.

Bring back Diamon Simpson please.

Yeah, when you've been spending big on local talent the last few years, it's pretty hard to complain that you don't have anything left for two superstar imports on top of that...

Worrying that we have no spread. Teams will just clog up the lanes big time against us. This team will live and die by how well we shoot the three , which with this line up will be pretty inconsistent.

If anything the guy who will draw defenders out will be our centre , dj. We are gonna get killed by a lot of bigs in the league like Kazzouh and the like.

Ervin and Wilson have been bargain basement duds? No doubt you would have played better than both for less money too.

Ervin and Wilson were good but the other two, Jarrid Frye and DQ weren't up to scratch. Defensively we look thin down low unless Hodgy blossoms into a defensive stud.

Would rather win than watch highlights that stop after the regular season. Wilson and Ervin were both more than serviceable and helped us to the post-season.

I think Diamon would be a waste in this team. Need shooters.

Phil, How can you say we have no spread when we still have 2 imports to sign? If those 2 imports are good from beyond the arc then the spread will be fine. Joey has already highlighted this as a need so I am sure he will sign someone with that ability.

Then DJ's versatility becomes even more important as he can draw the bigs out of the paint providing lanes for others to create and drive.

Tom, we need our imports (guard and wing) to be good defenders. Gibbo, Teys, Peach, Creek and DJ are decent defenders. DJ's defence has been much maligned but I have often felt he has in part been a victim of poor perimter defence, he switches as he should but then noone switches to his man and it looks like he is a defensive dud.

If our imports can be good defenders and keep players from getting into the lanes then DJ will be much better defensively I think.

'Don't get up, gentlemen.... we're only passing thru.'.......most likely,american import,adam ballinger was the last one to be here more than one season.

If we can get players like Rotnei Clarke and Chris Williams (2003 kings) (even better if a better jump shot) we will have a good team imo.

The_Champs' last 5 posts have all been asking for us to sign Diamon Simpson. If not his agent, then certainly has a crush on him. I would ignore.

Anon, everyone said the same about the Sixers last year based on pre-season recruiting. After a slow start, the Sixers romped into the finals. It was all about having a core group and adding one or two important pieces.

Yes, choosing good imports will be important. But that is always the case. But two good imports who play well in the system may well do the trick. Great if we can get someone even better, but I can't see us forking out for a 450 game NBA vet. So that just leaves you with an import lottery where sometimes you luck out.

Ok so all johno wants is two imports. One as good as Rotnei and the other as good as Chris Williams or even Chris Williams with a better jump shot.

Nice to be realistic.

lol... you know 36ers fans, fstos, always reaching for the stars and expecting it to be workable ;)

"Anon, everyone said the same about the Sixers last year based on pre-season recruiting. After a slow start, the Sixers romped into the finals. It was all about having a core group and adding one or two important pieces."

We also signed Motum and DJ after our terrible start last season. Chances are things wouldn't have ended up nearly as rosey if they didn't become available. Our pre-season recruiting wasn't great last year, we were just right place/right time with 2 big signings.

The imports are very important. They're the difference between this team being a genuine contender, and right down the bottom, with the strength of the league this year.

I know its not easy to get but Brooks and Mee (or Ced Jackson and Ibekwe) would be of similar caliber to what id be trying to get, Sydney could probably add Gary Ervin type next to Josh Childress and that gives a similar level combo, so not impossible but can be very difficult , and you may as well aim high and try and get the best combo your money can buy. If you get it right you put yourself in a great position to win the title.

Does Joey (and guys like Gibbo) still have connections with Ebe Ere??? He would be a great fit for the scoring sf he is after. Im pretty sure Joey tried to get him in his first season here.

XY

Cheers for the acknowledgement.

I am NOT his agent. Rather than 2nd statement in a crush on the bloke.

Good point re age, but could that be the thing that makes him more affordable/get able to a NBL club??

Lets face it he hasnt been affordable to the NBL for a number of years.

To me the bigger question is can he still play??? numbers in Europe still look solid from my quick look at real gm website.

Or are we better off going for a younger, less proven player??

With imports thats often the trade off as the guys in their mid-late 20's & proven imports are outside of our price range generally. So you go younger less proven, or older guys, Childress is in his 30s and still did well, so i wouldnt rule out a guy in his 30s, especially a proven NBL player as long as he still is playing at a high level.

Anon 537364

34 is not that old Childress is 33 ? would you turn him down due to age ?

We should bring back Jamar Wilson and get someone in the Summer League. DJ Kennedy would be great.

Jamar Wilson should be retained for sure. Phenomenal scorer. If the other import is above average I'm happy. Tom, that DJ Kennedy suggestion is great would love to have him.

...needless to say, our best wins were without an import,last season

And with this core Aussie group, the 36ers will need a game breaker...

Isaac "Would rather win than watch highlights that stop after the regular season. Wilson and Ervin were both more than serviceable and helped us to the post-season."

Perfect post! People don't give enough credit to how good Ervin and Wilson were. There was some talks that Wilson could be in the running for MVP. Now we are all wanting someone better than Wilson who is exciting with dunking abilities, hits 3's and will basically be paid as a budget import. Sounds realistic....

Hendo8888 "We also signed Motum and DJ after our terrible start last season. Chances are things wouldn't have ended up nearly as rosey if they didn't become available."

Actually we were second place when Motum joined us. We then went on a massive losing streak.

With a settled roster the team will do great things with Joey at the helm.

I like the talk of Ebi Ere. He wouldn't be a great player in the NBL anymore, but he'd still have some great moments, which is exactly the sparkplug Adelaide need.

If Adelaide could get Ere and someone the equal of Wilson alongside their Aussie contingent they'll be looking pretty good, especially given they've had a core together for a while now. Not sure whether they have the finances to do that though?

I agree, in a sg/sf rotation with Creek, Gibson, Teys Ebi Ere fits the bill of what they are looking for a 6'6 scorer, who is a alpha male and can take over games at times (and wouldnt need to be at MVP level all the time), which is what Joey said the team needed from the start of the off season.

I seem to recall that last year Ere was in the league he was heavily criticised for settling way too much for 3s at a reasonably low percentage and was possibly carrying too much weight.

...Just checked... it was 2009 with the Tigers. He still scored 21 ppg at 44% (down from 49% in 2008 with Brisbane) 32% on 3pt% (down from 42%).

Haven't kept up with his current euro form.