Looks like the league got itself a shot blocker with this guy

Blocks shots and just about nothing else, judging by his stats on RealGM.

The NBL got a Bo Outlaw type here.

Looks like a Hollyfield clone minus the jumpshot. Not that the original shot much if any last time.

This guy struggled in Sweden why take such a risk and not just re-sign Holyfield? Unless he refused to come back of course.

Holyfield is too busy dominating the China league per Bevo's letter to the fans last week

Just looked Holyfield up he's playing in China's NBL league their Div 2 comp and is putting up a staggering 26.4 ppg & 24.9 rpg.

For some comparison new 36ers PG Shannon Shorter is playing in the same league and averaging 28.8 ppg, 15 rpg, 6.4 apg.

Ater Majok is averaging 19.3 ppg, 16.7 rpg, 4.4 bpg and Majok's teammate Russ Smith is leading the league in scoring at a lazy 60.5 ppg.

Before we start screaming budget import, let's understand that the Hawks already have AJ and Kay as starters and Forman / Ellis backing up. So there needn't be a big spend at thr 4/5.

I think he'd be considered servicable if he is able to cover for AJ with a couple of blocks, rebounds and putbacks.

Forman LOL

"Clearly Hawks don't have the money. The backup excuse doesn't fly,"

I'm sure there is a budget aspect to it, but why 'load up' on a position that doesn't need it?

Here is what I see is the breakdown of the 4 and 5 at Illawarra.

Kay 20 / Ellis 10 / Forman 10.
AJ 25 / Kay 5 / Johnson 10.

Even if you were to stretch his minutes to 15, why pump un-nceccesary money into a 15 mins a game man? AJ and Kay are still young and capable of 25 mins a game.

Isn't the point of the big teams exceeding the cap to disperse money to smaller spending teams?

"No, they quietly got rid of that rule."

I hope not, because then last season there was essentially NO cap if the Soft cap is not policed and levied.

'512, that's how I'm guessing it will play out too.

I think Holyfield was a bit of a headless chicken last year, but they still made use of him and needed the option, so hopefully this guy is handy in those sort of minutes. Swedish-stats don't look exciting so maybe they've picked on character and chemistry/teamplay?

Hopefully Conger is a strong player because they've got decent coverage at the other positions. Clarke and White can't easily play up a position, and Ellis is probably the only one who could realistically play down a spot.

The Salary Equalisation Subsidy arrangement is still in place AFAIK, it just doesn't get distributed automatically. There are rules on how the 'poorer' teams can access that fund.

25.2. Subsidy Account Purposes
The funds in the Subsidy Account are to be applied for the following purposes
collectively entitled 'Special Assistance', and in the following order of priority:
25.2.1. First, be applied toward Player Payments at those Clubs which have not been
able to generate sufficient commercial revenues to be able to pay up to the value
of the Salary Floor plus the travel pool levy for that NBL Season (if any);
25.2.2. Second, be applied toward Player Payments at those Clubs which have not
been able to generate sufficient commercial revenues to be able to pay up to the
16
value of the Salary Cap plus the travel pool levy for that NBL Season (if any);
25.2.3. Third, be applied as financial assistance to a Player, or Players, who are
enduring individual or collective financial difficulty because of a market failure
associated with the NBL or an NBL Club (e.g. the administration or liquidation of
an NBL Club);
25.2.4. Fourth, may be applied at the discretion of the Independent Trustees of the
Subsidy Account to programming which is for the benefit of the Players as a
whole (e.g. NBL Player Welfare Program); and
25.2.5. Fifth, may be applied at the discretion of the Independent Trustees of the
Subsidy Account to an NBL Club for the purpose of investment in other aspects
of that NBL Club’s development or the development of the NBL (eg. applications
may be considered for assistance in retaining a Marquee Player, or for hiring of
minimum required Club resources etc).

Where does that come from? Word leaked out a while back that the higher-spending clubs weren't expecting to have to pay any tax.

Its from their latest salary and contract rules document. We won't know if the clubs paid anything into that fund, the assignation of each player's value representing their salary is determined by a supposedly 'independent' review committee. They wouldn't even announce who the members of this committee are.