Remember the last 1/4 of last season (when Lisch came back) the kings were one of the form teams.
Kickert will provide a good target when Bogut gets double teamed.

If their other bigs are staid, defensive types, I think it could work. The arms race is amazing though.

Sauce?

Funny how a few months ago Lemanis proclaimed he was going to improve with his existing squad, rather than rebuild...

Talk about buying a Championship....they'd have to at least be around the $2M mark for 6 players.

And they are still talking about bringing in imports.

No secrets they are always after a stretch 4 paired with a hefty 5 for their fascination with 4-out ball. With Perry Ellis looking unlikely, Kickert is somewhat a like-for-like replacement.

If he does sign, I think the David Wear rumour is unlikely. They'll probably go for a Jameel type off the bench.

"The thing is Kickert massages his field goal percentage unlike any other player. Red flag."

So you'd like him to take more bad shots? Makes sense

Well cat's outta the bag totally, Kicks is confirmed.

So you'd like him to take more bad shots? Makes sense

There are 3 statements in the above sentence and only one of them is correct. He is a poor rebounder

Have you considered that by shooting at a high % it helps the team? I have always been under the illusion that missing a shot is detrimental to the success of a group. He never has and never will be a high volume shooter.

Have you considered that by shooting at a high % it helps the team?

Ok, I'll send them an email now.

The problem remains that the American owners are pouring in millions, but persisting with Gaze.
That is the definition of clueless.

It's like they've hired Dodgy Joe (/Jeff) to build then a mansion down under, and he's shown them some grand design, and keeps asking for more money, but nobody has thought to physically check on progress. And they haven't figured out that the "Prime Harbourside Land" is actually under 6ft of water.

When Gaze was announced, several punters questioned the appointment of somebody who had shown no aptitude for coaching. Despite the massively stacked team, the warning signs were there early when it became apparent that Gaze has no ability to think on the fly, and is apparently unable to galvanize his team when things go pear-shaped.
Two years later, all that speculation has become established fact.

I'm still gobsmacked that Bogut didn't do his homework better.

I don't believe even this lineup can win under Gaze. Only way they do is if they continue to stack the team via imports, to the point where they can completely dominate every game. Waiting for them to sign Cotton and Felix.

There's a difference between chucking up rubbish more often than not and not wanting to take a shot that if you are as good a shooter as your % suggests, you have a higher chance of making than most others on your team...

If he's as good a shooter as his % says he is, NOT taking those shots when he's the best chance of making it is NOT good for the team... Jacking stuff up early when it's poor selection and/or contested is very different (and probably more crap).

I don't personally like this signing, I think he's missing a lot of attributes that is needed with this team, not least amongst them a likeable personality... Hopefully with his mate Bogues, it could be different, but I wouldn't want the Kings just going for the "best talent" available without taking other things into consideration... Wouldn't be the first time, and look how that has turned out in the past...

Maybe it's a bit of insurance if Bogues DOES miss some time? They could get a more Jervis/Hodgson/Pledger type back up 5 and if Bogues misses time or is limited in his minutes, they don't lack as much when he's not on the court?

Money aside (as it doesn't seem like it's bothering the Kings much atm):

Randle* / ???
Lisch / Wilson
Newls / Blanchfield
Kickert / Import*|Jois / Pineau
Bogues / Jervis?


Jeez that's an expensive team... If Sydney don't make the Grand Final in 18/19, good luck to the fans if they're expecting a team in 19/20!

Kickert could be a good fit alongside Bogut. They have complementary skill sets.

On paper a great line up but my main queries on the team would be:

- Personality clashes. Will Kickert and Randle get along? Will everyone happily accept Bogut as leader?

- Age. Kickert is 35 next month. Bogut's turning 34. Newley is 33. Lisch is 32 in a fortnight. Randle relies on speed and is 31 soon. Lisch and Bogut have had injuries lately.

At the least, between the existing NBL guys- Lisch, Newley, Kickert and Randle all being into their 30's you'd expect a bit of natural decline across the group.

Still, I reckon they should be one helluva team. I'll be very keen to watch Bogut play. And Randle and Lisch are always worth watching too. Surely that's two extra sellouts for United.

@ LV: Really good point and look at what teams like Perth are doing, much as I hate to use them as a positive example... Their local players are starting to decline, so they get the next generation in on 3 year deals... Kay and Norton are really coming into their own and like Bevo has said, the next Martin and Knight... Easier to add strong imports than it is to build a really strong local core...

Potentially Kickert offers more offensively that what his defence gives up.

Teams are going to want to double Bogut, then teams will have to choose their poison to do that or leave Kicks outside. And Bigut being an intelligent passer, could be a good partnership there. Kickert is also a very good low post offensive player.

Defensively Kickert is below average OK, but Bogut can adequately cover the paint. Bogut is a very good help defender who will help contain Kickert's man IF he is backing him down.

The weakness is if both the opposition 4 and 5 are stretch players, then Bogut will have to be drawn out.

How many teams had stretch 4 AND 5's?

Not Perth.
Not Cairns - Egwu was reluctant despite being capable.
Not United - Boone no.
Not Wollongong. AJ no.
Not Brisbane. Kickert yes but Young / Jervis no.

Only really leaves DJ/Childress combo (now gone), and Loe / Pledger combo (now gone) as threats.

Teams will likely pick and roll randle/kickert consistently but having bogut and lisch on the rim and weak side might just be enough to negate it. They're going to be incredible on O.

I understand where people are coming from in terms of personality clashes. Kickert can be incredibly aggressive towards both team mates aand officials. Most people wouldn't be privy to the preseason game v Cairns last year when he he threatened to peg the ball at an official. Drewey doesn't seem to posess the people skills to keep players like that focused. Lisch and bogut will likely help with that though and if they mesh will be incredible regardless of who else they sign. Bogut will be great for Pineau.

Looks like my platinum membership has jumped nearly $100 if I remember last year's price correctly. #doingmybit....

Kickert has always been a guy I love to bag on, but the offensive potential of this squad is pretty amazing. LV's point about age is a good one though.

Wagstaff kay pick and roll, also simply get the switch on an initial p and r then have the next p and r. The perimeter defence could be challanged if teams are able to drag both out. Kickert is not a bad signing, and i agree with those above his contribution on offence is likely the offset his poor defence, but not by much

I'm glad LV has said the ages as I was gonna write about how we know what Kickert lacks and he won't be changing his game now (didn't realise he was 35).

What Kickert brings is an unbelievable free throw shooter and when in the bonus he should always be on court but aside from that I wouldn't be wasting my time on him.

I've accused him of being a marshmallow masquerading as a basketball player and I think that's how I'll always see him.

Yup, soft and sooky, I doubt I will be able to change my tune on Kicks any time soon, unless his old AIS buddy can have a positive effect on him and pull his head in...

Was a great roster spot for a young guy and build on the future for Kings....a Froling type.

Pfft.....defence. They'll play zone with Bogut in the middle, you watch. Gaze can't coach so they can't do anything else

This is a last ditch effort for the Kings.

It's win at all costs and this will either make or break Gaze and his tenure as coach.

This team has 2 years to win the Chip, Gaze however has 1.

This team has 2 years to win the Chip, Gaze however has 1.

"Pfft.....defence. They'll play zone with Bogut in the middle, you watch. Gaze can't coach so they can't do anything else"

Agreed. Teams would expose Bogut with on ball screens. Added to that Randle and Kicket's defensive liabilities so they would most likely end up going zone.

Brunson do you realize playing a zone at elite levels requires more coaching than playing m2m?

If you're installing man D you make decisions on screen coverages and rotations and the players will gain trust in each other using those rules, but they've all seen those coverages at some time or another in their career so it's not new.

Playing a zone you're at times starting from scratch with a lot of the players possibly having to learn something new with rules and rotations very different to what's been ingrained in them.

"Brunson do you realize playing a zone at elite levels requires more coaching than playing m2m?"

Not if it's a piss poor zone

If you want to throw in a basic 23 zone for a few possessions just to interrupt flow then yes maybe true, but if Sydney want to play a lot of zone with Bogey in the middle it will require huge amounts of refinements practice time, this is what was stated.

Look at Bevos 131 zone last season, even though they spent time developing it, once opponents had time to scout it they started picking it apart, so Bevo then worked on more options and adjustments.

Isaac i love the new look site but can u make it a bit like facebook where one can comment on each post whilst scrolling? I had so much to say but have forgotten now...