Yeah, if it was not over before it definitely is now. Doesn't he have family ties to the Illawarra Hawks?

Is Will Weaver still the Boomers assistant?

Who cares about the salary cap. They signed him. Great for Australia, but not great for competition. There still is only 5 players on the court at one time and one basketball, but that essentially is where the positives end for the rest of the teams.

Patiently waits for the posts saying that Joey Wright was instrumental in getting Cooks back to Australia and all praise should be with him and Adelaide.

Cram, according to Bogut how much their team costs is dramatically incorrect and they are not anywhere remotely close to projections, so you never know. Maybe Cooks signed for $45k?

"Great for Australia, but not great for competition."

Exactly. How long do you think the NBL will survive when two teams are allowed to take the piss and spend three or four times the amount of other teams?

shit they interview Cooks saying he would be playing in France

Hilarious, so many salty cats fans jumping on this already. "the Nbl just wants a Sydney Melbourne grand final, its BS that they're allowed to spend so much money".

Melbourne still spending the most.

Every team in Australia had the chance to sign him up not just Sydney, if your team didn't sign him, have a go at them for not picking him up first.

I did hear Didi could be going back to the NBA this year, I am guessing next year newley will retire

(Exactly. How long do you think the NBL will survive when two teams are allowed to take the piss and spend three or four times the amount of other teams?)

Sounds like your teams needs more money.

"Every team in Australia had the chance to sign him"

Did they? Only one team has got a current Boomers coach as their head coach...not sure that puts all teams on a level playing field for recruiting talent.

"Sounds like your teams needs more money."

I'm guessing you're not old enough to know what happened to the league the last time there was an arms race.

The pelicans can access Didi any time after the 31 of December.

(Did they? Only one team has got a current Boomers coach as their head coach...not sure that puts all teams on a level playing field for recruiting talent.)

Why? all the NBL teams can sign whoever they want are you suggesting Will Weaver (who was an assistant coach for the boomers and hasn't been named in the new role as yet) had some sort of inside knowledge and used it to his advantage?
All NBL teams had a chance to sign him, it sounds like your team needs a better head coach and more money.

No one complaining when Perth were next to rooted and Cotton was signed which meant Perth went on to win the championship, or Prather to Melbourne and they won the championship.

(I'm guessing you're not old enough to know what happened to the league the last time there was an arms race.)

Maybe, I've only been following the NBL since 1988 it’s had its ups and downs in that time but this year is the best it’s ever been.
But it definitely sounds like your team needs more money or a better coach.

Every team in the league had the chance to sign Cotton or Prather

Prather only ended up in Melbourne because Perth low balled him and expected him to crawl back and accept less money.

How are Melbourne outspending Sydney? Sydney have MUCH more depth, already had Bogut on $1m plus per season, and then landed Ware after Melbourne could not afford to match the money that Sydney put to him. Sydney are spending significantly more than Melbourne, no doubts, who are spending significantly more than Cairns. But since it is allowed, it is not like Sydney are cheating by doing so (Didi as next star issue aside), and it should not be used as a slur against them or any potential successes that come their way.

Xavier Cook has to be a starter

"But it definitely sounds like your team needs more money"

Why do you keep saying this? If one team is allowed to spend $4mill, and most of the other teams can only afford to spend $1mill, then all teams need more money.

Where is this money coming from?

If they can afford to pay more money than other teams, then more credit to them.

Yeah, credit to them for buying a title while other teams go broke.

but that still doesnt answer my question. where do the poorer clubs get money from? why should they have to make money magically appear just to keep up with a team that is spending four times as much?

(Every team in the league had the chance to sign Cotton or Prather)

Yep^
Every team has the chance to sign anyone they want.

If you cannot afford a house on Hollywood Boulevard, then don't complain about the people who can.

If you cannot afford an NBL team, or the cost of competing in the NBL is no longer sustainable for you, then either sell your team or change something. Cairns have the ability to find very solid imports on the cheap. Their talent identification in that respect is above average. There are other ways to improve and be competitive besides just "keeping up with the Jones"

Cooks is barely nbl1 level. Will be a bench warmer for the kings just like kuany was.

He made the Aussie Boomers team legit. Better than Mitch Creek, who didn't make the team. Great signing. Well done Kings, huge get.

(Why do you keep saying this? If one team is allowed to spend $4mill, and most of the other teams can only afford to spend $1mill, then all teams need more money. )

Wow 1mil no wonder your team is doing so badly. Are you saying the kings spend 4 million and all the other teams in the league are spending 1 million, pleeeeese

"If you cannot afford a house on Hollywood Boulevard, then don't complain about the people who can."

That is completely understating the point. When your livelihood depends on attracting people to the games, which becomes increasingly difficult as your team becomes less and less competitive, then its not about being envious, its about a lack of parity in the competition.

Your solution for the poorer clubs seems to be "have you tried being less poor?" Well done, ScoMo.

Lets be honest, if you cant see how wrong this is, then your are either a troll or a retard, and either way should be banned for life.
Sydney were already spending millions more than any other team. That is an indisputable fact. So please stop pretending all these great players are playing for peanuts just for the privilege of playing for Sydney.
Just because Blogut says they should make salaries public, knowing full well that they never will, doesn't make his claims true.
Clearly Sydney are nolonger bothering to comply with the 5-man cap, so yeah, blatant cheating.
As people rightly point out, it was challenging for teams to keep up with Perth, Melbourne, and NZ. How are they supposed to manage when Sydney is now spending 3 time that amount.
This is extremely bad for the league. Anyone that refuses to see that is fucked in the head.

"Perth have long been one of the top spenders in the league"

Perth also spend within their means and make a profit most years. Can you say the same about Sydney? Is their current model sustainable? If not, what happens when the owners call it a day?

haha what happens when jack calls it a day

Haha can you not read?

People talking salaries like they're 'in the know', yet no shred of proof - just all pure speculation. And you know what they say about assuming. Any grommet can through around 'according to my multiple sauces!'

"Your racecar is too fast. Either slow your car down, or give me more money so I can throw it at my car, blindly, in the hope of at least keeping pace with you."

Not the way the real competitive world works my friend. As I said, if you cannot keep up, or cannot afford to be competitive, then you shouldn't be owning a team in the NBL. Sell up and go buy one in the Philippines.

Hang on, so Sydney suddenly decides to spend massive amounts, and it's all the other clubs faults for not keeping up? Are you really that ignorant?

Sydney probably are paying him less this year and more next year when others come off contract

By the way, swapping a shit analogy about a mansion for a shit analogy about racing cars doesn't support your point. It makes you look stupider.

#038
Man your so angry you should try and relax a little bit. This doesn't mean Sydney is going to win the title and there is no proof Sydney are spending more money than any other team. Until we have the figures don’t make shit up.
What gives you the authority to decide who’s f¥cked in the head everyone has the right to their own opinions. Is that you scomo?

Isaac, can you please ban the next troll who claims "theres no evidence Sydney is spending more money than anyone else".
Thanks

So refute the point. Just because you say it is stupider does not make it so, and it does not prove that it is accurate.

Cairns have a terrific scouting and talent identification team and get bargain imports like Scott Machado and Melo Trimble for peanuts compared to other import guards in the league such as Bryce Cotton and Casper Ware.

Head to head, some games the Cairns guards may outplay their higher fancied opponents. Should Perth or Melbourne then cry because they are paying more for these players and should be reimbursed by the league because there are cheaper options out there which can still put up solid performances, but they are spending more than these other teams? If it works one way, can it also work on the flipside?

Sydney did not break any rules. They decided they could afford to pay Cooks, and they were comfortable doing so. Cooks agreed to the contract, so he knows where he will fit, how many options are around him, and that his numbers and opportunities will not be as high as they would have been elsewhere. There was nothing illegal about it, from Sydney or from Cooks. Stop sooking.

If you spend a lot of money on a racing car, and you are much faster than your opponent but so fast that you crash it into a wall, is that how you sustained your head injury?

It means that despite my investment, and despite my car being so much faster than yours, I still was not guaranteed success and someone else - maybe even your car - will ultimately achieve the victory. See, the system works. No need for reforms or parity or handouts. Nothing is guaranteed until it is won.

A lot of wankers have been getting stuck in to Joey this year. but the fact is that he has always done a good job building a team within his budget. Should have had another championship 4 years ago, and would have had another 2 years ago except for LK and bent refs,
But we have no hope now.
I wish I was a "Salty Perf Fan" at least I would have all those championships to console me.
We might as well give up and go play in the Premier League cos we have no chance in this new league Larry has created.

lol @ Sixers should have won except for "bent refs". Game 2 and game 4, absolutely ridiculous free throw disparity to even make it a series. Get off the terps mate. If Adelaide were good enough they would have won, and they spend more than most, just on the wrong pieces. They are far from a budget team.

April fools!

Boti has just reported 372k a year

(Hang on, so Sydney suddenly decides to spend massive amounts, and it's all the other clubs faults for not keeping up? Are you really that ignorant?)

Show us the evidence that Sydney has spent massive amounts. or do you just like making sh:t up?

"Show us the evidence that Sydney has spent massive amounts. or do you just like making sh:t up?"

Are you the same person arguing that other clubs should just spend more?

I've been all for teams spending big over the soft cap to attract the best talent to the league, even defending the Didi signing to a degree, but this kings team now is just a complete joke. The amount of money pumped into it is ridiculous.

Will be hilarious if they don't win the championship.

And there is no hard cap in the NBL, which makes you look even more stupid. If Sydney want to spend $10m on their roster, they can, as long as they comply by the $400k bench rule.

Anyone asking for evidence or saying others need to spend more, or saying Kings are spending big clearly has nfi lol.

Even if some estimates of what teams are spending are off, it doesn't take a genius to realise the kings and Melbourne are spending massive money this year, quite possibly the most expensive 2 rosters in NBL history.

All this talk about Sydney and the jealousy surrounding the team reminds me of this -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_DtXf0xscI

So many Nursultan Tulyakbay's around here.

Who mentioned F1, or any other governed motor racing organization? All that was said was race car. Could be down at my local, could be street, could be whatever. You cannot call someone stupid by implying something that was not even said as though they said it.

(Are you the same person arguing that other clubs should just spend more?)

Spend more wisely like Cairns or if it's to much money for your club to keep up your club should join the nbl1 series.
Inflation goes up every year every day every minute, would you like inflation to stop so your team can afford players at the same price as 10 years ago?
How do you change things and keep it the same at the same time?

Anyone else get a bit of a KD to GSW vibe with this signing?

Obviously not as huge, but it has a bit of that feel to me.

"if it's to much money for your club to keep up your club should join the nbl1 series."

So you want a three team competition then...

(Cairns won't go anywhere near the playoffs so I'm not sure how that argument helps anything.)

I didn't say they would but they do spend their money wisely.

"Spend more wisely like Cairns or if it's to much money for your club to keep up your club should join the nbl1 series.
Inflation goes up every year every day every minute, would you like inflation to stop so your team can afford players at the same price as 10 years ago?
How do you change things and keep it the same at the same time?"

This theory sounds great. Enjoy your 3-4 team NBL comp.

I'm all for the big spending, but i think there should be some sort of cap on the soft cap, or at least massive taxes (which are released publicly).

"How do you change things and keep it the same at the same time?"

Sustainable growth is how you do it.

Why are fans of a team that has been good for half a season suddenly telling everyone else how its done?

You do realize that a cap on the soft cap eliminates it being a soft cap, right? NBA teams are allowed to spend as much as they want, but there is a soft cap and a hard cap. If a team chooses to go over the hard cap, the other 29 teams and their fans don't cry foul, they just pay their luxury tax bill at the end of the year. There are no tears shed about parity or expenses or league handouts from anyone. They are limited in HOW they can acquire additional talent, but technically they don't have to worry about any ceiling except what they impose internally. If the NBL rules don't have a hard cap, then Sydney did nothing wrong.

"whats to stop the lower to middle end club members just cancelling their memberships because they've got no chance at a title?"

Its already happening.

You can just tell Angus is caught between wanting to see his team succeed no matter the cost, while naively hoping it all turns out for the best.

I would love to see an article from Santa with aggregate data from the NBL around team salary and comparison to performance. Unlikley the NBL would provide such data, even to their resident Woj :(

(Sustainable growth is how you do it. )

So your saying every team in the league should be as good as the worst team in the league? How is that growth? How is that sustainable if everyone one gets board and turns of the tv?
Every team in the league is making more money than ever before, using that money to build a better team and league is a good way to make sustainable growth.

"(Sustainable growth is how you do it. )

So your saying every team in the league should be as good as the worst team in the league? How is that growth?"

Well no because what you described is not sustainable growth. Good try though.

"Every team in the league is making more money than ever before"

They are? Even those with dwindling crowd numbers? Prove it.

(So you want a three team competition then...)

It shouldn't bother you the NBL1 has heaps of teams.

Do all the nba teams spend the same amount ? Or are there rich teams and poor teams? Are all the afl or NRL teams spending the same amount? What about the bbl?

Can you please try and put some thought into your posts? You're not making any sense now.

#100
So your saying Sydney is spending more than all the other teams. Well prove it

Where did it say that?

You made the claim that clubs are making more money than ever before. That is something you completely plucked out of your ass.

(They are? Even those with dwindling crowd numbers? Prove it.)

I don't need too the NBL has all the figures on this record breaking year, all the numbers are up on previous years.
If your team isn’t making money this year they should give it away.

^no plucking needed

Illawara going to boo him.

"I don't need too the NBL has all the figures on this record breaking year, all the numbers are up on previous years.
If your team isn't making money this year they should give it away."

Oh sorry, I was giving you the benefit of the doubt of you being able to understand basic maths. My mistake.

My team does make money. It does every year. Its the other teams I am worried about cos there is no point being a profitable NBL team if you dont have any competition to play against.

^ What a good samaritan you are

Kuany to cairns?

(Well no because what you described is not sustainable growth. Good try though.)

You must have all the answers, so what does sustainable growth in the NBL look like to you?

(My team does make money. It does every year. Its the other teams I am worried about cos there is no point being a profitable NBL team if you dont have any competition to play against.)

So it's going to fold now because of Sydney?

[Illawara going to boo him.]

Oh no. I hope Cooks doesn't read that because he may reconsider if he has not already officially signed.

Anyone know where I can get a Cooks jersey? I want to wear it on Sunday against United. Prefer the yellow. Thanks.

(Sydney was probably already spending more than United but I'm pretty sure this puts an end to the argument)

That's a big probably holding that sentence together.

"So it's going to fold now because of Sydney?"

Is what going to fold?

(My team does make money. It does every year. Its the other teams I am worried about cos there is no point being a profitable NBL team if you dont have any competition to play against.)

A lot of teams have come and gone from the NBL over the last 40 years but now Sydney have signed cooks it's going to fold the league?

"You must have all the answers, so what does sustainable growth in the NBL look like to you?"

Growth that is achievable for all teams, at a steady pace. If the league makes some money in year one, increase the salary cap, attract some more talent, make the league more exciting and competitive, and have fans wanting to come back for. And they did that for the first couple of years.

Then suddenly one or two teams went full steam ahead with their spending, rules were changed to gift one team a fourth import, these team are up the top of the tables, yet it remains to be seen whether that spending can last for them, or if it has resulted with ongoing fan engagement.

Meanwhile, the teams that aren't spending the same money are not competitive, crowds are not great, and that is only going to make it harder for them next year if their operating budget drops.

So the rich teams pull away from the pack for a season or two, their owners may not get a good return on investment so they pull the pin, and the poor teams need a leg up from the league, however there is zero transparency as to whether that is working as intended.

"A lot of teams have come and gone from the NBL over the last 40 years"

Now you're getting it!

(So it's going to fold now because of Sydney?"

Is what going to fold?)

NBL teams or maybe the NBL

(It's moved from probably to definitely

Probably no longer required)

Can you do that ? Looks set in stone to me or are you a flip floper?

Are you not familiar with the history of the NBL?

United top six players are on big coin, McCarron was playing in Europe and United out bid them. Casper went to Sydney re lies he was told re salary, yes he got a pay rise but Melbourne have spent more now on Trimble and Long is even more.

Club budget should be where supporters can see, not individual but team budgets.

("A lot of teams have come and gone from the NBL over the last 40 years"

Now you're getting it!)

Yes I am but I don't think you are.

(Can you please try and put some thought into your posts? You're not making any sense now.)

Just try and keep up mate.

Na seriously, you've been talking complete shit in this thread. There is no keeping up, it's dumbing down. I cant match you at your level.

Melbourne sack Trist last season and brought in Jois when they were travelling on top, that worked out well.

Trimble makes more than Casper Ware now? Lmao

Ware, Louzada, Tate, Cooks, Bogut
Bruce, Lisch, Newley, Moller, Kickert
Madden, Walker, Hunter, Talbot

Vs

Ball, Dech, Blanchfield, Anderson, Ogilvy
Naar, Grida, Coenraad, Froling, Boone
Glover, Harris

(There's a lot of Hawks and Taipans bashing online, but these clubs provide a great sporting contribution to the cities. It would be nice if the NBL did a little more to share the wealth.)

Not enough fans in Illawarra or Cairns to compete with the city teams it's all about the money, that’s why LK is looking to Asia to expand the NBL and that’s why nbl1 was formed. Don’t get me wrong I like both of those teams but the writing has been on the wall for them for a long time now just not enough fans. And the fans they do have are just to stubborn to find a better ways to get new fans.

#161
The hawks need a better team

(Na seriously, you've been talking complete shit in this thread. There is no keeping up, it's dumbing down. I cant match you at your level.)

So you give up then? Good idea

How do the Hawks get a better team when they don't have the money?

Exactly. And if they don't get a better team, they lose money because they can't be competitive with the big spenders.

I can't believe this needs to be spelled out to the anon troll in this thread.

They pay Cooks little this year and heaps next year is how you get around it.

As others have said it had better work out better than Jois to United.

Says as much about the other clubs lack of recruiting, than anything.

^lol

(How do the Hawks get a better team when they don't have the money?)

Get a bigger fan base , get better investors, get more sponsors like the big teams. The hawks keep saying they want to be a development team so maybe nbl1 is more suited to them.

Sure it dies Kobe. Got to win that recruit over. Kings obviously did.

Newley and Lisch are contracted for next season, Newley has had his best season since returning to nbl, Lisch still injury woes. Kings have so many wing type players, they play a one and five and rest run lanes and all switchable on D. This is a good signing for the future of the kings, certainly if Bogut retires and they need import money for a good five man. Bogut is near irreplaceable no matter what homicide says. The new owners management seem to be trying to build a dynasty, and spreading the age difference out so it doesn't all go to shit at once, exactly what Bevo set up in Perth and Gleeson has continued on. Kings looking at another massive crowd on Sunday against United so with healthy crowds you would think their money stream is doing very well.

Good management delivers, I’m a neutral but I like what kings are up to.

Other teams have money. Don't be dense. Kings willing to spend. End of story.

"Get a bigger fan base , get better investors, get more sponsors like the big teams."

Wow, why didn't they think of that!!!

Adelaide has the whole state as a fan base and are a better team than there win loss would suggest. With a bit more cash they would be contenders, they almost beat Sydney a few weeks ago.
Perth has a whole state fan base also.
Illawarra and Cairns are so limited on how big they can grow, if they could expand their boundaries they might achieve sustainable growth. If not it don't its not looking good for them.

"Other teams have money."

Oh dear.

Maybe Bogut is retiring next year

Adelaide are not better than their record suggests. They're excelling if anything.

(Something is wrong when a young player can be dumped mid contract, just to satisfy the greed and ambition of the owner!)

Are you talking about Adelaide and Taylor?

(So basically you're saying bye to Hawks, Taipans and 36ers then. That makes a 6 team league. )

Adelaide is fine they have a whole state behind them. And they have unlucky this year.
Taipans could change to north qld taipans to get more fans better investors and sponsors qld government included.
Wollongong/Illawarra is basically connected to Sydney, they need to use that to their advantage before LK brings in a new Sydney team, if and when that happens the hawks are fawked.

The NBL are going to expand over the next few years with tas a new Melbourne , Sydney and possibly Canberra then LK is looking at Asia for a few more teams.
Are Illawarra and Cairns prepared for that?

(Other teams have money. Don't be dense. Kings willing to spend. End of story.)


Is that you Corey Williams

It's Carey to you.

(Adelaide are not better than their record suggests. They're excelling if anything.)

Yes they are. They're been unlucky in a few close games.
Some more cash and their contenders.

^All young Australians are treated like that at any job they do.
Maybe he could get a job with the hawks.

So surely that counts towards the cap then?

^lol

A 24y.o nba prospect with nba out clause and it only cost them 375k a year. Great deal for Sydney considering some of the best players are on 400k after years and years of proving themselves.