Kestleman can coach?

What is a coaching director? What article are we talking about and what does it actually say?

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6768685/hawks-nbl-deal-imminent-with-flinn-to-be-welcomed-back/?cs=302

The article.

If Julian has published, he's like a genie, it'll come true!

Am I supposed to be offended by that?

The entire reason I have this reputation of always being right is because I admit when I don't know things instead of running off at the mouth.

While I am glad the NBL remains with 9 teams.

I remain skeptical that this won't change much and is just delaying the ievitable.

The Illawarra community have shown, whether winning and exciting or losing and bland, they will not support this club in numbers sufficient for it to be financially sustainable.

What will change?

Flinn is horrible, unless this new mystery man comes in and Flinn is a temporary puppet like the Danian Cotter / Joe Conelley scenario, then the coaching is going to remain horrible.

The 2 positives I see in the up coming season is :

a) The Balls may have good contacts and be able to find some talent that would want to play.

b) The NBL have hamstrung the top tier of the league and brought everyone down to the Illawarra / Cairns level next season that the field is quite level. This is like putting another 20 kgs on Makabe Diva, SubZero and Phar Lap so that the the three-legged Mule gets a fair crack.

The coaching director is a BIG NAME with a proven track record of turning franchises around.

At least one famous NBA player claims him to be the best coach ever!

Post article plz

Koberulz, the only "reputation" you have is being an insufferable dickhead with no life outside a basketball forum.

Sure, but the reason I'm insufferable is because I'm right all the time.

Well said Koberulz!

I really hope that Flinny doesn't return, he was as impressive as Hobson and he was the worst import in NBL history (yes worse than Christophersson and that tiny import for the Hawks a few years back that didn't get court time)

I wish the Hawks and any new owners all the luck in the world as they need to get the community on board, it's simple as that.

I second that re: Hobson

Uuuuuuuuuurgh.

If Flinn looked terrible in his first season, why does he "deserve" a second?

Agreed. Difference being Kelley is an up and coming coach whereas Flinn was just a warm body to be put into a vacant role for cheap.

Hawks coach to be under extreme pressure. Failure could see him hung by the Balls.

I couldn't read the whole article, but the intro didn't make much sense. It talked about "NBL ownership involving LaMelo." Seems to me it would be one or the other?

Fucking co-ownership, how does that work?

he was as impressive as Hobson and he was the worst import in NBL history (yes worse than Christophersson and that tiny import for the Hawks a few years back that didn't get court time)

Gold! Lovebroker : )

Flinn will do well.
Hearing new management will spend appropriately for 2 gun imports. 1-2 Cotton style is the top of the shopping list of course.
Plus WORLD CLASS coaching director/mentor, plus new assistants.

Throw in Glover & Dech.
Grida will be offered a multi year.
Froling, AJ & Coenraad.

That's a good core + 2 more.
Unsure on the mail on Blanchfield & Naar, but if they've both shopped & come up empty, I presume they're both back. So there's only 1 spot left for an injury replacement for Grida.

David Andersen?

He's clearly done but a good trooper I've always had a lot of respect for him not just for what he's achieved in Europe and playing in the NBA but throughout his career he always put his hand up for the Boomers unlike some.

If the Hawks don't want to bring him back I would love to see him at the Sixers.

Ando isn't retiring, but didn't want to play for bottom dollar, so is looking South &/or East for a last dance.

I can't believe my luck finding Hoops.com.au is still thriving!! I think the last time I posted here the "little" Foreman was still wearing Double Blue!
So, 1) I can't believe anyone actually subscribed to the Mercury to be able to read this article, but 2) is the Ball deal actually done and dusted??
Are they giving a discount of he takes the WEC? Slip him a bag of cash to redevelop the place.

Yes Lovebroker, Billy just fouled a lot or smiled on the bench, Let's just say about Hobson; in a league with Hodgson and Hopson and himself he was by far the least impressive and this guy was starting yet did he end up with more assists than points.

I really don't remember him even having a breakout game.

For those with the rationale that Flinn deserves a second season because he must be better, I sure hope that mindset doesn't extend to Darington too.

I hope that is indeed the original J Bags. Last spotted on Hoops 12 years ago!

That's okay as most on here don't seem to follow (or comprehend) NBL news properly anyway.

Isaac, it is.
Is anyone surprised the Mercury was way off on their reporting?
As great as the local support for the Hawks is, the local business people can't keep propping our teams up. It's got to be a deep pocketed outsider who takes the team and brings some fresh ideas.

I know who he is and know he has the coin to keep it afloat, but what I'm saying is that locals have propped things up in The Gong for far to long. Time for some fresher perspectives and with an attitude like "If he doesn't get the license hawks are finished, certainly if it goes to out of Towner" then it's probably best if they are wound up.
You'd only be more insular if you wrapped yourself in a sleeping bag.

OMG - Brian Goorjian! Seriously!? Post against an actual name so I can mock you openly!!
Also, the reason to get externals to owners is that you can use "player sponsorship" provided by the local businesses as a way of attracting the bigger names down here. Salary cap generally limits who will play where. It's always the perks that reel them in.

lol!! No - Type J Bags into the "search the forum" box below.

Anon - #167 "committed long term" ----- hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!! and also, hahahahahahaha!!!!
Just like how may of the past hawks owners? Has it been 3 or 4 in the past 10 years???
I say throw the keys over and give the kid a go!
I mean Melo himself won't have anything to do with the operations, except for marketing purposes, because he'll be busy running PG at the Warriors, making bank with endorsements and social media to worry about it. Plus, it's likely holding a loss making entity won't bother him too much. But I'm sure he won't want his reputation damaged, so he'll bring in some top caliber guys.
It's also got nothing to do with JBA, which was LeVars mess. That and it was a farce from day 1, given the NCAA were rubbishing it straight up and BBB was overreaching. However, the JBA idea could give the Hawks & the league a new Next Stars launching pad, similar to what the JBA was designed to do.

I'm so glad I committed to reusable bags after all this time. I'm so good for the environment.