Isaac
Years ago
Xavier Cooks has re-signed with the Sydney Kings, sources told @ESPNAusNZ.https://t.co/a32mr1E6qs
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) July 4, 2020
Air Delay
Years ago
I like the potential Kings front court of Tate, Cooks & Moller. Don't care who plays the 5, but this trio is athletic AF!
Is Chris Goulding or Angus Glover the new 2 guard?
This makes sense as while Europe have been signing lots of players, contracts there have clauses that if the virus stops all again, salaries will be suspended to 50% first month, down to 20% the next two and stop if all closed down.
I'm not convinced that Cooks would have been chased by the top paying clubs as well.
Nick Kay is probably in the same situation, though with a much stronger hand and has time on his side to make the right decision.
koberulz
Years ago
Remember when everyone was panicking about all the players who were going to leave, and I was roundly mocked for suggesting a mass exodus was unlikely?
There is now only one player in the entire league who has remained opted out, and from what he's said in the media he was likely to have done so even without COVID-19.
KET
Years ago
Who cares, plenty of us expected these blokes to re-sign
League is looking strong, love it!!!
Zodiac
Years ago
Good signing for the Kings should keep them off the bottom of the ladder.
KR - there are actually 2 players who have remained opted out. Kay and Ware.
If you're going to be pedantic, at least get your facts right
D2.0
Years ago
like the potential Kings front court of Tate, Cooks & Moller. Don't care who plays the 5, but this trio is athletic AF!
Remember when everyone was panicking about all the players who were going to leave, and I was roundly mocked for suggesting a mass exodus was unlikely?
There is now only one player in the entire league who has remained opted out, and from what he's said in the media he was likely to have done so even without COVID-19.
koberulz
Years ago
In my defense, Ware opted out before the grand final so it was a long time ago.
Cook played a lot 4/5 in his season in Germany the season before last. Moller is a 3/4 but certainly big enough and defensively sound he could cover a bit of 5 spot as well. Weaver ran Kickett through the 5 last season and runs a system not reliant on a massive 5, a lot like the nba now.
koberulz
Years ago
As for Daz's stupidity:
Only 10% of players opted out. Not a mass exodus.
60% of opt-outs have opted back in. Not a mass exodus.
Bogut would have retired if it wasn't for COVID.
Goulding has a foot out of the door every time he's a free agent.
The Kings are probably quite happy not to be paying Ware anymore.
There is significant import turnover every NBL season. It's not unique to this year.
Moller is Cooks backup at the 4
Tate will play 3 man.
Air Delay
Years ago
Tate 3? Myeeeeah, can't be sold on that. He's quick & can shoot, but largely because teams elected to let him shoot outside.
Though I think, like how WW used Kickett, Tate, Moller & Cooks could all defend the 4 & 5. Moller can also defend the 3.
This trio would EAT the glass at both ends & all have super motors!
Maybe...
Sydney Kings-Weaver
Import/6'3 A.Bruce
6’4 C.Goulding/Unknown Local SG - Madgen?
6’5 D.Louzada(NS)/6’7 B.Newley
6’4 J.Tate/6’8 C.Moller
6’8 X.Cooks/6’10 M.Mathiang/6’10 J.Hunter
Possibly ware
Replacement for Lisch
Could be mathiang, Brandt or salt as c
Kickettt and Bogut up in the air so could be a new big.
Smith has said that he's tightening the purse strings, if Didi is back I would not be surprised if they only go with one import point guard and spend more on him. Cooks has the reputation but Moller was much better for the kings last season.
I can’t see Goulding or Tate being there, Goulding to pricey, and Tate nba or g league two way contract if the US hasn’t been wiped out by covid 19.
anon123
Years ago
Cooks played really well in the playoffs hopefully can keep up the same form
Don't really judge a person on first season myself.
#307
Nick Kay played really well, smacked both Cooks and Tate. You must have been watching different games when you think that Melbourne also should have probably won the semifinals as well.
ME
Years ago
The import situation for all teams will be interesting. I still think we jumped the gun tightening restrictions to two imports per team.
Lawsy
Years ago
It's no way Kings have an appetite to be paying Ware that salary he was on- he was absolutely woeful.
Let's hope Weaver isn’t to busy talking politics to teach him to shoot
Hard to change a shooting action after you have been doing your whole life. Amazing he went through four years of college and they didn't try and fix it. He’s a short modern five man the way he plays .
Weaver is in his off season and is entitled to his free speech and views.
Cooks could be a top ten local players in the league if he found a jumper.
Its amazing ans says alot about our development system if guys don
t learn to shoot when its pretty important in the modern game!
LoveBroker
Years ago
Cooks can be the replacement for Bogut, he is almost as capable a defender and much more mobile (as well as no need to load manage).
He is a good asset to have, I didn't think there was much wrong with him other than lack of outside shot. If he did have an outside shot, he'd likely be the same as Kay and on the way out.
Massively overrated. Can't shoot at all from the outside and his man defence is atrocious. Watch the games if you don't believe me. Fundamentally, he's a poor defender. He's long and athletic for sure, but the guy is a long way from the NBA prospect some people think he is.
Zodiac
Years ago
Cooks played Summer League for the Lakers perhaps NBA scouts know something you don't anon?
Guessin..
Sydney Kings-Weaver
5'10 C.Ware(I)/6’3 A.Bruce
6’5 D.Louzada(NS)/6’4 B.Madgen
6’4 J.Tate(I)/6’7 B.Newley
6’8 X.Cooks/6’10 D.Kickett/6’8 C.Moller
6’10 M.Mathiang/6’10 J.Hunter
DP?
Maybe a different centre..
Moller is taller and heavier than Cooks and the same height as Kickett. He was 6'8" as a fifteen year old, kings listed him as 208 cm. I’m waiting to see what Weaver does with Cooks and Moller as he didn’t play them together last season to the teams detriment imo. Cooks is more a 5/4 where Moller is more a wing, 3/4.
Kings still putting together a reasonable roster if they get a gun point guard, could keep an import up there sleeve.
Sydney Kings-Weaver
5'10 C.Ware(I)/6’3 A.Bruce
6’3 D.Vasljevic/6’4 A.Glover
6’5 D.Louzada(NS)/6’7 B.Newley
6’4 J.Tate(I)/6’8 C.Moller/6’10 D.Kickett
6’8 X.Cooks/6’10 J.Hunter
Kings didn't try sign him up long term like Perth did with Cotton, couldn’t get a start in Europe so took his pay cut like all players and stayed. Time will tell and a Weaver and media favourite but overated so far.
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