Good for Luke he will be their primary playmaker. He will get ton of minutes on the ball and Vick will enhance his considerable defensive skills as well.

good luck united if luke is your primary playmaker, as far as im concerned this is the weakest part of his game . decision making

Be interesting to see what position he plays.

In the article Vickerman says he'll play the 4 and initiate the break off a rebound or start the half court offence, and expect him to play at a faster pace.
I think the big thing for him is having guys like Barlow around to mentor him. He previously had vets in Perth but none that really played the position or style that he needs.
United looking like the team to beat next season. Just need to fill out the rest of the roster with some shooters with CG.

I am yet to see tthe reason for the hype on this kid. I might be totally wrong but there's nothing he's shown me that suggests he's going to be an NBA player.

I've said the same too but I get why the NBL hype the hell out of him and make his signature out to be some sort of coup. United still a long way from being a legit contender IMO.

MELBOURNE UNITED

PG: Rathan-Mayes*? - Ili - Duach

SG: Goulding - Krebs - Cameron - Blogg-dp

SF: Tucker*? - Newley - Triplett-dp
PF: Travers - ? - Machar-dp
C: Lual-Acuil - Hukporti-ns


Lee?

Could be delly over mayes and a bigger guy over Tucker.

So at what stage is this not a conflict of interest, I having club owners with stakes in more then 1 team in the league

While I have congratulated Sen for there off season moves for Perth

It seems they just swapped out Travers for okwera, I brought loum acual back to united and brought Cameron Flynn in

All. Players who would have also worked well in a cats uniform.

Looks like they are stacking the deck for there hometown

However, I ill reserve judgements to see what else they give the cats this off season

So Olgun has confirmed Travers, CG43 and JLA are all marquees and their fourth marquee is either Delly or an import PG.

JLA | Hukporti (NS)
Travers | Anticevich (?) | Stith (?)
Goulding | Newley
Ili | Krebs | Triplett (?)
Import | Cameron

Assuming Hukporti is a Next Star and Triplett graduates from DP to twelfth man, it's about finding the right backup 4 at a low enough price. Probably two in case one hits. Assume they’re going to keep the HoopCity alignment.

So at what stage is this not a conflict of interest, Having club owners, with stakes in more then 1 team in the league

While I have congratulated Sen for there off season moves for Perth

It seems they just swapped out Travers for okwera, I brought loum acual back to united and brought Cameron Flynn in

All. Players who would have also worked well in a cats uniform.

Looks like they are stacking the deck for there hometown

However, I ill reserve judgements to see what else they give the cats this off season

[United still a long way from being a legit contender IMO.]

Zodiac, did you forget to take your pills today?

SEN sold their stake in United when they bought the wildcats. They have nothing to do with
The Melbourne team..

Imagine how salty the Cats fans will be if two Perth boys lead United to a title

As a cats fan what annoys me most is playing him at the 4. Always his best position, but playing him as a pg on offence had always seemed counter intuitive and mkte about his decelopment then us winning games. Be interesting to see if it was a cats coaching decision or a pressure form the cavs on what they want developed. Be interesting if united bends to those wishes too. Also annoying that his 3pt shot is finally looking, as a 4man, weak side defender oh boy. As an on ball defender like we played him (maybe we had to), also oh boy but not in a good way. Wish him the best though, as one must, just hopefully he has plenty of personal success,team success, not so much haha

No they did not sell there stakes.. It was well reported they still had shares in both

Edit my bad I see they did it last year.... Either way, I if we were lookin at McDowell white it is very interestin that we didnt look to resign Travers..
. $$$$ Obv wasn't the issue.

He def wasn't feelin like hewas on same page with Coach
. Like a number of others on this squad

Looks like the purse strings are back open again at United!

"No they did not sell there stakes.. It was well reported they still had shares in both"


They 'had' shares in both, but no longer do:

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/07/15/sports-entertainment-network-divests-remaining-stake-in-melbourne-united/

"So Olgun has confirmed Travers, CG43 and JLA are all marquees and their fourth marquee is either Delly or an import PG.

JLA | Hukporti (NS)
Travers | Anticevich (?) | Stith (?)
Goulding | Newley
Ili | Krebs | Triplett (?)
Import | Cameron"

Would be a bit of a weird roster if true. Extremely light on capable wing defenders unless Travers starts shooting well enough to play big minutes as a backup 3 as well. Bringing back Newley with this kind of roster construction would be a mistake in my opinion, would need someone a bit more lively on D

[Looks like the purse strings are back open again at United!]

I would wait to find out how many imports are signed, and what their resumes look like, before making a statement like that

Too early to suggest United are spending big again, clearly no evidence for that (JLA, Travers, Goulding) but not too early to suggest a team that finished 7th last season is now a legit contender!

Import selections will determine if the purse strings are just wide open or torn apart altogether.

I hope United do spend big since we need a foil for the Kings.

United spending on Goulding, Travers and JLA won't be small change, even if most doesn’t go against the cap as they’ll be marquees.

Barring an incredible three imports I don't think the Kings are going to be the team to watch out for next season. We recovered well from losing Adams, but losing a local like Cooks is most likely a bridge too far.

Good point and if so we can go back to hating United the most.

[Too early to suggest United are spending big again, clearly no evidence for that (JLA, Travers, Goulding) but not too early to suggest a team that finished 7th last season is now a legit contender!]

Vickerman- 9 seasons coaching

First season, missed playoffs.

The last 8 seasons:

3 titles
2 runner ups
2 times lost a tight deciding semi final game (and in both semi final series had a better overall +/- than the opponent over 3 games)

1 time missed playoffs by a single basket after going 15-13, but went 11-3 with their starting PG in the line up. Won 8 of their last 10 games (when they actually had their team on the floor). Clearly a top 4 team when healthy.

8 seasons in a row as a contender- "history doesn't predict future performance" nah, this isn't a financial advice disclaimer. Often it does.

They've got JLA- an All-NBL level player. CG43. Ili. Travers and Hukporti who have immense potential.

Yeah, they *should* contend.

But, the trend in the NBL over the past couple of years is an evening out of the talent spread and lots of good teams (compared to say, 2021, 2019 and some other seasons when there were only 2 or 3 teams and it was a somewhat boring wait for the playoffs). I'd expect that to continue and United to be one good team of many.

Vickerman's record really is outstanding- since that first season going 11-17

I think he's the only NBL coach with 3 titles or more, along with Gleeson and Goorjian?

United is in good hands.

Interestingly, it's the last 2 years- when United didn't even make the Grand Final- that to me, has proven his worth just as much, if not moreso, than the championship years.

Lemanis & Kerle?

Correct- Kerle has 4. Not sure how I forgot Lemanis.

Vickerman is however, in rarified company having won titles at multiple clubs. Alongside only Kerle and Goorjian.

Title I meant. Not "titles".

Whereas Goorjian and Kerle both won titleS at multiple clubs

Teams are only allowed a total of four marquee and import players combined.

As JLA, Travers & CG43 are all marquees... Melbourne can either sign Delly and have no imports... or sign 1 import, not both.

Considering I had a question about the backup 4 spot amidst their salary cap issues, signing Kyle Bowen is ideal. Someone who can play with Travers in the 3/4 spots.

JLA | Hukporti (NS)
Travers | Bowen | Stith (?)
Goulding | Newley
Ili | Krebs | Triplett (?)
Import | Cameron"

MELBOURNE UNITED


PG: Dellevedova - Ili - Duach-dp

SG: Goulding - Krebs - Cameron - Blogg-dp

SF: Import*- Newley - Stith - Triplett-dp

PF: Travers - Bowen - Machar-dp

C: Lual-Acuil - Hukporti-ns

Did I read somewhere Stith is naturalised now?

Yes

Newley signs

What happened to Dalton?

Weedy Slug's roster above looking spot on. With the question mark being Delly. If they can't get him, and if JLA/CG/Travers all marquees, only leaves one import spot available.

So if Delly doesn't sign they can have 2 imports?

As much as Delly is a great team player, I’d prefer to have some additional scoring punch with a dynamic wing (Tucker) and a solid import PG who can run the team and hit the three ball. Would be dangerous to expect Ili to start and play big minutes throughout the whole season after his head knocks.

You can have 4 marquees/imports in total.

Got it. So either an import or Delly.

If it is Delly the lineup would be great defensively but seriously lacking outside scoring punch. If they run with a Tucker wing it adds the scoring and athleticism but puts a lot of pressure on Ili at the point.

Yeah they need a scoring 1/2 I think.

Is CG still a marquee?

At some stage, marquee players need to be removed from that status. Whilst their salary is counted in the cap, they're competing against imports for one of those four spots. CG is approaching that stage, in my opinion.

Teams can always pick the lowest salary of their Aussies and decide not to designate them as marquee.

It means more cap space is chewed up, but also means they can sign an extra import.

I would hope Travers offer was structured to allow this.

Eg if it's 1.1 mil over 3 years, then 300 year 1, 350, 450.

Is delly definitely back? Kings might like him in their locker room