That's very surprising I had assumed the signing of Loe as their back up centre put an end to Lee getting that spot. Neither Lee or Loe is starter quality even though Lee technically started at the JJ's likely to keep Magnay out of early foul trouble, he still only played small minutes.

Honestly I thought United & JLA would eventually come together again and he would be back as the starting five. Lee/Loe is a huge downgrade on JLA/Hukporti.

Maybe they plan to nudge Loe out and make him a replacement player again, Lee gets his spot and they sign a legit starting centre?

Lee was superb for United 2 seasons ago, but this isn't the signing required to take them from runner up to champion.

IN:
Lee, Loe, White

OUT:
JLA, Hukporti, Travers

Is that it?

They're a year older. CG, Delly, Clark, Ili, Loe all well into their 30's.

They'll be very tough defensively, but who's the go-to man offensively other than CG43?

Lee was borderline All-NBL level last time he played with United. If he plays at that level again, no-one will doubt whether he's "starter quality"

My concern would be injuries. I recall he went down multiple times in the playoffs. Including on some innocuous looking plays

Marcus Lee averaged 9 & 7 two seasons ago on a mediocre United team that went 14-13. Not exactly All-NBL. He then averaged 6 & 5 at the JJ's last season playing second fiddle to Magnay.

* 15-13

He played 16 games, averaging 9.1ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.4bpg shooting 69% from the field in 23.3mpg

On a per minute basis he led the NBL in rebounding and was 2nd or 3rd in blocks

United was 9-7 in his 16 games. But that includes early losses. It was 8-2 in his last 10 games.

And 6-2 in games where he played 24 minutes or more. (The later games).

Make no mistake, he was a force.

Who knows if he plays at that same level this season, but if he does, United won't regret signing him.

The question for United is who's scoring their points? Even if CG continues with another great season at the age of 36, whose the 2nd option on this team? Jack White? Hopefully his scoring game has increased hugely with his time in the G League (he did average about 20ppg in 22-23)

There's a reason his teams play him limited minutes.

Loe was solid last year too and just had another great season in NZNBL

If Lee plays like he did in 22/23 and Loe plays like he did in his 23/24 stint, United will be strong enough at the 5 spot

But looking at the roster as a whole, scoring is an issue unless Jack White can seriously step up.

Yes United ended 15-13 - but went on a 9-2 run at the end of the season mainly on the road - to miss out on finals by a foul shot.

Marcus Lee was a great addition to that team. Below is from an article written in Jan 2023




"Since joining Melbourne United in Round 7, Marcus Lee has established himself as one of the best big-men in the league.

While it took the towering American four games to register his first victory, since United's win on December 10, no player has even come close to the numbers he has been putting up.

Lee’s raw numbers since December 10 may seem unassuming, with the center averaging 10.5 points, eight rebounds and nearly two blocks per game, his advanced statistics are simply otherworldly.

Since December 10, Marcus Lee ranks:

#1 in net rating - 50.6

#1 in offensive rating - 149.2

#1 in defensive rating - 98.6

#1 in PER (player efficiency rating)- 32.7

#1 in block percentage - 7.1

#1 in offensive rebounding percentage - 17%

Stats glossary

On top of all of that, Lee put up a statline that hasn’t been seen since Mark Bradtke in 1999, registering 22 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks on over 80% shooting from the field."

I like this signing, a very solid player, I see him a Loe as giving united two centres with two different strong points. They won't be favourites but they will still be strong.

Has there been any word re: Travers? If Travers returns, that's a lot of money tied up in the 3/4 spots with Travers/White, and Goulding/CG43 both presumably on serious "import money". Lee and Clark you know what you are going to get from them, but if United run with 2 imports (or 2 imports/1 next star) then they are going to need to get a lot from Travers/White.

I read something recently indicating he was likely going.

But, if he stays obviously that helps United a lot.

If he stays, in addition to adding Lee and White, good luck scoring against United

Something shocking is Loe won the NZNBL DPOY.

Ths must be an indictment on NZNBL level of defence.

I noticed that too!

The NZNBL is a less defence-focused league than the NBL. And there weee players who arguably deserved it more than Loe

*were

Lee/Loe
White/Bowen
CG43/Krebs
Ili/Clark
Delly/Cameron

Travers?

DPs: Blogg, Koppens.

So one full roster spot remaining, assuming Travers leaves.

But presumably it won't be a highly paid player (not sure who would be available in that category anyway?), given we’ve only got two marquee positions available and we’ve already signed Delly, CG and White.

Zodiac you seem to be good at stats. Can you let us know Damian Martin's stats and if that made him worthy to start or if it was All-NBL level? Lee falls under the same category as shown with advanced stats. To say he is not starter level is ridiculous.

If you watch what's happening off the ball you grow to appreciate how good Loe is as a team defender.

Travers and United officially part ways

Wonder whose an option for United's last roster spot.

Basically replacing Newley.

I told y'all months ago that Travers wasn't coming back.

Lee is starter level but just feels like a poor fit for this team considering the age of the roster and lack of scoring firepower.

Has there ever been an older lineup?

Loe can stretch the floor and is a good addition back to the squad, the concern is our injury prone the lineup now looks.

Maybe Krebs and Cameron can step up to become reliable threats but the lineup definitely looks to have gone backwards.

Good question JMS

I dare say the Melbourne Tigers of 2004-2005 have them covered with D-Mac being 40, Gaze and Copeland 39, Bradtke 36 and David Stiff 32 on opening night

But yeah, United is certainly another "Dad's army"