Sometimes its all about timing. Being in the right place at the right time.

Assuming the TV report re Dusty is accurate, I believe the 36ers will end up resorting to an import centre to replace Dusty.

There are numerous Aussie big men out there on the free agent list such as Hinder, Melmeth, Cullen and Pero who could split minutes with Cooper at the centre position.

However, we would have to win a bidding war for the services of Hinder or Melmeth which is very unlikely even with the cap room created by Dusty.

The 36ers have never been keen to sign Pero despite numerous opportunities so I can't see us signing him.

Cullen would be a good signing if they could get him cheap but I've got a feeling he would fit in the Pero basket in the eye's of the 36ers coaches.

The benefit of signing an Aussie big man is that will leave Dusty's import spot open, which could be used on a back-up point guard to help Maher.

If we could fluke a decent import straight out of college for cheap (a la Dusty to Vic Giants) then we would have a pretty good team.

C Cullen/Cooper
PF Holmes/Hambour or Bungey or Dodman
SF Forman/Nash
SG Farley/Hill
PG Maher/import PG

Alternatively, we go after an import big man.

I've always been impressed with Brannen's game. If we could pick him up along with say Egan for the same price as Rychart + Rees we would be looking ok as well.

Team would be

C Brannen/Cooper
PF Holmes/Egan
SF Forman/Nash
SG Farley/Hill
PG Maher/Hill (Brad Davidson would be great but hard to see us having much cap space for him)

Brannen is more than capable of playing centre at NBL level. He was starting centre on the Brisbane team that knocked us out a couple of seasons back.

He is a bruiser and would add some much needed toughness to Adelaide's front court.

I think it was Rees who commented that Brannen was one of the strongest guys he had to match up against when he had to train against him every day during his season in Brisbane.

Agreed that Brisbane win out of a straight up trade as Rychart is a much better fit alongside Bradtke than Brannen was.

However, if Brannen is cheaper than Dusty which allows us to sign someone else such as Egan (or a back-up PG such as Davidson or Caporn) then I'd say we've done alright.

This next season's team is going to be a bargain basement team. I wouldn't be surprised if we scrape the barrell for a replacement just to save money. My guess is the money saved on Dusty is money saved altogether. With the government in control, do you think they are going to pour that much money into the team. I will be very surprised if we end up with a team that will make playoffs. The result will be a mass exodus of fans and the Sixers a team of the past.

I would much rather have a Dusty than a Brannen. The bloke may have trees for arms but he was still too damn inconsistent.

Dusty was by far the most consistent sixer all year and it's shit we could not keep him.

Once again we have to see an ex-sixer light it up for another team!

Bungey has been asked, but turned down due to work committments. perhaps he will get a shot next season? or season after? def. under the eye of sixers coaches.

Dont care how tough Brannen, he has no touch around the hoop, and didnt look at all comfortable finising shots this past season, progessivley got worse at brisbane, not a good option. Bring in some flesh blood, even if we have to do the Sydney thing and get a import for 1 year at a time ala Chris Williams, Ebe Ere.

For a back up PG i think someone like Rouben Vesmadian he is Australian and is playing in Russia or Armenia and averaging around 30points a game would be a great pick up

kriss, u mentioned - Once again we have to see an ex-sixer light it up for another team!


why is it continuing to happen though? what are we doing wrong? are our facilities good enough? what is making players choose other clubs over us? we must be doing something wrong - its happening too consistently. maybe its the coaching staff? maybe its the money? but something has to be done about it surely!

why would we use our second import for a backup pg i dont see the point

what about dodman, hes the right kid for it!