Isaac
Years ago
Funny Daws and Smyth respond to fan questions
Mike Daws and Phil Smyth have emailed back their responses to fan questions from the other week. Mike's been on the road this past week so there was a bit of a delay. Some of the responses are a bit terse, but then so were some of the questions!
What kind of performance criteria is been put in place for, and in consultation, with smyth for this year?
The contract for Phil and Steve has one more year to run with an option for 06/07. Their performances on and off the court will determine whether they are offered further extensions.How do you measure the success of a coach that had so much success early in his tenure but seems to be slipping further and further behind in so many areas?
Refer to answer above.
Are the Sixers going to be utilising the full salary cap in the upcoming season?
YesWill there be a second import this year or are we looking at using just Willie and the remainder of the team to be Australian
Currently negotiating for a second importDid Ingles sign with the Sixers indicating he would play here in season 06/07 and then renig on this to go to the Dragons?
Shook hands; agreed on terms but never signed
Are you looking at any new imports that have or have not yet played in the NBL? If so who are they? or at least what spot would you be looking to fill with them?
Yes; will not name them to ensure other teams do not jump the queue for their signatures.
Phil - how many more NBL-useful years do you think Mark Nash has in him?
Nashy has just turned 30 so we would expect with his training with us and outside training he would have at least another four years. Most players internationally peak at around 32.Mike - IF the sixers were to be sold, what sort of personell changes would you make in the lead-up to the change over?
Will depend on the ownership changes. If I am still CEO (and I would put my hand up for the job), every position would be scrutinized from admin through to marketing/media and off court supportMike - In recruiting players, how much say does management, coachings staff, and recruiting staff have?
It is a team effort between Phil, Steve and myself with financial acumen from our Corporate Services Manager, Neville Taylor. Has to be that way to achieve best player result for the Club.Mike - will the sixers be spending ALL of the salary cap, or will you be trying to shave some cash to save some cash?
Spending all of the cap
Are we looking at imports that have played in Australia previously or can we expect to see someone completely new.
Does depend on how our negotiations proceed. Can be either if the player we want is right for the team make-up
For Smyth: When a player like Brett Wheeler has been out of action for a year how do you assess his ability? Do you request footage of him playing ABA now or travel to see him play or have someone else tell you or take his word that he can still play at the NBL level or what?
Even though Brett has been gone for nine seasons, his relationship with our medical personnel has remained very tight. So we knew he was fine medically and the year off would have been terrific physically and mentally. Brett is 34 and after meeting with him in Melbourne and discussing what we were after for the club, it was obvious he was what we needed and it was a perfect match in what he wanted.
Potentially adding Lanard Copeland to the roster impacts on Brad Hill's place in the team. What role do you see either of them playing for the Sixers should Copeland sign in Adelaide?
Adding Copeland to the team does not impact on Brad Hill. The mandate for the club is to put the best team on the floor. Primarily, Brad could play 2 or 3 man and at times back up point guard. Copeland would play 2 or 3. Both could be on the floor at the same time.
1. Is there a reason Pero is snubbed by the 36ers every year?
Our system does not suit. Pero has improved each season and we have considered him but other players have suited the group better.2. What imports are we currently targetting if any?
Refer to response above3. What plans are being made for the future starting point guard and shooting guard when Maher and Farley are gone?
What plans did Chicago Bulls make for Michael Jordan? There is no replacement for Brett Maher. So when he retires, we will find the best Australian, American, European or whatever point guard that's available. Farley is the same. Did Chicago replace Pippen ? You cannot replace these players with the same so we will have to find the best available and make other changes.
1) Is Derek Rucker an option or is Copeland your first choice for the guard position?
Negotiation already concluded for Copeland2) What sort of role and minutes do you envisage for Copeland if he is signed?
It depends on his form. He could possibly start in a 2 or 3 man spot but he could also come off the bench. What is best for the group. We do not have the terminology of first 5. It's the 5 that start, clearly stating that this may not be the best 5.3) I believe after one and a half seasons in the system Brad Hill is ready to take the next step and be given more responsibilty. Does recruiting Copeland show a lack of faith in the development of Brad Hill? And what will it mean for Brad's playing time?
We are monitoring how he plays for the Eastern Mavericks and he was given more responsibility last season. At times he was terrific and at other times he was inconsistent. Youth does that. We will work at varying his role this season and expect him to improve.
How is it possible that one of the best kids for their age in the country, Joe Ingles, was apparently only offered a spot in the 13 & not in the 10?
We offered Joe the maximum contract the club could afford under the NBL rules for playing basketball. Joe was offered a spot in the team and the maximum money for a rookie for two years.
Are the coaching staff and management going to U18/U20 Nationals to see what is around the place?? The name Daniel Jackson comes to mind??
The under 18s are in Adelaide and we will be attending. We have spoken to several people who attended the under 20s. Each year we have asked for one of the coaches to attend the under 18s or 20s Championships and in the last three years have been told the club cannot financially afford it. We have plans in place where we liaise with the SA coaches and have scouts at these championships.
Quenstion: How do the Sixers approach young talent and what can the club offer to these young, future-of-Australian-basketball, players in terms of development, playing time, mentorship, off-court growth, future and potential to selected for National squads?
For now, let's make a definition of young talent as 23 and under. In our squad of 12 to 13, normally 5 or 6 fall into this age range and have been local. This year, in the NBL, the following has occurredStatement: NBL clubs are becoming multi-national companies and have to conduct business as such, which includes breeding and nurturing new talent to provide for the future of the business. Club needs to offer long-term security, growth and development with potential for players to achieve their personal goals within the structure of the club.
Adelaide
Jacob Holmes - local from AIS; back to us
Oscar Forman - local from AIS; back to us
Brad Hill - local from AIS; back to us
Nick Hambour - local
Brisbane - Adam Gibson; Launceston to AIS to Brisbane
Cairns - Deba George; Thursday Island to Cairns
Hunter
Larry Davidson - Local to AIS to US college and back to them
Mitch Selwood - Local to AIS and back to them
Melb Tigers
Tom Greer - Local to US college and back to them
Neil Mottram - Local to AIS to Wildcats to Melb
NZ - none
Perth
Jeff Dowdel - NSW to AIS to them
Cameron Tovey - Local to US college to them
Liam Rush - Local (traded in 06/07)
Matt Burston - Local
Sydney
David Barlow - US college to them
Mark Worthington - ditto
Luke Kendell - ditto
Ian Crosswhite - ditto
Townsville
Greg Vanderjagt - AIS to them
Brad Newley - AIS to them
Michael Cedar - Local
Kelvin Robertson - Local
West Sydney
Rhys Carter - AIS to Giants to them
Wollongong
John Philip - AIS to them
Adam Caporn
The club has several programs that cover development and the Board continued to look for long term job prospects. We encourage all of our players to have part-time work which will lead to full time or study a course at a TAFE or Uni to help them with life after basketball.
Mike , what do you feel is the reason behind basketball in SA being under the financial pressure it is. Dome debt, poor management previously, carrying teams like the Lightining at a loss?
Combination of Dome debt, lack of focus in management practices and not realizing sponsorship targets.Phil, is there and expectation that SA born players will autonatically want to play for the sixers regardless of finanical offers from other clubs?
Lightning loss of $60k this year is not a big factor.
No, there is no expectation that SA born players will want to play for the 36ers.Phil, how do you feel when leaving players site personal development as a reason for leaving.
Do you think as a club we nurture players to the degree they are looking for?
None of the players that have left have ever cited that reason to us at any time.Phil in the past teams have had great success with castaways from otehr clubs, what do you look for in a player in this position is it ability, heart, training eithics etc?
A combination of things that you have mentioned along with their ability to make other players around them better also.
How many Australians playing in US colleges do you think are capable of playing NBL? Are we currently talking with any about the possibility of joining the 36ers for the upcoming season?
There are 96 Australian players playing at US colleges at the moment and there are a few that could certainly play in the NBL. We are in contact with quite a few.
Are Lanard Copeland and Brett Wheeler being recruited as potential starter for next season or are they going to be a role player? If either is being recruited as a starter how can you justify that to us supporter as one is 35 years old and hasn't played for 12 months and the other is 40 year old? I don't have a problem with either being recruited as role player to give the side that depth but it doesn't give a supporter a whole lot of confidence in the side when they are being recruited as a starter?
You are being caught up in who is starting and who isn't. We do not operate like that - we are a team of 12 and the end of the game is the issue; not who starts.Mike Daws _ It is not secret that the basketball and more importantly the Adelaide 36ers are pricing themselves out of the family as a potential target audience in the membership area. An average adult silver membership at the Adelaide Crows is $236 for 11 home games (per game $21.45), at the Port Adelaide Power the equivalent season ticket is $232 @11 home games ($21.09), Adelaide united is approximately $237 @ 11 home games ($21.54). Is it going to be feasible for the Adelaide 36ers in the not to distant future to beat or at very least match those pricing structures of other sporting franchises in Adelaide? As sport in South Australia is a very competitive industry.
If you look at our season's prices and divide this amount by the number of home games and our per game figure in 05/06 was $20.31 so we are competitive in the marketplace price-wise. We just need to sell the product better, which we recognize is something we need to do more aggressively.
Is it true that you are in talks with Paul Rees about postponing his retirement?
No
Phil - for development of young players do you feel they are better off with the Sixers + Academy structure or going to college in the U.S given a chance?
It depends on each individual's circumstance, but for education and basketball a scholarship to the US is probably better than just basketball. It could go either way.
One for Mike Daws - Can you please advise the fans why an option year is offered as part of the contract and when it comes to taking up the option year, a player is screwed by the club trying to cut his salary? This is not how you treat players who have serviced the club well and will lead to other players getting off side with this club. Is it any wonder that no one wants to come and play for Adelaide? Salary alone is not a deciding factor because players will get financial benefit from living in Adelaide rather than Sydney or Melbourne. The problem has to be with the way the club treats them and what else it offers other than just money.
Did not happen this year, I can assure you. Cannot advise you re the past. If you are referring to Jacob, he was offered substantially more than last year, but the South Dragons offered a package we could not match and he could not refuse.
What is happening with the recruiting of a C and PF and a SF and have you been looking at the following players Wade Helliwell, Simon Dwight, Rouben Vesmadian, Austin Bruton, Jordan Dodman, Jason Dix, Brad Bungey, Jason Eversteyn and Steve Leven and how are you going on gathering more sponsors
As regards sponsors, we are looking very promising at this early stage. The sponsors see only positive changes ahead.Simon Dwight is still injured and will not play this season. The other players you mentioned have all been discussed at our meetings - some with interest and some not.
Phil & Mike, is it true that your recruiting of Copeland & Wheeler is just a front to strengthen Fitzy's Monday night over 35's team? Can we expect you to chase Rose, Rucker & get JC 'the Alabama Slammer' out of retirement for the same cause?
No comment, nuttles
Is it a fair perception that Adelaide is not a good option for player development??? I'm very concerned about Brad Hill who appeared to be progressing during the season but his time dwindled-particularly in the finals. Surely any recruiting that undermines Brads minutes is an issue....there seems no point recruiting them if you don't use them. Comment? The perception of a "laid back" coaching style seems to be a label of the Adelaide team....which is now backfiring. Comment??
No, development of players does not happen overnight; it takes time. Brad is a little inconsistent at times and is working extremely hard to limit this in his game. You will see a more developed Brad Hill this season. Perception is not reality.
Is the Adelaide 36ers players going to come to schools in the near future?
Yes, they will be.
With the demise of Hunter where is Jordi Cullen heading? Is Adelaide an option?
Not sure. We are not an option.
IMO Pero Cameron would be the prefect pickup in the 4/5 spot, do you agree? Is he a realistic pickup? If so, is anything being done about recruiting him?
Pero is not being considered as he is lazy at times, which can affect the group. NZ released him for that reason.
Phil: Firslty congratulations on your coaching efforts, i think you have done a great job and the team even though it doesnt win all the champioships is always up there and usually exceeds expectations. Is there any chance of Derek Moore and/or Pero Vasiljevic joining the 36ers next season??? as i think either/both would be a great fit and starting centre/power forward for the club. And are you considering Jayson Wells for the 2nd import id love to see him in a 6ers uniform!! Good luck, i look forward to seeing the new look 36ers in action!!
Derek Moore and Pero are not being considered at this stage. They were certainly on our list, but at this stage others are ahead or financially they are out of reach at present. Jason Wells is not being considered, although a very good player. We have targeted someone we think is better.
Phil, How do you feel when players like oscar & jacob leave for better offers $$ wise when they have been offered decent contracts from the club and been supported for 5 years and basically learnt the professional game through the sixers and yourself as a coach. What can be done do you think to encourage young talented guys to hang around and become lifetime 1 team players when the nature of the game seems to be players switching teams quite a number of times throught their career. Obviously they have to provide for their future as basketball is short term career. Players always want to come back to Adelaide, it just doesnt seem to happen (cat & mee for example) what are some of the reasons behind this never occuring as it seems like they will come back for half what they are worth??
Money is the reason. They will earn a lot more playing elsewhere.Who is the next Brett maher for the Adelaide 36ers( or as close to as he is one of a kind)??
There is no-one.Why are the benches so long if guys like Gerlach, Hambour & Madgden never get a run. Last season they didnt even hit the court when the game was all over. Surely those spots could be
utalised better??
Gerlach and Madgen were considering scholarships at US colleges so if we played them, they would be ineligible to play at US colleges. Hambour did play.
Phil, why do you persist in playing players out of position? Do you discuss this with the players? Overheard a certain young player say recently that when contract is over he will leave without question as he is sick of being played out of position, and this was a complaint that hung around when Jason Williams was forced to run at point, when he was more comfortable at the 2/3. Have also heard that a lot of young players are opting elsewhere due to lack of focus on youth development (eg. Forman, several ABAers). Can more be done to develop and support the young plalyers to keep/get them in to sixers uniforms?
Answered previously
Smyth and Daws - Would you rather have consistent yet unspectacular player who delivers week in and week out, or someone who will win you games by themselves but can also be very bad? Because i seem to be a bit confused with the way Dusty Rychart was treated. He is the most consistent player in the league and delivers week in and week out yet he is offered way less than Willie Farley who can be extremely good i agree, but also is not consistent and doesnt deliver consistently. I may be talking a lot of crap, but i was very disapointed when Dusty seemed to have been let go so easily...thats all
Dusty was a huge loss for us but his offer from Brisbane was far greater than ours so it is that simple. We did all we could and you can ask Dusty. He had no choice as it was just too good to say NO to Brisbane.
Phil - What is happening with making sure that we won't lose all of our home grown talent to other teams; Newley, Ingles
We need more money and more outside work. It is difficult but the club is aware and working on this.
Phil, when do you leave?
Not worth a comment.
OK, that wraps up the Q&A. Thanks to everyone who participated.
