2014/15 NBL Season + Off-season news/Boomers

[Gozu]

The Perth Wildcats have announced they've picked up the option on import Jermaine Beal's contract for next season and he's back in training with the Wildcats after returning from a short stint in Saudi Arabia.

[Gozu]

Melbourne United today announced the signing of Townsville young gun Todd Blanchfield to a 2 year deal, a big loss for the Crocs after the positive news they will be playing on next season and also the Sydney Kings have announced the re-signing of Jason Cadee to a 1 year deal.

[Gozu]

A big day for the NBL with the rumour now becoming official Melbourne United co-owner Larry Kestelman has taken over the NBL for $6 million. The former Dodo Internet founder is set to become to the NBL what Frank Lowy did to the A-League. He will still retain his ownership in Melb Utd but has stepped down as Chairman of the club and will now become the Executive Director of the NBL.

The LK Group commitment to the NBL will be over $6 million. The funds will drive an ambitious growth program with a focus on the delivery of a compelling entertainment product, fan engagement and national marketing campaigns.

http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1ny6u7 ... t2zzur2657

Boti Nagy on the move:

What does it all mean?

It means the NBL has at least a three-year window for Kestelman's vision to be realised while, at the same time, establishing its longer-term viability and sustainability.

In case you missed it, here's Larry's original proposal from last year: http://bit.ly/1D4lelY as revealed here on March 10.

The new deal isn't quite as good but then, I'm sure we mostly would agree, anything potentially is better than the morass which has been the NBL of the past decade.

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/nbl-happy-as-larry/

[Gozu]

Big signing today announced by the Perth Wildcats with the signing of young Aussie gun 6'3" guard Hugh Greenwood to a 3 year deal. He recently did a workout with the Utah Jazz after just completing his college career at the University of New Mexico.

[Gozu]

Confirmation today the Wollongong Hawks will continue on next season after previously entering into voluntary administration earlier in the offseason.

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/hawks-fly-mercury-rises/

[Gozu]

Bizarre news overnight the Lindt Café in Sydney that was recently the scene of that terrorist attack was vandalized overnight by NBL veteran Luke Martin who briefly played with the Perth Wildcats last season as an injury replacement. He broke a cop's jaw too. He's currently playing in the SEABL league in Brisbane so drove down to Sydney to do that?

THE man charged with hurling rocks through the windows of the Lindt Café in Martin Place overnight is professional basketball player and former Australian representative Luke Martin.

The 34-year-old, who is married with a three-year-old child, was arrested late last night when dog squad police allegedly spotted him driving his Holden Cruze on the wrong side of the road along Elizabeth Street in the city.

The dog squad detectives called for extra help, including assistance from Highway patrol.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/nsw/lin ... 7380720055

Bizarre

[Gozu]

Been a big week for basketball in Australia and now comes news of a new winter league the CLB starting up in 2017 to complement the NBL. Champions League Basketball says it will have 8 teams across Australia & New Zealand playing over the course of a 10 week season plus 2 weeks of playoffs from May-August and will expand the league to 12 teams by 2019 including into Asia.

The CLB is co-founded by GM Matthew Hollard who has been involved with some Melbourne based NBL teams with advisors like former Boomers Chris Anstey & Jason Smith and Joe Ingles from the NBA's Utah Jazz. They're going to create a 20/20 style comp with modified rules.

A host of modified rules are set to be introduced in order to deliver what is promised to be a high-tempo, high-flying and high-scoring competition. We can expect ‘money-ball power-plays’, where made baskets are worth an extra point. Another initiative, titled ‘Every Quarter Counts’ will provide championship points to the team winning each quarter of the game, and teams that hit the 100-point mark will be awarded bonus points, giving a marked emphasis on keeping the game alive right up to the final buzzer. The NBA’s illegal defense principles will also be adopted in a further attempt to help open up the game, promote highlight reel plays and increase scoring.

http://pickandroll.com.au/champions-lea ... asketball/

Supposedly up to $3 million in prize money will be up for grabs each season too. Sounds very similar to the High Stakes Hoops tournament that was held here in Adelaide back in 2010.

[Gozu]

Melbourne United today announced they've re-signed star PF Daniel Kickert and the Cairns Taipans have also re-signed their coach Aaron Fearne to a 3 year deal.

[Gozu]

The Townsville Crocs have announced the signing of PF Mitch Young from the Taipans to a 2 year deal and the NZ Breakers have re-signed Thomas Abercrombie to a 3 year deal, Abercrombie just returned from a short stint in Spain once the NBL season finished.

[Gozu]

A big signing for the Sydney Kings with them announcing today they've signed their former star centre Julian Khazzouh to a 1 year deal who has been playing in Lebanon and also the Townsville Crocs have re-signed Kiwi forward Leon Henry to a 1 year deal.

[Gozu]

This came out of nowhere the Adelaide 36ers have been sold by the SOS group to Arena Stadium Management who operate Titanium Security Arena (formally Adelaide Arena).

The Adelaide 36ers are set to enter an exciting phase with a new ownership group taking on the licence of the iconic Adelaide basketball team with the full backing of the National Basketball League (NBL).

The Adelaide 36ers Basketball team will be operated by a consortium of prominent local businesspeople chaired by Bruce Spangler, the current Chairman of Arena Stadium Management, which operates the Titanium Security Arena in Adelaide, home of the 36ers.

http://www.adelaide36ers.com/article/id ... s18r2c6uk1

Boti Nagy's take on the sale and new 36ers chairman Bruce Spangler:

http://www.botinagy.com/blog/adelaide-3 ... anagement/

Also the NZ Breakers have announced they've re-signed gun SG Corey Webster to a 3 year deal. He's just returned from a short stint in Serbia since the NBL season finished and will be trialling with NBA's Indiana Pacers this week.

[Gozu]

In some unfortunate news for the Wollongong Hawks coach Gordie McLeod has chosen not to renew his contract with the club and the Townsville Crocs have announced they've re-signed Clint Steindl to a 1 year deal.

[Gozu]

Big news day of player signings for the 36ers today with the signing of power forward Lucas Walker from Melbourne United, small forward Nathan Sobey who was a squad member with the Cairns Taipans last season and young 6'11" centre Matt Hodgson who played his college ball at St. Mary's but failed to get an NBL spot last season due to a knee injury. Hodgson's signing is pending a physical.

The 36ers have also confirmed that Adam Gibson, Anthony Petrie and Brendan Teys have all re-signed joining the new trio and the recently re-signed Daniel Johnson along with Mitch Creek leaving just the two import spots to complete the 2015/16 roster. Unfortunately Brock Motum won't be back again pursuing NBA opportunities and if not will play in Europe and it also means Luke Schenscher, Peter Crawford and BJ Anthony won't be back either. BJ Anthony will play in England next season.

The Cairns Taipans have also announced they've re-signed Shaun Bruce and the NZ Breakers have signed NBL journeyman Shane McDonald to replace Rhys Carter. McDonald has been playing for Nunawading in the SEABL.

[Brodlach]

Lucas Walker is soooooo over rated. Not suprised with the non signings, big red been ordinary.

Bit underwhelming those signings

[Gozu]

Lucas Walker is soooooo over rated. Not suprised with the non signings, big red been ordinary.

Bit underwhelming those signings

I have to agree not a fan of Walker and both of the imports are going to need to be stars.

[king neptune]

Looking ahead to the 2 Boomers games against New Zealand in August.

Unfortunately Ben Simmons won't be playing At this stage it looks like he and Ingles will be the only 2 missing though.

Was a shame to see Bogut not play the last 2 games of the NBA Finals but looking on the bright side it means he avoided injury and now looks to be a certain starter for the Australian national team for the first time in 7 years.

Matt Dellavedova on the other hand played a lot more minutes than expected and of course had to go to hospital for dehydration after game 3 but hopefully the 2 months recovery time will see him starting as well.

Apparently it's still uncertain whether or not Steven Adams will play for NZ. I hope he does because we need to play against as strong a team as possible to help our preparation. Also I'd love to see Bogut or Baynes knock the prick on his backside!

We're pretty spoilt for centres with Bogut, Baynes, Jawai and Andersen but don't have many natural power forwards other than Cam Bairstow. Unfortunately Bairstow was VERY badly managed by Chicago. Only getting a minute or 2 every couple of weeks, even in the most extreme blowouts. Despite that as far as I can see he was not once sent to the D League to actually get some minutes under his belt! Feel bad for the guy and hope he has a better future at the Bulls now with a new coach.

Possible lineups

PG- Mills
SG- Dellavedova
SF- Newley
PF- Bairstow
C- Bogut

Bench

Exum
Goulding
Broekhoff
Andersen
Baynes

Motum
Jawai

[Gozu]

Big news for the Hawks today announcing they've changed their name back to the Illawarra Hawks from Wollongong and have named their new coach Rob Beveridge former NBL championship winning coach with the Perth Wildcats.

http://www.hawks.com.au/article/id/1biq ... 0cj00urmv8

[Gozu]

In NBL news the Cairns Taipans have re-signed Stephen Weigh to a 3 year deal and in Boomers news it seems Andrew Bogut fresh off winning an NBA championship is still dedicated to playing for the Boomers in the series against NZ in August which would be the first time he's played for the Boomers since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-24/b ... on/6569660

[Gozu]

The Cairns Taipans have re-signed Alex Loughton to a 3 year deal and the Illawarra Hawks have re-signed Rhys Martin.

[Gozu]

A big signing for the Illawarra Hawks with the announcement today they've lured former Sydney Kings star centre AJ Ogilvy back to the NBL from Spain on a 1 year deal.

http://www.hawks.com.au/article/id/fwbx ... vte6qjn68a