Shaun Gleeson from QBL will sign as no.2 pg with the Bullets. Had brief blaze stint but very underrated!

Brisbane is slated as being an entrant for next season, whilst the 2nd Melbourne team is expected to enter the league the following season. this means that thewre will only be 1 extra team next season, followed by another the following season.

So for next season, just an additional 10 locals will be required + 2 imports.

A couple of European based players like Brad Newley and David Barlow could be expected to return to Australia to play. I am aware that the 2nd Melbourne based team is pursuing Barlow for the following season. These are two Boomers...

Matt Neilsen (Russia) may wish to end his career back in Oz, whilst Nathan Jawai (Russia) is receiving limited opportunities at the present time. That's another two Boomers...

Daniel Kickert (Poland) may return to Australia given the right offer and set of circumstances. Rhys Carter (Sweden) may also be a likely returnee. Who knows what Ater Majok is going to do next!

Plus there are gutys returning from DI (and DII) college in the US of A. DI seniors graduating that will be looking for their first pro contract include:

Akinpetide, Femi / F / Sacred Heart University
Duinker, Josh / F / University of Richmond
Iliadis, Trian / G / Old Dominion University
Massey, Matt / C / Southern Utah University
Steindl, Clint / G / Saint Mary's College
Tomlinson, Nate / G / University of Colorado

Steindl, Tomlinson and Iliadis are the pick of the crop and should be able to earn a legitimate spot on an NBL roster, whilst Massey and Duinker could also secure a place.

Plus there are still some quality players not getting opportunities sitting on the end of their respective team's benches, plus who knows what some of the up and coming juniors may choose to do - NBL may be the preference for some rather that college...

And the quality of players returning from college the season after continues - possible the deepest crop and most talented crop ever - with the following players expected to seek their first pro contracts:

Hodgson, Matthew / C / Saint Mary's College
Brandt, Angus / C / Oregon State University / Pac-12
Broekhoff, Ryan / G/F / Valparaiso University
Dellavedova, Matthew / G / Saint Mary's College
Diop, TJ / F / Seattle University
Ellis, Cody / F / Saint Louis University
Fisher, Daniel / F / American University
Harris-Tunks, Shane / C / University of Colorado
Heuir, Damon / G / Southern Utah University
Hickert, Jordan / F / Eastern Washington University
Kostur, Dejan / F / Idaho State University
McInerney, Liam / F / Stetson University
Motum, Brock / F / Washington State University
Muo, Mathiang / F / Charleston Southern University
Naburgs, Joel / G / Stetson University
Page, Jorden / G / Saint Mary's College
Reid, Brad / C / University of Missouri-Kansas City
Smith-Hyde, Linden / G / Nicholls State University
Vandenberg, Jordan / C / North Carolina State University
Young, Mitchell / F / Saint Mary's College

Delly, Broekhoff, Motum and Ellis are all potential NBL stars in the making if they all return. Page, Young, Brandt, Vandenberg, Muo, Naburgs, Hodgson and more could also earn spots on NBL rosters.

I think the NBL will be just fine for talent with the introduction of two new teams over the next 2 seasons...

Before injuries created opportunities, some of this year's players were unsigned: Holmes, Vanderjagt, Bartlett. Not sure what the story is with Trueman at the moment, but there's another.

Some talent could shift across - e.g., a player looking for more minutes and responsibility. If Rush weren't on a multi-year deal, he could be an example of this. Creek even. Generally, younger players will step into those vacant spots if the points cap doesn't allow top-tier replacements.

Of the 24 you listed, at least 4-6 would be development-level players. Four would be imports.

There are a few Kiwis out of the league who could potentially suit up after having played for the Tall Blacks - Dickel, Fitchett, Kenny. Bradshaw may already have a gig but has played NBL before. Horvath has still been playing NZ NBL. Polybank requested a points rating this year and didn't get a job.

Mottram and Vasiljevic could get spots. B Knight could've pushed through another year. Kendall is generally ignored but could get a run at a stretch. Majok even. Ryan if anyone wanted him. Carter after he's done in Europe. I dislike B Williamson, but he's out of the league right now. Janev. Harris, remember him? Scoines was alright. Joyce is training with the Hawks a bit.

Yes, a lot of these guys are out of the league for a reason but after each team's got a 10th man and a couple of imports, they only need seven players per team and many of these guys are not miles off the pace, at least not of bench players. A few could start with the imports.

The NBL will need to keep the points cap as is (and bump up player ratings) or reduce it to spread talent around. A more even distribution of players is possible with many teams struggling to find minutes for everyone as it is.

Are one or both teams possibly coming into the league next year (Sorry i haven't followed the story closely)?

If they are coming into the league next year I would think DJ and Creek would be huge priorities with Creek being the more likely to go.

Also if Geelong are the other team then Herbert would go.

Yes there is plenty of talent given the afroementioned college players come to Australia and the players making more money abroad returning. However there is no guarantee of this happening.

Same anon every time grumbling about the Brisbane situation. Did you miss out somehow?

I would say theres enough talent sitting on benches/training squads around the NBL at the moment. Add a couple of imports and a proven aussie player and you have a team already!

The ownership group in Adelaide is pretty ragtag when it comes to basketball, they're still trying to put together a winning combination, their website is a bit ugly, the Twitter feed gets ridiculed now and then, the coach gets slammed, players cop hate, but you know what? We get to go and see NBL games and those owners are a strong reason for that.

Well said Issac!!!

We really just need to be thankful we have an NBL team.....as without the owners at each and every club we wouldn't have a team/player/coaches to sook about on this forum!

I think the more team the better if they are set up to run sustainably and if that means ala The Hawks they run to a tight budget so be it as no point spending it and winning titles to then only be in the comp for a few seasons like the Dragons!

This is the NBL and I think we have to accept that there won't always be perfectly experienced and perfectly cashed-up white knights hanging around waiting to get involved. Not every ownership group is going to keep every single person on side.

Anon, the reason I termed it grumbling is because this was a thread about talent level across a widening league and it's not the first time you've piped up to air gripes about the situation in Brisbane. You should understand that almost no one on here would have much of an idea what you are talking about, who Aaron Flanagan is, etc. If you're making a case for something, I'm not sure that you're making it very well. If you really care, pick an alias and put up your opinion reasonably, list alternatives, etc.

Great post LC, but I reckon the debate is missing one key element, which is retirements.

For example I reckon Wollongong need a major rebuild next year - Saville (maybe) and Campbell (almost certainly) need to hang up the boots soon. Stephen Hoare? I am sure most teams have at least one player who needs to consider their future.

A lot of the College players you have mentioned will not make the grade obviously.

Sydney had reasonable crowds last year and a great vibe at the game I went to. They drew 6k+ to a home thrashing last game.

HO, possible retirements: Bruton, Boucher, Saville, Campbell, Grabau, Hoare? Half of those guys could play on a year though.

OK, now more confused. Please don't underestimate what paragraphs can do for helping get your point across.

At the risk of offending, this was like having a tipsy person in a noisy nightclub explain the plot of a sitcom I've never watched without using any of the characters names.

Wow...

my eyes are still spinning from trying to read that all that.

There are few guys in the NZNBL that are decent, Lindsay Tait, Hayden Allen, Benny Hill, Mike Fitchett. Breakers have dibs on everyone else lol including most of the kiwi's who are playing college ball in the States.

the way Motum is playing, he might be looking at the NBA! maybe a bit optimistic but the way he's playing man he's looking to do big things IMO. I think the amount of college kids coming back especially some of the talents coming in, it'd be not a problem.

just a thought, perhaps 3 imports? what'd be the cons and pros for that, maybe interesting. I know some leagues allow up to 5 imports!

I'm sure Scoines, janev, ryan etc are nice guys and all but i hope Brisbane (and the second melb team if and when) do not build a sydney kings/singapore slingers type squad- they most certainly need to get 2 massive imports- a quality big 4/5 and an ervin type 1 or a 2 who scores 20+

Is it confirmed that the Bullets will be back though?

The next thing- who coaches this team (teams)? Alan Black is around, Cal/ Cj Bruton, Dean Vickerman, Stacker etc

Fair enough with your point anon. Wouldn't mind seeing some former
bullets return- weigh(technically had signed to play before they disbanded), dusty for one last season, williamson, helliwell (very very limited minutes!!!).

Also isaac- why the dislike for williamson?

Don't think he's a good person. Not kept by the Crocs for a reason, I think.

I also don't rate Ryan - I think he took the Breakers for a ride and you could see that the Kings were better with Dickel than him.

Despite everyone sticking the boots into silver chair after 30responses there hasn't been an answer that clearly outlines otherwise. Lots of the college kids and imports will be the saviors along with more recently suggesting injured guys and has beens can get you success. Clearly shows he was right because talent and depth just isn't there. Nielsen would only play invsydney too so forget that

I don't think that's quite true. As has been said, one team is likely to be introduced first. That's 10 primary spots. Two imports, one long shot at the end of the bench. Leaves seven players, three of which need to be starting calibre.

A number of players will be out of contract at the end of the year, either hunting for better opportunities, or just unsigned (as with Holmes this year). A team with a clean slate could put the right offer to a guy like Barlow (who I can't imagine is on the same money as Ingles).

Consider that at least one reasonably high quality player is looking to jump ship (Ballinger, for example - maybe Adelaide keep DJ and Simpson and he doesn't want to come off the bench cheaper than his last contract). Or Perth want the versatility of an import and don't re-sign Nevill.

Maybe Homicide is keen. And Williamson who got injured before he played for the Sixers is ready to go.

Homicide*/Tait
B Williamson/10th man
Barlow/Scoines
J Williamson*/Knight or a SEABL thug
Ballinger/Mottram

The following year, Rush is off contract and sick of being played out of position at the Tigers, and figures he can switch Melbourne teams without moving apartment. Blalock or Braswell are interested as import point. The Cats cut Drew Williamson (already struggling to fit in Hire and Trueman) and the Hawks give up the Rhys Martin project, taking on Rhys Carter instead. Mitch Creek gets sick of missing minutes and takes the offer (Adelaide run Ng backing up Dellavedova - who takes most of what was Ballinger's money - , and Herbert spells Weigh at SF). Schenscher leaves Townsville to meet more stewardesses down the coast and team up with Blalock again, and the Crocs lure Ogilvy to replace him.

Blalock/R Martin
Creek/D Williamson
Rush/10th man
Import PF/Motum
Schenscher/Vanderjagt

Exactly right to the last post, think everyone has missed that point! Take rush from melb and they need to find another player which means the league is still at the same point 24 good players short because there are players now holding spots who would struggle in state leagues over winter too. Eg Daniel Jackson, brebner, Ben Allen - you could nearly pick a fully contracted player from every team. It's time to have a proper look at the state of play, it's not all peachy.

The Breakers have Rob Loe over in college who won't be far off, Bloxham is developing nicely and Prewster won't be far behind. Eventually they will have to find room or cut them loose like Truman. Corey Webster's ban isn't forever and will look to get back in the NBL so there are a few Kiwi's who can fill a void along with the others mentioned. A lot of the players seen as bench warmers are capable of playing more minutes and improving their game with the right opportunities at the right club.

There is no chance the new Melbourne team will be a Geelong team, no chance. Basketball in Geelong is massively segregated due to the supercats and the Geelong association, they don't have the community support anymore to fill the 1600 seat arena for SEABL games. Supercats are broke at the end of every season on the seabl budget.
The new team will be out of Knox region and will boom. Relaunching the giants or magic would be a great move by NBL.

Isnt it common knowledge that the new Melbourne team is going to be out of knox?

It was posted on the NBL website after a week of twittering/forum rumors I beleive?

Cold Rock, Melbourne have often barely played Rush. This was a guy who came back from Northern Europe and who was a significant contributor before he left, playing spot minutes out of position for the Tigers.

Homicide*/Tait
B Williamson/10th man
Barlow/Scoines
J Williamson*/Knight or a SEABL thug
Ballinger/Mottram

In that team above, only Ballinger would need to be replaced by the 36ers. You might've noticed that they don't actually have him right now. Could be Vasiljevic, hypothetically. In my further example, I suggested his money went to Dellavedova and Pero could be a back-up.

Blalock/R Martin
Creek/D Williamson
Rush/10th man
Import PF/Motum
Schenscher/Vanderjagt

In this team, I listed replacements for most guys coming from an active role. Hire in for Williamson, a SEABL project replaces Rush's bench role at the Tigers. Ogilvy replaces Schenscher. Vanderjagt is out of a job currently. Martin is replaced by Carter at the Hawks. In Adelaide:

Warren/Crosswell
Dellavedova/Ng
Weigh/Herbert
Simpson/Vasiljevic
Johnson/Helliwell

All hypotheticals obviously.

Where is the glaring lack of talent? Those line-ups look reasonably competitive to me. No worse than Cairns this year who have proven competitive. Better than the Kings, IMO.

HO raised retirements. Boucher/Bruton would be covered by upcoming NZ options. It'd probably be most keenly felt by the Hawks, but remember that they are playing both imports off the bench this year. Get Gruber back so they have their three bigs, maybe Coenraad starts and they run import guards. Campbell goes the first year, giving up minutes to Demos, and Saville plays a year off the bench before going. Money more than the talent pool will impact them as usual.

Just not sure what the doom and gloom about talent levels really achieves. Are you trying to justify not going to games? Pining for years past?

I'd guess most imports were in that $100-150k range, so that's not unusual at all, would just preclude powerhouse options like Ere.

Perhaps some new talent will come from here:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/young-can-take-steps-to-greatness/story-e6frect3-1226232468135

Anyone who thinks Australia and New Zealand combined lack enough basketball talent for an 11-team league would have a tough time backing it up.

If you look at European countries who perform similarly to the Emus in international juniors they have 16-20 team competitions and then Div 2 comps that also have some decent talent as teams try to get promoted.

Those countries also lose a large chunk of their top players to big clubs elsewhere.

There are just too many good juniors who never get a chance to play NBL at the moment. Guys like Bartlett, Walker, Dillon etc have made it because they have stuck at it until they were 25 or 26 and finally got a chance.

We need promising players to be given a chance at a younger age and developed. There isnt massive incentive to do so at the moment.

Sack Marty!

Oh, sorry wrong thread.

Seriously, I would be very surprised if either of the expansion teams don't go extremely hard for Creek.

I would be more than a little miffed if I was Creek and still not getting minutes when Weigh is at the four and a new kid (with some talent) blows into town and grabs a good share of minutes.

I would put DJ in the category as well. I reckon DJ knows he wouldn't be getting minutes if Ballinger wasn't out injured.

Two good young, Aussie kids for a new franchise to turn into integral pieces over time.

Spot on Paul with this commnt

"We need promising players to be given a chance at a younger age and developed. There isnt massive incentive to do so at the moment."

We need to be able to offer starting spots for the great players either coming through juniors or coming back from college.

Bose got a starting spot eventually in Kings after coming back from college and his playing some excellent basketball for them. So two more teams might actually open up a spot for young guys to fill coming back from college or AIS graduates.

Cadee comes from AIS graduate and doesn't get to start after having good Aus National Champs tournaments and good AIS games. If there were two more spots maybe he gets a chance at big minutes instead of off the bench. Creek the same as Cadee

Lots of good oyoung athletes plying trade in college and yet will return to Australia with out a spot in a 9 team league. 11 teams provides opportunities for the taking.

The problem I have with 11 teams is more around crowd and corporate support of that many teams. Australia does not have a lot of billionaires willing to loose money every year. Maybe the big 4 banks could own a team each and show they are looking to support Australian (tongue and cheek)

I think there will enough College talent in the next 4 years that will suffice two more teams.

Just as a thought: Where are some of these players of 2005/06 AIS Scholarship holders right now. Would have been interesting some of the unknown names on this list had a shot in the NBL straight after AIS or College.

Ross Allsop - Never played NBL,
Vilsbiburg (Germany)

Tyson Demos - Hawks Bench

Benjamin Dowdell - Never played NBL,
Adelaide Crows

Joseph Ingles - South Dragons Starter,
Regal FC Barcelona

Daniel Jackson - Hawks Bench

Nathan Jawai - Taipans Starter,
UNICS Kazan

Daniel Johnson - Tigers Bench

Jadranko Jusufagic - Never Played NBL,
SEABL or BIG V??

Benjamin Louis - Never played NBL,
Trialled for 36ers

Patrick Mills - Tigers Starter

Andrew Ogilvy - Never Played NBL,
Power Electronics Valencia

Shannon Seebohm - Dragons Bench

Benjamin Smith - Guest Taipans Bench in China Tour

Stephen Weigh - Wildcats Bench

Obviously I was listing the teams they first played for when entering the NBL

Why post then? If you do it because you want to make a difference, why not at least try to present an argument that people can take something from. When you write "bbi", I'm assuming that's some initialised representation of the consortium, but that could be a typo as far as many might guess. For what it's worth, I'd prefer you post, but just realise that you need to tweak your presentation for it to be a little more coherent.

Seriously mate, your posts are nothing but an incoherent ramble!

FWIW I think there is sufficient talent in the NBL, SEABL/State leagues/NZNBL and college ball to estabish a competitive 10th team next year without cannibalising other teams. I have doubts the same could be said for the following year. Too soon.

I also have doubts in the League's ability to support the introduction of two new teams in such a small window of time but that's a different thread.

Re the Brisbane posts by Anon, they sounded interesting at first but tailed off in objectivity. A simple "I'd love to tell you more but I can't" would have been sufficiently provocative. The posts don't seem overly detached from the situation which has compromised the value of the posts overall.

Sounds like a bit of a storm is brewing in Brisbane and the NBL continue to stir. Of course a rebuttal would be timely too.

Neither of the Melbourne bids have been approved, however the group working under the 'Camouflage' name have publicly stated that their bid is not the one under consideration, so therefore it must be the bid to play out of the new state basketball centre at Knox. Other details have not been so forthcoming at this stage.

Bogut is apparently linked with the Melbourne bid that is currently the preferred option.