Wookiee
Years ago

What can the Kings do to improve in 15/16?

Instead of taking over a different topic, I thought I'd address this one here as it seems there are a few people with opinions on the Kings upcoming season so it might not be a complete waste of bytes :)

You were making outstanding sense there until you mentioned people actually wanting to talk to Markovic....LOL
He wouldn't make the bench on a Grand Final team in the NBL.

If fit & healthy, I think he's a solid choice on a team really lacking experience and leadership... Watching him last season, he's still got great court vision and can nail the outside shot at a fairly consistent rate enough to keep opposing teams on their toes...

I think, if we can't get entice Gibbo to join his mate Jason, and have the choice to either sign Markovic and an import big *cough*Gladness*cough* or going local and small at the 5 again and taking a chance on a fresh from college PG *cough*duinker&perry*cough* then I know what I would choose...

It's like a choose your own adventure book and I wish I could put in a flow chart or something here as I think it all comes down to if Childress is retained...

[ Can you sign JChill? ]

If yes, go to page 2
If no, go to page 3

Page 2: WOO HOO!

Page 3: BUH BOW...


The big questions for the Kings as I see it:

Can we sign JChill?
Can we sign Khazzouh(or AJ)?
Can we sign a top quality local PG?

Their season will be defined as to how those questions are answered...

If we can't get a legit 5-man, can we get someone like Peach? Or do we have to burn an import spot for a big?

Topic #37149 | Report this topic


Anonymous  
Years ago

I agree re Markovic, could be solid, especially splitting minutes with Cadee.

A team of

Markovic/Cadee
Import/??
Childress/??
Garlepp/Ellis
Khazzouh/Brandt

Find some good young talent to back up sg and sf, at worst go for something like B Hill at SF and a good shooter at the back up sg spot

And thats a solid team imo

Import sg would be 6'5, a good scorer and a versatile, athletic style of player, Ebi Ere mould would be ideal.

Reply #529883 | Report this post


Oberon 28  
Years ago

I think the key with Madgen gone is to sign a top Australian player regardless of position and go for Childress as Childress effects how you spend the second import spot. I also believe that Cadee is ready to start especially if you get another top Australian player but you need a good back up guard.

Reply #529891 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

not too many will take the risk on Markovic and his injury that will come and go all season.

Reply #529920 | Report this post


Wookiee  
Years ago

Yeah, we need to recruit a big Aussie name, and preferably a big Sydney name, which I think out of Khazzouh and Ogilvy, Jules would be the bigger and more recognisable name... If we can snag him (I doubt making the NBA is really a possibility for him at this point? Can't hurt in trying, I guess...) AND Childress, I think the money would be getting used up pretty quickly... We'd have to go one as the marquee player for sure... But I think that would push forth Markovic's case more as he'd be a cheaper option, get him for the last few seasons of his career, playing at home in front of his family and friends...

I'm all for Ellis coming back, I thought in limited minutes last season he really worked his butt off, and I would hope that he gets some more generous share of the minutes if he's retained... However, there has been a rumour that the Kings are looking at/have signed Dan Trist out of Lafeyette, who by all accounts had a very good senior year, is a Sydney boy and could be good to groom as a very good local talent... I'd guess that it is either one or the other...

Mitch McCarron played for Coach Cotter in the U19 squad, is two young players too much to ask for on the one team? I don't know terribly much about him other than the D2 POTY award, but looking at highlights and stats, he'd be on some coaches wish lists for sure... Looks to have a scorers mentality and can shoot from outside and likes to get to the basket... A decent sized guard, at least for the NBL... We HAVE had some luck with kids coming out of Metro State, too...

Markovic [8] / Cadee [6]
Lisch [10] / McCarron [3]
Childress [10] / ??
Garlepp [7] / Trist [3] or Ellis [5]
Khazzouh [9] / Brandt [3]
Total = 59/61

Lisch was on the FA points list, not sure about his legitimate availability, but his wife IS from Sydney, and surely Kev has to pay (similar to Matty Nielsen and his wife's family in Perth?) for dragging her around to all those terrible overseas countries (Italy? blegh!).

So with a backup SF to go, I think that's a pretty awesome starting 5 and a decent bench, if not a bit young... Could do worse than getting Brad Hill back, he filled his role, even though he was used out of position last season and runs really hot and cold... I just doubt there'd be much left in the budget to be able to use up the rest of the points cap...

Reply #529925 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

The keys to the kings 15/16 season in their attempt to make the finals will depend on cotter's ability to sign Childress, a second import guard and a top australian 5.

Childress should been a priority signing before he left the country to avoid competing with european teams and the chinese league which will offer three times the amount the kings can afford.

A point guard import with experience is a must! Cadee is not ready to be a starter. He lacks maturity, cant defend opposition imports for a long period and lead the team. He will be a great backup pg for a couple more years then he should be prime to step in the starting position.

As far as the center position. Brandt showed last season his knee might be a long term mental problem. His post skills didn't live up to the hype of a player that come back from a Div 1 college career. He look top heavy with no hands, evidence that he was a practice player during college years. Kings need to sign a 5 man who can give a big target in the key who also can shoot the 10ft jumpshot. Brandt is a 10-15 min player off the bench ONLY!

If I was to grade cotter on his rookie seasons performance as a coach. I would give him a (C-) because he made lots of rookie mistakes.

His score would be lower if it wasn't for the owners and the teams director of basketball making decisions for him. They need to show him respect by allowing him to choose his team.

Besides I've never heard an owner sacking themselves for a losing season!



Reply #529926 | Report this post


D4444  
Years ago

I agree 100% Anon #926

Hopefully we won't see Duinker, White or SoJ back in the purple & gold either. All 3 of those positions have a huge scope for improvement.

Reply #529933 | Report this post


Kings Lion  
Years ago

Losing Madgen has been a big blow but it all revolves around getting JChill back. Money is not the issue, it's the team they can build around him. Move SoE to SF, get AJ or the Big Sneeze back home, and sign Dan Trist to sort out the big men. I would have liked to see Matt Nielsen go round for one last farewell season in Sydney before hanging up the boots.
SoJ is done and hopefully White as well, need to upgrade the backup SG badly, someone who can reliably hit the 3. SoC can play starting point, but that won't win a championship. Kings were looking at Lisch 2 seasons ago so if that can't sign him they need an import PG. Steven Markovic may be from Sydney but Adam Gibson is a free agent and a better choice at starting PG.

Gibson [7] / Cadee [6]
Lisch [10] / McCarron [3]
JChill [10] / Ellis [5]
Garlepp [7] / Trist [3]
AJ or Khazzouh [9] / Brandt [3]
Total = 63/70

Still plenty of points to play with there.

Reply #529976 | Report this post


LC  
Years ago

Dan Trist could be a very good upgrade on Duinker. He starred in the Patriot League for Lafayette and brings a legitimate post game.

Reply #529977 | Report this post


Dazz  
Years ago

Money is ALWAYS an issue...
My understanding is that last season even Childress was paid within the cap? If so, they need to find some more bucks...
But, forgive my memory, aren't they having to move to whoop-whoop? Unless they get a sweet deal, that's going to impact revenue...

Reply #530010 | Report this post


Wookiee  
Years ago

yup, moving to whoop-whoop around halfway through the season, I think it works out, so as mentioned many times before, the management REALLY need to get their fingers out with regards to marketing and a membership push...

They've organised a two part membership this season where you can buy a full season or just at a venue, so hopefully that can see us maintain a decent crowd at the Kingdome where they might have dropped off otherwise, thinking that it would be a waste if they didn't go out to Homebush for the 2nd part of the season, and also help with some numbers from the West that might have otherwise not wanted to venture all the way into the city...

The Kings REALLY need to push both these angles to the respective areas, especially...

I agree that cash is an issue, although last season that could have just been a reflection of the level of talent that we actually had on the team... Duinker wouldn't(shouldn't) have been on much, Ellis would have been on his initial rookie deal, another rookie in Brandt, some cheapies in White and SoJ, I think Garlepp is on the record (an article from Hammer) as not really playing hardball with his contract which I s on his final year of, so really, you have Madgen as the main local paycheque of note and I think that's an upside to Madgen leaving as he would have gotten a hefty raise on his re-signing...

Of course I'd love Gibbo over Markovic (despite some evidence, I'm not a complete idiot :) ) but with having to rebuild our starting 5 from scratch apart from Garlepp, primary funds should go to Childress and Khazzouh (or AJ) and an import SG don't we agree? If we CAN get JChill, Jules/AJ and/or Lisch/Clarke is there really going to be that much cash left?

That would be:

??? / Cadee [$90k]
Lisch [$150k] / ???
JChill [$150k + marquee extra?] / ???
Garlepp [$100k] / ???
Jules [$250k] / Brandt [$70k]
total = $810K

and I think that's low balling a couple of them...

So unless someone in the Kings management has really good negotiating skills, I don't think Gibbo can be squeezed in, as with his 7pt rating, he would be a pretty hot ticket for most teams...

Reply #530039 | Report this post


Jick  
Years ago

I've got a bad feeling that White will be running around again for the Kings next year, catching the ball and holding it for 2 seconds before passing it straight back to the player who gave it to him. Kings made him defensive player of the year, they must actually think he is good at basketball.

Reply #530095 | Report this post


D4444  
Years ago

Well to be fair Jick, he has no offence so you could say he's 100% focused on defense.

Seriously, what a waste of a roster spot.

Reply #530097 | Report this post


Oberon 28  
Years ago

Don't mind White as 10th man as he is a local boy and works hard. However him starting like he did last year is stupid, and shows the Kings lack of depth.

Reply #530165 | Report this post


Dazz  
Years ago

I don't know WHERE the names on the F/A list come from, maybe they're just there for entertainment purposes. I've seen nothing to suggest Lisch is coming back from Europe.

Reply #530172 | Report this post


Anonymous  
Years ago

Last year JChill could afford to take sign a cheap contract that managed to pay him inside the cap because he was still being paid out a 5.5 million per year contract from an NBA team that waived him. Anyone think it's likely he might want to go for one last decent pay out at the end of his career elsewhere now that NBA contracts up?

Reply #530175 | Report this post


koberulz  
Years ago

Childress doesn't really strike me as the money type. Could have got more elsewhere regardless, so his NBA contract isn't that relevant.

Reply #530190 | Report this post


Wookiee  
Years ago

It's been mentioned numerous times in the past that it's not just about the money with Childress, and I have to take him at his word... So while he won't take chump change, hopefully the Kings can put a decent offer to him both for on the court and for off the court as well, which was a selling point to him initially... If nothing else, maybe try to get his dog here (legally, not like that whole Johnny Depp mess!) which could make him feel more at home lol...

Reply #530200 | Report this post


Tornado  
Years ago

$90k for Cadee is too much.

Reply #530207 | Report this post


Wookiee  
Years ago

I thought so too, but there were some reports that he was on a bit more than what you'd guess, so I just took a stab...

Reply #530213 | Report this post


Jumpshot  
Years ago

Definitely need JChill, No 1 that can shoot threes, and a big No 5. Get rid of the "role players" and the "defensive specialists" and get some depth into the team. This is what hurt us last year.

Unfortunately the King's a big on "fostering local talent", instead of going for the best available talent. So it looks like players that no other team would have, like Kevin White, Daniel Joyce will be staying. If you have a comment on their facebook to the contrary, it will be deleted by management.

Brandt has a great hook shot, but is constantly having troubles with his knee.

Reply #530506 | Report this post




You need to be a registered user to post from this location. Register here.



Close ads
Little Streaks - The fun and interactive good-habits app designed especially for kids.
Serio: Tourism photography and videography

Advertise on Hoops to a very focused, local and sports-keen audience. Email for rates and options.

Recent Posts



.


An Australian basketball forum covering NBL, WNBL, ABL, Juniors plus NBA, WNBA, NZ, Europe, etc | Forum time is: 6:57 am, Fri 29 Mar 2024 | Posts: 968,026 | Last 7 days: 754