One would have to assume so after the lengthy discussions between both parties.

If Barlow and Dennis are as good as done, per the rumours then surely that means Goulding will definitely not return?

If so that would mean the roster is:

Wortho
Walker
Barlow
Odigie
Dennis
Tomlinson
Corletto

3 players yet to be signed. Presumably two bigs and a small, with one of the bigs being an import.

is Morrison coming back??

With strong family and also Worthington connections, this is very probable.
Now with a young family and limited European options, DB will be looking for some stability.
Ingles is surely still a respectable signing for European teams.

lol, Looks pretty Handy Lineup so far. Dennis Would have gone close to MVP last year had he not hurt himself. That's some excitement right there.

Poor roster management, they will still have a point to spare.

Pfft Kickert. Not an olympian for one, and for 2.. hardly even a Basketball player. Just a slightly better Ben Allen

GWB you are right he is not an Olympian, but you should do a lot more research about what he has done in good European leagues.

Everytime I have seen him play he has been one dimensional garbage... would love to see him prove me wrong of course

Dennis (10)/Tomlinson (3)
Goulding (9)/Corletto (7)
Barlow (10)/Odigie (1)
Worthington (9)/Walker (7)
Import (10)/MacMillan (4)
=70

Surely they can't afford that?
That roster is scary.

Barlow one of the most overrated basketball players in Australian basketball history??


-'Dennis Would have gone close to MVP last year had he not hurt himself. That's some excitement right there.'

What a stupid thing to suggest considering the guy never even played a regular season NBL game.

If Daniel Kickert is Marquee may as well scrap the league

The announcement DID say 'olympian' I don't believe Kickert has ever played in the olympics. I actually think Barlow or Kickert would be reaching low for Marquee... Show me Ingles, Maybe Newley,

I agree Kickert isn't the stereotypical image of a marquee player - I think he is a similar level to guys like Forman and Loughton - but he is certainly a quality player with size, shooting and experience. He would get targeted hard at the defensive end though, to both test his mobility and take the legs out of his shot.

Barlow was chosen by Goorjian to replace injured Jason Smith (a certainty until his operation was needed)for 2008 Olympic 12. Has been handed great opportunities in his career but don't think he's ever achieved much with them. Must be a double passport h0lder?

It's the problem I have with the marquee rule.

The point of the marquee rule should be for teams to go out and get actual marquee players - i.e. players who are going to hype the team, generate increased ticket sales and get players who play to the crowd/fan-favourites. (like a Cedric Jackson).

The issue I can see is that we introduce the marquee rule and players like Barlow and Kickert (who, no disrespect, are not my definition of marquee players) are all of a sudden are happy to come back and earn $300k.

Not only are they not marquee players in the sense, but now teams are inclined to start overpaying for these players.

Teams put too much emphasis on playing in Europe. And they will get roped into making stupid decisions - because all these Euro-based Aussies will approach them and say "X amount of dollars and you've got me".

Barlow was never worth that much whilst he was here (you could argue he was at his peak in the NBL), so why all of a sudden is he worth considerably more?

From what I am reading, they aren't using Barlow as 'marquee'

In reality though, using someone as marquee will often just be about spending just over $1mill rather than targeting a gun. It could be on someone in the $150-200K range.

Announcement confirmed of Barlow with Utd.

Good to see a talented Euro Aussie back home in the NBL.

Thats looking like one hell of a lineup. Could be a serious contender if they add one more decent player and they gel well. If they win a championship it could certainly go along way to winning back the Tigers loyalist who dont approve of the name change.

The point of the marquee rule should be for teams to go out and get actual marquee players - i.e. players who are going to hype the team, generate increased ticket sales and get players who play to the crowd/fan-favourites. (like a Cedric Jackson).

I'd argue that Barlow fits that exact description.
Played some very good basketball for Melbourne. Left for Europe. Made the Olympic team. Well known in the league. Returning while he still isn't towards the end of his career.
He's no Andrew Bogut or Patty Mills, but our entire salary cap (entire league's in Bogut's case) wouldn't attract them. Not sure what you're expecting here. Because you need to lower those expectations.

I would describe Barlow as a good player returning to a league full of good players. It doesn't generate any real excitement for me, but adds another good piece to Melbourne's team.

The article in the Age does say that Barlow WASN'T been lured under the marquee rule and they still may add a marquee player or big name aussie

With Goulding and Dennis this is fast becoming a great lineup. But it remains to be seen what Goulding does.

Any word on what Sam Young is doing this season? I have a feeling that our import situation might not end up as good as it was last year even despite Marquee rule. Must wonder why Adelaides chasing Jamar. Either way, yet to see any exciting Marquee players from anyone yet.

4 coaches in Vegas chasing imports in a few weeks. Clubs also waiting for Summer League to finish to negotiate with Ennis types.

Is this scenario at all plausible, I wonder?

Kestlemen and Slepoy know their rebrand is struggling. They've disgruntled a lot of Tigers fans and no one else seems to be getting excited. They’ve already re signed a couple of Ex Tigers, perhaps making it even more difficult to reach out to "the other side" of the Melbourne bball community.

Solution? If Goulding gets his gig in the NBA/Europe, throw the kitchen sink at Joe Ingles. (ie: Kitchen Sink being Some of that left over cash from the >$200m they scored from the Dodo sale a couple of years back).

Ingles is one guy who could inspire thousands of Melbourne bball fans to sign up. Ex Dragons fans, etc. It makes sense from that point of view. And on court, he’d be a great fit as a replacement for Goulding.

Ingles would be awesome, but surely he would cost $500k - $1m, no NBL team would recover that from the signing of 1 player.

Yes they can probably afford it, but is it worth it, how many bums would Ingles put on seats.

Having said that as a NBL fan id love to see Ingles in the league and power to them if they decide to do it, im a massive fan of Ingles

A Dennis/Ingles back court would also be scary with the length, athleticism, ball movement, etc.

Interesting to see Nathan Sobey is in the Gong doing some workouts slipping quietly under the radar.

There's a big difference between $500,000 and $1 million.

How much would Ingles be earning at the moment?

A season in the NBL wouldn't do Ingles NBA prospects any harm either. He's been on the brink of the NBA without being more than a sparingly used rotation guy in Europe. If he came back to the NBL and had a 'James Ennis' type season, playing as the number one option for an NBL team, that could do good things for his long-term aspirations.

In addition, the Melbourne United owners have deep, deep pockets, and need to make a splash to get this whole thing up and going. $1m for Ingles as their marquee player would be worth it in my opinion.

Red 66, plausible theory about the United owners trying to compensate for their botched rebrand.

GWB, why would any team touch Sam Young? His Kings audition showed his interest in playing team NBL basketball.

Would love to see Ingles in the NBL,

(prefer it be with the 36ers though! if only someone in Adelaide had some spare $$$ to get it done)

So Barlow's theory of the NBL's player points cap keeping high-quality locals from playing in the league has been shot to pieces...

http://www.backpagelead.com.au/index.php/basketball/7958-barlows-nbl-return-blocked-by-ppc

So Barlow's theory of the NBL's player points cap keeping high-quality locals from playing in the league has been shot to pieces...

His hair, his hair is the only thing to hate on.

It's funny that he said that the points cap kept players like him out of the NBL. I think it’s clear that it was only ever the $ keeping him from playing here.

It’s convenient that he is coming back now when United can spend up large - I know he isn’t the marquee player, but it still allows him to pull more money than what he would have pulled in the NBL during the time he was in Europe.

He is getting more money indirectly – if they go marquee player on someone like Goudling, it means players like Barlow are going to get a little more, doesn’t it? i.e. say you have a marquee player on $300k, (just to clarify) that effectively means that where X amount of players had to be signed for $1m, now X amount of players can be signed for $1.3?