Everyone knows the owner is bleeding money and won't be there next season. They are getting stuff all out of the LaMelo deal - the Slam sponsorship is minor at best - the crowds still aren’t there and Flinn was far and away the cheapest option. The only question is if they survive after this season.

Move the Licence to Hobart!!

Hobart lol

Hobart don't need Illawarra’s license Hobart is getting its own license IF the Tasmanian government comes to the party with cash and cheap land. If it was moved any where it should be south west Sydney hawks and keep a few games at Wollongong wile growing the support in Sydney’s southern and western suburbs.
Nsw needs at least 2 NBL teams.
Even with all the crap that has happened with the hawks Lamelo is still looking at going number 1 in the draft.
I’m surprised they haven’t signed an import yet, saying that a few of the players have stepped up a little the last few games but they need some serious help right now so I hope this import is worth the wait.

"Even with all the crap that has happened with the hawks Lamelo is still looking at going number 1 in the draft."

And?

How do you no the league is not already helping Illawarra, my sources say they are. I'm hearing a new owner is on the horizon but wants majority share holding. Illawarra will be fine imo if new owner gets in and takes control.

"Crowds still aren't there"
Just emphasises my point. Hawks failing to capitalise on Lamelo, by failing to assembly even a half-decent team, and failing to win games. This was a Golden opportunity to re-ignite the Hawks and they are squandering it.

"Hawks getting nothing from Lamelo deal"
Then they are even more grossly incompetent that I imagined.
They've got a good player for free, global exposure, should me making a motza on merchandise, and they should be raking it (relatively speaking) from sponsorships.

"Finn the cheapest option"
I would have done it for less, and done a better job. He is costing them money due to not having a clue.

"The only question is if they survive after this season"
At this rate, they don't deserve to.
If they can't make a go of this opportunity, then they should just fold.

"How do you no the league is not already helping Illawarra, my sources say they are"
ROFL, yes they are receiving a subsidy, and the league is paying for Lamelo, but that's not what I asked.

I'm asking if the league needs to step in and either force decisions on the hawks, or simply take direct control.

#667
You don't know the league is not helping Illawarra above and beyond what you have stated. I’m told they have done more. Am I 100% correct, I don’t know but neither do you.
The nbl is a private business now, we follow it as it is because it’s a 100% better than what was there but you don’t get all ins and outs. If the current owner goes Illawarra should flourish.

I can't understand why they haven't signed at least one cheap import

Illawarra don't deserve a team. Every other town has shown up to watch Lamelo. Time to move to Tasmania or Bendigo.

Bendigo lol that's funny and Tasmania will get a team (if) the Tasmanian government forks out the cash and the cheap land, with no government support the team won’t last in tas. If you live in tas and would like a NBL team get out and drum up support for it and show the tas government that the Tasmanian people want this to happen.

(Even with all the crap that has happened with the hawks Lamelo is still looking at going number 1 in the draft."

And?)


As far as the NBL are concerned the hawks are doing a good job with melo so why would they need to steep in?
Dose it matter if they are coming last? Someone has to, it could easily be Cairns or the breakers in last place, would we be having this conversation then ?

"As far as the NBL are concerned the hawks are doing a good job with melo so why would they need to steep in?"

Wow, just wow.
This has incredible potential to go bad, real, real fast.

At this rate there is a very possibility that LaMelo leaves early, having achieved all he can, and goes home to prepare for the draft.
And do ya reckon LaVar goes quietly???
Or does he come out and blast the Hawks and the League.

"Dose it matter if they are coming last? Someone has to"
Yes it matters, it also matter that they are a mess and look utterly incompetent.

"it could easily be the breakers in last place,"
Yes, and they need to get their shit together also

"it could easily be Cairns in last place, would we be having this conversation then ?"
Remind me again who their Next Star is?

Cairns? Cairns are better than Adelaide and Brisbane.

I heard that Illawarra went to Kessleman to pay out the contract of Aaron Brooks so they could get a replacement, and he declined. They have now applied for $$$ under the hardship clause to get said replacement, but it will be at a significant less cost than they would have used if LK came to the party re: Brooks.

(Cairns? Cairns are better than Adelaide and Brisbane.)

Just saying it could be a number of teams at the bottom. Last year it was Cairns at the bottom.

Ogilvy and Blanchfield were very good at both ends tonight.

Flinn is like rest team, learning as they go along. They are doing ok imo.

Ball also developed a lot size to his frame since he arrived, it shows he's working hard on and off the court. Coenraad said he has improved so much in his after game interview.

(Whoever suggested moving them to South West Sydney may need to get a stadium built there first.)

Good idea......but fist start building a fan base in the area, a lot of people live out there.

(Whoever suggested moving them to South West Sydney may need to get a stadium built there first.)


Why?
Take a look how the two LA teams do it.
Maybe down the road but not needed straight away.

#715
Mate you just sound angry to me.
Nz are at the bottom of the ladder now and Cairns are falling fast, so are they in trouble now? The power house teams are doing what they do and the small teams are doing what they do that's just how it is.
Why speculate if he is leaving? He is here now watch him wile you can or you can have a cry about something that might happen your choice.
Relax mate just enjoy it for what it is and not get upset for something that it might be.

Okay that was an epic win, but one out of how many? Are we suggesting thats a trend now?
Probably need to expand this thread to include New Zealand, Hampton just as important to the program, and they seem to be imploding.

8 million viewers for the hawks game.

"And I don't blame him. Hawks have been put in a position to capitalise, and if they can't, how much patience can the league have?"
Which I think is the whole point of this thread?
Nobody is suggesting that LK hand them any more money, at least not without some serious strings attached. We are asking whether LK needs to take more direct action.

The catalyst for the Hobson signing, I'm told: immense pressure from the NBL (@illawarramerc had a great story on it yesterday). The league put its foot on the throat of the Hawks' ownership, forcing a signing ASAP. Obviously the NBL wants LaMelo’s team to be somewhat competitive"