ugh.

Melbourne United are excited to announce the signing of star forward Scotty Hopson on a one-year deal.

Hopson starred for the New Zealand Breakers last season, often taking charge of games and helping the Breakers to a number of wins almost single-handedly. Hopson was rewarded with a spot in the All-NBL Second Team plus an MVP nomination. He averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, shooting 47% from the field.

The 201cm Kentucky native has most recently been playing in the NBA G-League for Oklahoma City Blue, with the hopes of breaking into the NBA, but will return to the NBL with Melbourne United.

Hilarious

Melbourne Breakers favourites again.

After this they still have another import spot right?

Then Bogut to come as well.

Bogut to join him tomorrow aaha

This isn't in the same category as Long/Trimble, but I still find it hilarious. United's scouting budget is a season subscription to NBL.tv.

Why's everyone bitching about this signing? Good player and good for the league. Breakers chose Patterson over him so what's the problem

This is great. Hopson was one of my favorite players to watch in a long time

That point forward role, similar to Tucker or Hodge from yesteryear. He's an excitement machine and a great fit alongside McCarron and CG

Does this mean Mitch finally gets the reins at point guard? United has an equal opportunity offense anyway, Hopson will start plenty of offenses with the ball in his hands, as will McCarron and even CG43

[Playoffs series aren't won on paper. People were saying the same thing about Melbourne the past two seasons as well.]

Melbourne were the 2nd best team last season- at least

Sydney only won due to dodgy reffing.

Points spread across 3 games, and Sydney's subsequent GF performance showed who the grand Final should've been

MU can make amends this year- shouldn't have choked game 1 and wouldn't have given the refs the opportunity to screw us in Game 3

Breakers did not sign Patterson over Hopson - they wanted Hopson and had offered him a contract. This is yet another case of United offering more than the Breakers could afford. Shawn Long all over again.

Patterson > Hopson any day of the week

Melbourne were the 2nd best team last season- at least

Sydney only won due to dodgy reffing.

Points spread across 3 games, and Sydney's subsequent GF performance showed who the grand Final should've been

I heard 800k he wanted.

Just wished it was Adelaide but we only get the Ramone Moores.

[Sydney only won because United did one of the worst chokes in recent times]

Sydney won game 1 because United did one of the worst chokes in recent times

Sydney won game 3 with their best players being the refs

According to the press release for Hopson's signing it says United now only has one spot left to fill on it's roster, presumably an import.

WTF? They've only got one player signed over 6'9", JLA and if he's playing serious minutes you're screwed.

Hopson, Goulding, Barlow, Jack White, Lual-Acuil, McCarron, McDaniel, Short, Ili, Baba, Peatling (DP)

Two of their better role player in Pledger & Smith-Milner are gone, Goulding already on the decline is a year older, Barlow's a corpse, McCarron's no PG and four of those guys would practically be DP's on other teams.

And Liam reckons they're now a championship contender with Hopson? Oh my. Even if Bogut signs on tomorrow I can't see this team making the playoffs.

Almost everyone over United. NZB & Perth both clearly better, Kings will be better, Cairns will be too, I would rate Adelaide better, Bullets remain to be seen. At this stage I would only rate them above SEM and the Hawks.

One minute United's trying to buy a championship

Next minute we've got 4 DP level players

I sense an inconsistency in these criticisms

Last year Casper spurned United for a better offer, and Bogut was on mega bucks, but United were the big spenders cos they got Long and young Melo

Gotta love the peanut gallery

All depends who the import is.

It really depends on fit. They seem to have a good group re culture and intangibles right now

And Hopson was pretty much MVP when he was healthy last year, so who knows

If you were gonna design a player to fit alongside McCarron, CG and Barlow you'd design someone like Hopson. Makes plays, creates, gets to the hoop, is aggressive.

Paper is only paper but they should fit well.

Back court depth looks superb

JLA is the one I'm hoping takes a big step forward. Loose with the ball and foul prone, but huge raw talent- 7 foot, can shoot, a range of moves and can move with the ball. Hopefully after 18 months with United and putting in hard yards at training and tightening up those weaknesses, we see him given more minutes and see his raw ability come to fruition more consistently

Interesting reading Hopsons stats, I remember him getting to the foul line more than his stats suggest (3.9 FTA/ game)

[They've not improved on last years squad at all.]

Yeah, they might struggle against all the squads that have improved since last year