I'm surprised United are trying for him again after the first stint.

If my memory serves the 2nd half of his season with United was pretty darn solid.

Remember the game against the Hawks when Delly was draining three pointers out of his arse. Doubt he has ever shot like that in any other game.

Delly is a quality player and leader but if he's United's last restricted player I'd be hoping for someone better, someone more explosive at the offensive end.

Then again, this time he's unlikely to return to the NBA yet again (given he'll be 34 by the 2024-25 NBA season), so if it's a choice between a gun import for one season and Delly on a 2 or 3-year deal, take Delly.

Delly had an underrated season, doing all the things Delly does. Coaches and captains voted him all-2nd team.

That All-NBL 2nd team selection was considered controversial given the NBL were propping up his salary. For the highest paid player in the league that season Delly was disappointing:

30 games - 10.3 ppg @ 38.9% (35.8% 3p), 4.8 apg, 3.1 rpg

Stats don't tell the full story of Delly's influence.

United were expected to miss the playoffs, but they finished minor premiers and only missed the opportunity to host the Grand Final after CG43 got injured on game day of game 3. Delly was part of the reason why.

But, with the lineup we currently have and (I assume) ongoing question around Ili's long term future, if Delly is the last guy we'll be relying on Travers really stepping up- otherwise United will be left with a team much like 2021-2022- potentially lacking offensive firepower of the top team and vulnerable to injuries to the two main scorers JLA and Goulding.

Regardless, United will be in a good place and if Travers (and Hukporti) take the big steps forward they're capable of, United will be right in the mix for the title.

I think any time you have the opportunity to take a local for multiple years, fresh from the NBA and still young enough to contribute, you pretty well take it. You can either take a punt on an import for one year, and have a 50/50 chance of it panning out, or you can sign Delly for multiple, giving you a face of the franchise and knowing what you're getting every night. Delly has turned his form around since where he was before the Tokyo Olympics and I think he'd have another very good 2 or so seasons left at NBL level. Good signing if they can get it done. But they should maybe ease up on the price tag a little. But there's going to be nothing at all wrong with what Melbourne are building.

In fact I think we'll be competing for the title regardless. The only time we haven't under Vickerman was last season with the horrendous injuries.

But if Travers takes that tantalizing next step and if we have a reasonable run with injuries (including Ili), United will almost certainly be in the top 2 or 3.

"Stats don't tell the full story of Delly's influence.

United were expected to miss the playoffs, but they finished minor premiers and only missed the opportunity to host the Grand Final after CG43 got injured on game day of game 3. Delly was part of the reason why."

Josh Magette took the certainties for the wooden spoon to the GF series that year with averages of 12.2, 4.1 and 5.9. I'm not suggesting he should have been second team, but plenty of guys with intangibles who performed across the entirety of that season.

I think the coaches and captains know a lot more about what someone contributes than us. I disagree with those selections at times, but the reality is those guys watch countless film and compete against everyone in the league and hence see well beyond the stats.

Often in the NBL there's obvious 1st team selections, or maybe a top 6 or 7 where 1 or 2 miss out and go 2nd team. But then 3 or 4 spots remaining and plenty of deserving options.

That was the case with Delly. He got in, but of course Magette and others would've been deserving if they'd got the nod.

Remember the game against the Hawks when Delly was draining three pointers out of his arse. Doubt he has ever shot like that in any other game.

That All-NBL 2nd team selection was considered controversial given the NBL were propping up his salary. For the highest paid player in the league that season Delly was disappointing:

30 games - 10.3 ppg @ 38.9% (35.8% 3p), 4.8 apg, 3.1 rpg

Remember the game against the Hawks when Delly was draining three pointers out of his arse. Doubt he has ever shot like that in any other game.

I think the coaches and captains know a lot more about what someone contributes than us. I disagree with those selections at times, but the reality is those guys watch countless film and compete against everyone in the league and hence see well beyond the stats.

Yes, it's voted at the end of the season. No, it's not voted by media. I'm not aware of any NBL award ever being a media vote, although it's not something I know much of the history of.

Rookie of the Year was turning into an absolute mess.

I get a good chuckle out of someone saying the coaches and captains disagree with me so therefore they must be wrong!

So I take it then that one of Goulding, JLA, Delly and Travers won't be treated as a marquee and that MU will look for a scoring wing import. Its quite a lineup.

I get a good chuckle out of someone saying the coaches and captains disagree with me so therefore they must be wrong!

Yes, it's voted at the end of the season. No, it's not voted by media. I'm not aware of any NBL award ever being a media vote, although it's not something I know much of the history of.

Rookie of the Year was turning into an absolute mess.

The NBL site quotes Vickerman as "seeking an import with shooting capability", so you would think even if Delly returns they'll have a scoring import at the 3. Without this too much reliance on Goulding to score from range.

Delly signed a 2 year deal according to NBL facebook page.

"It's clear his inclusion was polarising by the posts above where everyone has shared their view apart from you who has towed the NBL company line."

Incorrect. I wouldn't have picked him. But I didn't play against him and study loads of footage watching all the contributions he made. The coaches and captains did.

Delly's back

JLA/Hukporti
Travers/Bowen
Krebs/Newley
CG43/Cameron/Triplett(DP?)
Delly/Ili

Nice

Apparently an import to come? If so Melbourne will wear the full salary of one of their potential marquees inside the cap.

Ili/Cameron/Triplett*
Delly/Import/Blogg*
CG/Krebs
Travers/Bowen/Newly
JLA/Hukporti

Delly apparently on much less $ than last time apparently so I wouldn't think the cap implications are going to be as bad as people might think

re: the Hawks game that was obviously an insane shooting streak, but again if my memory serves (ie. I haven't looked for his season stats) he became an above average 3pt shooter the 2nd half of the season after teams basically completely played off him the 1st half of the season daring him to shoot.

Solid signing for United who would have to be considered the top dollar (pardon the pun) favourites at this point unless maybe the Breakers manage to bring back their import trio.

I wouldn't have picked him.

But I, like you, am not on the selection panel for good reason!

Yes, but remember this is a fan forum and in our little bubble we are the experts.

That's why we are all here, to have our opinions, hopefully he’s at a better rate than last time, still a solid signing. United surely stretching the cap.

"United currently has no imports locked in for the upcoming season, and with nine rostered players already locked in the side will be unable to bring in more than two international players for NBL24."

- nbl.com.au

So they're thinking only 2 of their Aussies will be marquees

I read that as possible not likely though

Brooks would be a good get

2 international players - might mean an import and 1 Special Restricted Player from Asia. -like Baba was.

Then they can have 3 marquee players.

Delly's reasoning for coming home seems to be to play more often and improve his Boomers chances/output. I'd say he's on the outside track for a Boomers spot right now so I hope he hasnt staked his entire life on it. He might be brought on as a third string PG but with Giddey, Exum already there, the potential for Simmons to come in, Patty able to play point, and Ingles at point-Forward, his spot looks all but redundant. Not saying he can't make it but it's going to be a hard call either way.

Delly signed 2 years - nbl website an hour ago

It's up to teams if they nominate players as marquees isn't it? The reason to do it is to save them luxury tax on high-salary players.