Agreed about just needing a different centre and point guard last season KET! That's whats so frustrating about losing Franks and Cleveland. They weren't the problem, we just had spuds at point guard and centre! Fix those positions and we would have been top 4 without a doubt. Instead, after finally heading in the right direction last season, the team just seems to be cutting costs!
If I try hard to be positive, I guess I would say that CJ is trying to build a roster that is long and switchable and will rebound well. *IF* that translates into a good defensive team as well, then maybe they can build out from that.
Franklin looks to be a guy who is at his best using his size to bully his way to the rim. He was scoring about 10 ppg at the free throw line on over 80% shooting for multiple seasons in China.
So maybe if they can get defensive stops, this team can attack in transition, with the ball in Franklin, Kell or Cadee's hands and Wiley and Marshall filling the lanes. Then if the defence is set, run pick and roll with Humphries as option A.
The other thing I see is that CJ has been signing a lot of guys with something to prove. Cadee has had a couple of pretty good seasons in Brisbane, but the team has been awful, so I think he came to Adelaide hoping to be a leader on a successful team before he is too old.
Humphries has said he has unfinished business in Adelaide and seems to want to make up for basically not playing his last season here. Starling has been a legend in the state league here for sometime and will be desperate to prove himself in the NBL at this late stage of his career.
Franklin has clearly lost his way the last couple of years (Covid? Injuries?) after being a massive star in China several years in a row.
Now I'm not saying any of this is going to work out, but maybe that is what CJ is going for? He's banking on guys with chips on their shoulders to motivate themselves and save his job that way?
It would make sense after last season, where he just couldn't get a talented team to play with enough passion for him? (Cleveland excepted)