With our current list I would have us ranked as 6th in the world behind

1. USA
2. Canada
3. France
4. Germany
5. Serbia

We are currently ranked a reasonable 7th.

There's no doubt we have a strong spread of NBA level (role) players with the 3rd largest. But we are missing shot creators, a big body and a superstar who can anchor the offence. A lot of hustle and heart though and we could beat any of 2-5 on a great game.

As a hornets fan (seriously) Green has been good, not great. Had the opportunity to take a larger role within the team after our injury crisis, but didn't really step up. His D has still been very solid, but his shot hasn’t been the same as it was in Dallas.

"There's no doubt we have a strong spread of NBA level (role) players with the 3rd largest. But we are missing shot creators, a big body and a superstar who can anchor the offence. A lot of hustle and heart though and we could beat any of 2-5 on a great game."

This seems right. It pays to remember the Boomers are on a rebuild, and by historical contexts, sitting 6th at this point in our cycle is quite strong. Having recently read Matt Logue's "The Boomers", we tend to bottom out quite badly once we hand over the keys, definitely with the Sydney games being the biggest example of that. But we are in a good position right now to find ourselves back in the top four again if we can tick some of those boxes above, with the world cup's 10th place being the only particularly glaring blemish.

In an ideal world, we'd have a healthy and mentally fit Ben Simmons. As for a big body, the jury is out on where that could come from. Zikarsky is young but I don't think he has the mobility or athleticism to be the next Bogut. I'm thinking he's a Luke Schensher.

Is it too late to include Bryce Cotton's availability in our wish lists? I know that 1 Olympics would be the end of it but we both (BC and the Boomers) deserve it.

I'm a bit surprised you have Zikarsky in your 12 but not Cooks, White, Magnay or Froling.

Cotton would be a great addition to the team above. He gives the team that elite scorer we are lacking now that Mills is near the end. Would be a handy stop-gap for the next tournament!

Yeah I have Zikarsky for development and insurance purposes. The 12th man isn't going to see huge minutes but we are a bit thin at C and Zikarsky has a lot of potential for the future. But yes agree that any of the suggested bigs could take that place dependant on how Zikarsky develops in the next year and a half. Not too often we have a projected first rounder big.

Didn’t Cotton give up on citizenship?

Also, I recall part of the non selection of Thybulle was based on already having defensive prowess with Dyson and not giving up too much offence? Which is starting to make a little more sense but still don’t fully agree with it. Imagine having Simmons, Thybulle and Dyson on a team. It would arguably be the best defensive team in the world (with the sacrifice of offence!).

Also, is it too early to say that Dyson aka the Bendigo Bandit has overtaken Giddey as our best?

Yes unfortunately cotton gave up on citizenship.
Reath more serviceable, way ahead of any other backup C currently.
Magnay was terrible at the Olympics imo, Simmons as a tweener 5-4 would offer more.
Zikarsky still sometime away from a backup role.


2026
Giddey-Exum
Daniels-Proctor
Green-Mcveigh
Travers-? (Options > Cooks, White, Thybulle, Toohey, Furphy or Pinder)
Landale-Reath-Simmons
+1 G/F


Development
02 Armstrong
06 Siulepa?
04 Furphy
04 Toohey
06 Zikarsky

Vets
Ingles no
Mills maybe
Kay no

I haven't kept up with the latest on Cotton. He would be a great addition to the defensive minded guards we have right now though.

I’d like to see Magnay and Froling get a lot of opportunities leading up to the World Cup, to see if they continue to improve against international competition.

Magnay was up and down at the Olympics, but he hasn’t had a lot experience and he offers some shotblocking that noone else does for the Boomers right now. So not saying he will make the team, but I don’t want to write him off yet.

Froling just intrigues me because of his offensive skills. He’s more like a bigger McVeigh with some nifty footwork. So I wonder if he could play the 4 at international level and give us a guy who could attack mismatches in the paint while not giving up too much size at the other end?

Froling is not a player fit for international competition.
I don't think he is a good defender at international level. He doesn't have good agility. He also can't shot blocking.
And he can only score against NBL and Asian teams. I don't think he can score against Europe and the US. He can't make a jump shot and his free throws are terrible.

^^^^^^ exactly, Froling won't even start for hawks if Olbrich is there next season.

Did Cotton give up? From memory, BA withdrew their support because they wanted Matisse instead, and so it stalled within the relevant WA government department.

Now that Matisse is down on form and has lots of overlap in the Boomers, BC should be brought into the Boomers if at all possible, as he still has a few years of quality play to offer. Giddey and Daniels would rack up a ton of assists with a Cotton on the court.

Hunter should be on the list of fives, big mobile unit, he's a fiba quality centre.

Yeah I thought Cotton only gave up on the DVT pathway to citizenship (the shortcut) due to the AOC and BA withdrawing their support. He'd still be able to move through the more traditional pathways which would have probably seen him eligible by now if he'd been given better advice.

Hopefully a new regime can work with him to renew his desire and make him part of it. He should always be in any squad if eligible.

I'd add Humphries to the big man list as well.

Magnay ahead of Hunter ahead of Humphries, for me.

Humphries doesn't have a 3-point shot to stretch defences.

With my little-to-no knowledge of Furphy and Proctor, and with due respect to them, my 12 are:

Giddey/Exum
Cotton/Mills
Daniels/McVeigh/Travers or Green
Cooks/White,
Landale/Reath/Zikarsky

*If Simmons is available and wanted, then Travers or Green loses his spot, Simmons starts at the 4 and can always "help" as a guard, if needed.

Just saw @hoopie's post. Yeah, I would have Magnay. Sorry Rocco!

You think Patty will still be able to make the Boomers by the 27 WC? Come on that's 2.5 years away.

Patty will be on the bench, unless he retires before then.

Which end of the bench depends on whether we have Cotton or someone like him in the squad.

I can't see Patty making a Boomers team in 2.5 years time, I doubt he will even be playing then certainly won't be good enough to make the Boomers.

Simmons doesn't play the four, he’s a point guard.

In the bits the I've seen of Brooklyn games this season (not fun, don't recommend) Simmons has been *better* at playing off the ball and screening for a ball handler than he has been in the past. Having said that it came from a SUPER low base. He still looks lost when defending in the post.

I think he just got so into his head being a PG only than he missed his biggest advantage SHOULD be his versatility.

Starting Group will include Giddey, Daniels and Furphy in 2027!

Have people forgotten about Will McDowell-White?

He is playing a big role for ALBA Berlin (Germany) in the EuroLeague.

I also think you cannot discount Nick Kay (as much as people have written him off), and Brock Motum is certainly the forgotten man of the Boomers - he is leading the scoring in Japan.

Yeah, @LC. Thing is ,though, that's 4 more worthies (inc Magnay). Who misses out? Could be a very competitive Boomer's camp. Numbers are never the problem (at Boomer's camps) but these choices are tantalising, indeed. The OP listed Top 15 and added Zikarsky and I added Cotton. Plus this group of 4, and others we have still forgotten. Total 20+ genuine contenders for spots.

Very recently, many of us were wondering, "where to from here?" after the retirements of some of our current squad (eg Patty, Joe, Nick). Seems that the Boomers may be looking at a very strong squad, after all!

Motum is the leading scorer in Japan, no doubt, his team has only won two games, they are so far back in last place, he has looked ok on the offensive end though. Kay stats are down on previous seasons, they are second in the west but a fair way back, Gleeson team in the east are third and won more games. Kay still has smarts but in games I've watched looking slower. Now I’m a real fan of WMW but until this last weekend has battled a bit injury and form. Last weekend he was the game winner. He has started two games, 15.44m, 5.4p@ 53.8%, 1.9r, 1.8a and 1.3to. Hopefully he now gets more time as he plays good D which some Berlin USA guards certainly don’t. There is still more than half the season left. In the euro league Berlin are dead last and struggling big time, he has played eight games with similar stats.

Dyson, Giddey, Exum, Landale are our core. They are locks imo.

Green (forget Olympic form), Furphy, Reath and McVeigh are pretty close to locks and a strong supporting cast.

I'll always have Patty in there. Now off bench as a spark.

The final three will be difficult but will come down to needs and form.

Would love to see Delly, Ingles and co involved in coaching staff in some way.

I'm not sure trying to identify a squad of 15 with over 2 years to go is even a worthy exercise. There's so many variables between now and then. Even a 15 man squad a a month out from a tournament can be tough. I think any discussion of future teams has to, by its nature, include anyone who should be part of the discussion

Agreed Cram.

Agree @ Cram, we all have our favourites, to far out to know even who's available.

"Have people forgotten about Will McDowell-White?

He is playing a big role for ALBA Berlin (Germany) in the EuroLeague.

I also think you cannot discount Nick Kay (as much as people have written him off), and Brock Motum is certainly the forgotten man of the Boomers - he is leading the scoring in Japan.'

I dont think theyve forgotten him so much as there are too many top level Aussie PGs for him to really be considered

Nick Kay would have to really turn his form around to make the team. Brock Motum will be 37 by the time the next Cup comes around.

"You think Patty will still be able to make the Boomers by the 27 WC? Come on that's 2.5 years away."

I don't discount it. We still need shot makers.

Thread starts with: "Here are my current power rankings on Boomers eligible players."

It has an unproven pro player on the list, albeit extremely talented (Proctor). McDowell-White is playing in a superior league to ythe non-NBA guys on the list.

If we are running a prospective Boomers extended squad as of nowy, then Kay, Motum, and most certainly, McDowell-White, should be on the list.

My list is for who I think would make the next major campaign based on current knowledge/form. But yes it's all conjecture and way too early. Another excuse to talk boomers!

I’d rank Proctor higher on that than WMW. While Euroleague is much more talented, Proctor is putting up very solid numbers on the second rank NCAA team and is a projected first rounder. If he keeps going in this direction he will be getting decent minutes and role in the NBA by the next campaign. WMW is going well and would be great but 5/2/2 on the worst Euroleague team comparatively doesn’t put him there yet for me.

College ahead of a professional league and a very strong one at that, I doubt it.

I'd put Alex Condon ahead of Zikarksy at the moment. 6'11, averaging 15, 5 boards and 2 blocks for the Gators at the moment. Long and can hit the three. I'd also be surprised if Toohey didnt make the team by 2027 - a good shot he's an NBA player then and is tracking to be drafted this year. Another Alex, Alex Ducas, is quietly an NBA player without anyone seeming to notice. another that can shoot.

My depth chart (positions not exact and there is some carry over between them)

Giddey/Daniels/Proctor/Armstrong/McDowell-White/Macdaniel
Green/Exum/Furphy/McVeigh/Thybulle/Ducas/Mills/Cotton/Henshall
Simmons?/Toohey/Travers/Cooks/White/ Dash (expect this rating to jump) /Ingles
Landale/Reath/Condon/Zikarsky

I think we're looking at a vastly improved 3 point shooting team but with questions around who the 'bucket getters' are and who are go-to guy is. I think we're going to have a very tough "beat anyone on their night" team, but without Simmons, or someone stepping up to an NBA All Star level its a bit hard to favour us against a USA, France, Serbia type of team. The upside if with Furphy there we shouldnt need to force some 'specialist three point shooter' on the team or bring in an NBL guy who isnt good enough to tick a box. McVeigh will be in the battle of his life to maintain his spot - he can but whether he will will be a big question. And with improved 3 point shooting a spot for Thybulle becomes more tenable.

I added Cotton because with Gleeson a likely candidate anything can happen.

@Me,

Have you left out Magnay and Frolling on purpose? I would definitely incl Magnay in your list of 4's (already too many candidates at that spot). After all, playing as a 4 beside Harrison for Brisbane is what got him to the NBA.

Who is MacDaniel (Brisbane)? Or, do you mean Macdonald (Tasmania)? Either might be worthy (if healthy), by then. (There is no Macdaniel that I can find).

IMO Furphy will be the starter at the next WC...

Additionally there's always someone who jumps out of nowhere like Dyson did in the Olympics.

I meant MacDonald. And maybe Magnay is on the depth chart but there wasn't really anything he showed in the Olympics that suggests to me that he is better than anyone else on the list. Frolling is overrated. Can't see him getting anything to work at the higher levels. I also left Kay off. He's had two bad tournaments in a row. I think hes had his time.

Alex Condon has come from nowhere and rocketed up the draft board projections and now sits at 36th, just short of Alex Toohey at 33, and Proctor/Zikarksy at about 47 and 49.

Condon looks a bit like Jock Landale to me and that could be a nice punch inside, to have two high motor bigs inside. Toohey looks set to find a home in the NBA and looks like a Boomers forward for the future. Proctor is a question mark for me. Zikarsky should probably spend another year in the NBL before floating his name again.

But the emergence of Condon is promising. He's no Wemby but should be good enough to give us a bit of stability inside while we look for bigger scoring pieces at our other positions