Win lose or draw this will be an exciting team to watch.

..and I have just been reading that they (36'ers) are also chasing Matt Hurt or Gary Clark as 4's to go with Harrell and Humphries. If they land either, that will be a very expensive roster that includes 2 x marquees, Humph and DJV and 3 x imports, Cotton, Harrell and Hurt/Clark. In contrast, their SF's, Cameron, Harris and Kenyon will be like "extras" in a blockbuster movie, certainly capable role players but also quite missable.

Finally, if and when Bryce Cotton gets his anticipated citizenship, Adelaide will then be able to add an import SF, to turn a 4 of a kind into a royal flush.

Will test the popular theory that anyone (a champion team) can beat Adelaide (a team of champions) every time!

Rumours circulating Mitch Creek back to the 36ers.

That's a step too far haha

But hey anything is possible

Tax bill must be adding up..

If Adelaide have been a top spender the past couple of seasons, just imagine what they must be at now.

The press conference for the Harrell signing is on you tube. Very short, but Weston suggesting the 4 man will be someone who can handle the ball and could be a local, not an import...

Tornado, were you taking the piss at how ludicrous that would be or genuinly heard some rumours?

Can't think of anyone else who is available and fits the bill of a local. I guess Creek has run out of other options.

Would fit the Pinder rumour?

What a signing by Larr.....I mean Grant!!

Nice, NG

We haven't mentioned Motum enough this offseason

Master Chief...heard from 2 sources - both pretty reliable but believe it when it happens type of situation.

Pinder is a possibility I guess, but I wouldn't really say he can handle the ball outside of a dribble or two on the way to the hoop. I'd be surprised if Adelaide out-bid Asian teams considering that's where Pinder is rumoured to be going.

Mitch Creek can def handle the ball
tbh, he can do everything.
Rebound, set screens, shoot inside & out
He is also the type of player that will push the pace and would fit in with what the coach seems to want.

Has he grown up and settled down off the court?
What a starting 5 that would be......................

Tornado, thanks for the intel then. Also being suggested on social media now too..

And to think the off-season couldn't get anymore surprising.

Do we think Adelaide could even sign Creek and another import? Wouldn't rule it out.

Creek, McVeigh, Ingles, Motum, Pinder...

Would you bet on it being one of those 5 (admittedly I'm unsure if Tasmania holds JMcV's rights?) or or an import/unknown

Creek has been asking questions about the 36ers for some time now. The return of Trez, the signing of BC, anything is possible.

Creek was on overtime early in the NBL season and was saying he was keen to team up with Bryce Cotton anywhere in the world too.

Has Creek crossed paths with Mike Wells in the NBA?

I would have never thought it possible, but now am thinking it could be...

i remember Creek pouring praise over Bryce, he might love the idea of playing with him. they make a pretty dynamic duo. i would prefer a better defensive centre next to them though.

Would we prefer Creek to an import though? This might free up a spot for later in the year. A point guard maybe.

Will also give Adelaide a fair bit of versatility. Just because you start on this team won't mean you will finish.

I would be quite open to Creek coming back "home". I know we would still be obliterating the salary cap but for Creek to come back here, where he played the first 7 years of his career and to put the terrible situation of 2018 behind him I would be happy with that.

A Creek/Ice 4/5 combo would've suited me fine even without bringing back Trez too.

I wouldn't be staggered if Griscti is released at this point (or converted to a DP, is that even possible?), to fill existing gaps in the roster - playmaker, or a more versatile forward. I sincerely hope he develops into a genuine NBL big, but I think he is some distance from that currently.

It might be possible.

DP's that contractually were due to come onto the roster like Russo-Nance in Perth have had his contract changed to remain a DP for another year and Walter Brown at the JJ's just had his contract terminated even though he was due to come onto the roster this season.

A number of players who were on the roster at one team prior have then been signed as DP's at another team. I guess the question is being able to do that at the same team?

Most of us said last year it was a mistake giving Griscti a 3 year deal straight on the roster he should've always been a DP first. Essentially playing with a 10 man roster hurt and further exposed our lack of depth on the bench.

I think the 36ers blinked on Gristci knowing he had the Adelaide footy sides trying to recruit him, so just gave him the big deal off the bat. Realistically nothing he had done yet to suggest he deserved that deal.

Could be something like:

Harrell Humphries
Creek Kenyon
Cameron Harris
DJ White
Cotton Import

Our team and Club has grown up the past couple of seasons, wasn't long ago we signed Alex Starling!

We had Starling, Griscti and Rigoni all on the roster last season.

Master Chief...thinking they sign Creek and keep an import spot in case of injury or shortcoming later in the season - at which point they probably move Grstci to a DP or "long term injury".

It looking like a team with real chance of a championship, it could certainly sway Creek to join, the coaches will need to work overtime to get everyone there shots though. Defence certainly not a strong point in this team. Kenyon will have to cover a lot holes, don't see him in the four spot either, he a guard.

@ Master Chief
Don't sleep on Rasmussan being part of rotation

He has all the tools to be a legitimate NBL contributor

Defence, athleticism, high IQ

Can back up 1 or 2

^ but isn't very good

Yep, just a hypothetical if the plan was to recruit a local like Creek while keeping an import spot free. Point guard variety could be a problem.

Hadn't forgotten Rasmussan but was just trying to narrow down what the 10 man rotation could look like, but that was adding another import which is only assumed at this stage. Simply no where else to put kenyon without leaving a spot blank, but agreed he isn't the back up PF.

I just feel like now they've gone back down the Harrell path they have to make him a focus. I worry a bit for Humphries.

Team after Bryce signing was needing only 2 PFs with existing pieces. Everyone assumed it would be a gun starter and cheap back up, with the back up 4 also able to backup 5 if Gristi not up to it yet.

It sounds like they only reached out to Trez very recently Is it not possible they have upped the ante again and Trez is the back up 4/5 and they will still start Humphries and gun 4 import/Creek next to him.

With the recent surprise signings, can't rule out Creek but the mutual hatred between him and GK would be an interesting plot twist.
Despite his dramas, would think he'd still command some decent money at places like Perth, Brisbane and the Melbourne teams even if he really has a crush on Cotton.
And imagine the spicy trainings with Harrell.
Not sure how those personalities and egos would work.

Peter,

It's possible but I just can't see Trez being okay with a bench role. It would hurt his averages too much for his next contract. He's still only 31.

In reality Isaac, Trez and starting PF to be signed will probably share 80 minutes with Gristi getting junk minutes only.

That's about 27 minutes each. I havent looked up, but that's probably around what key big men had last year.

Its more important who finishes, which should be whoever is best match up or playing best for that game.

If they can get Mitch back I would somewhat forgive the ownership, if nothing else it means someone had to apologise on how things went down. Maybe this would be our Safran/Socceroos/World Cup moment and the curse over the club would be lifted.

This team will score 100pts a game!

Problem being, they ll give up 110.

Sorry but extremely excited about Cotton joining our club but not at all happy about Trez coming back .
Our team weakness is the lack of defensive players and we bring back a player that strolls up and down the court .
Humphries and Trez didn't work too good on offence last year with Trez hogging under the basket and we all know he can score but Cotton does it better without messing up structures .
We want a 4 that works hard on offence and defence within the team not a over inflated showman .
Anyway guess I am in extreme minority here but guess that's why forums exist.

I don't think you’re in the minority, Brett. I reckon Harrell destabilises what looked to be a fairly good squad, for the reasons you mentioned.

I assume it was mainly for business reasons, either to attract more fan interest, interest from prospective owners, or as a lure to get NBA teams down under.

I think Trezz will be better up and down the floor this season as he is now fit whereas last season he was coming off an injury and he was really lacking fitness as he came in late.

I hope Wells tells him to stop celebrating when the ball is in play and get back on D.

I would've preferred we didn't bring Trez back but I agree it's probably to help attract new owners. Having played in China, PR and soon the Big3 this off-season he might be fitter than last season but I think he was keen to prove himself last season, his first gig outside the NBA, and might drop off this season.

His numbers in China were poor he only averaged 12 & 4 and it's a crap standard.

I don't think you're alone in thinking that as many seem torn. It's a gamble because he could win it for you or be part of the problem as to why/if they turn out severely overrated and lacking in championship ingredients.

In saying that, there were times where Harrell was just too big and strong and I felt like he was capable of a 50/30 or close to type game. Now they have him again, there's no point not making him a focus/duo with Cotton. I like him more at the 5 than playing with Humphries.

At times last season, Adelaide overwhelmed anyone with their talent alone. This season they will be more talented. I don't think Wells is the kind of coach that can overachieve but can get a talented team firing when it matters. I guess I am just saying, they've already gone down this path, so they may as well go down it properly. It's going to be a champiosnhip based off having too much high level talent not to win it, and not a disciplined, defensive team like Melbourne, Hawks, Tassie. Maybe like the year Brisbane were just far too good for everyone under Joey. Although Joey is also a good coach and the league is far more even than that season.

The only thing that gives me faith in this is having Cotton on your team. That's the differnce between this team and previous foolish spending.

My feeling is that he will be an amazing fit for this team because the way he plays, he is able to dominate when he wants to however most of the time he is more than willing to play team Basketball. He passes well and brings guys in

I think the biggest problem last year was even though Kendrick is extremely skilled, he slowed the game down too much and held on to the ball too much at times.

BC is far better without the ball in his hand.

Imagine Monsta having the ball in the high post, making his aggressive moves & dishing the ball back door to Bryce!!!! Or Bryce with the ball and in the P&R with Montrezz. Killer!!!!

Plus they have more 3 point threats on the team this year so those shooters will benefit from sitting and waiting for the kick out.

I do wonder how the last piece will fit

36ers did an interview with him after he re-signed where he made an interesting comment about "starting my overseas career" so maybe sounds like he knows NBA ain't gonna come calling and he's maybe going to be more "team" invested than just trying to put up stats to get back to the NBA.

They can bring all these star players in but Humphries comments last season summed up a lot of things.

Queried whether Mike Wells' message was getting through to the playing group and the players were at fault, Humphries simply stated "no".

The 26-year-old opened up on the challenges of injuries to key players and the suspensions of Montrezl Harrell and Kendric Davis, with the 36ers struggling for continuity.

“Guys coming in and out, it’s always hard,” he said.

“No one knows their role ... no one knows their role.

“We’re all trying to figure it out in front of your eyes, so the frustration is exactly the same for us as it is for you guys watching.

“We’re just trying every day to figure this out, and we’re just not.”

I can understand coaches being either offensively or defensively minded but Adelaide were neither. Defensively they were terrible, so you'd expect the offence to be organised. But it often came down to Davis just holding onto the ball the whole possession, if he had to pass, that ball was going up because whoever got it didn't know if they'd get it again. Could never understand what Wells system is. And if they get someone like Hurt, how will he fit in needing the ball to do about the only thing he does well, score. And if it's Creek, his offence is basically bully ball like Harrell in the post and blowing by bigger opponents. So unless Wells has worked it out can see it being just like last season, albeit Cotton a better and more mature player than Davis.

Then there's the Harrell attitude, skipping huddles and generally being a knuckle head. He's obviously got the talent still to play in the NBA, but his attitude has gotten him blackballed. How will he coexist with Cotton, can he be put in his place and just play basketball. Can't see him being a good role model/fit with Cameron either.

Best comparison I think is when Lakers went and got Malone and Payton to go with Kobe and Shaq. Everyone thought they'd be unbeatable, but too many egos.

Run-Decisice-1 you really didn't watch last season at all did you

At least when Trez is at the defensive baseline having a post foul melter/doing a busta rhymes into the tv camera after a dunk Bryce makes the 4 on 5 at the offensive end bit easier

That is gold Drexler

LOL Drexler ♡