Yes, had already heard those names. Should be interesting.

There's an import on the cards too, then you'd think Nash will get picked up and a couple of benchies and hello 06/07.

well if this is true, this isnt good news, wheeler hasnt played for over a year and is as injury prone as Paul Rogers, and as for Copeland he should have retired 2 years ago. Please sixers management dont try to push this as good news and think that fans of the team dont know what talent is, this is another step back in my opinion.

As long as Copeland doesn't leave to make a sequel to his last movie...



Announcement on Sabres.com.au re Wheeler signing there for the Big V comp.

Wheeler comes to the Sabres after a year out of the game, but with a goal of again seeking to play at Australia's top level.

The owner of two championship rings courtesy of the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Sydney Kings, Wheeler brings an efficient game and strong scoring and rebounding to the defending champs.

The 2004 Boomers squad member has a career shooting percentage of 54%, and career averages of 8.6ppg and 6 rpg to the Tulip street stadium.

Why would Smyth care? He is in his last year of his contract and has shown that he is not interested in development. Like mentioned earlier, Wheeler hasn't played for a year. Really like him but i think he is past his prime. I have been wrong in the past though!

brannen
wheeler
holmes
maher
farley

nash
hill
copeland

now that would have been a good side

Wheeler would be a good back up C/PF but we must also sign someone like Cullen,Moore or Helliwell.

Hasn't Holmes gone to the Dragon's? I don't doubt they will have reasonable team, I just question the long term plan for the Club.

What great news. **cough,cough**

Are the Sixers participating in a Work for the Pension program or something?

Unless we get a major scoring import with size (Ballinger, Brannen) we are in trouble.

This is depressing.

Is Brett Wheeler coming to the Sixer as well as Pero or instead of? Having both would be ok as Wheels would be good value coming of the bench, but not as a starter.

Copeland, what would Brad Hill be thinking? I wonder if Oscar or Jake need a room mate in 12 months time.

I'm not so worried about development for the future. The NBL isn't what it used to be and players change clubs all the time these days. Teams turnover 7 or 8 players on their roster every two years.

My point is that there is little point in putting too much effort into developing young players who will be at other clubs in a few years. Forman and Holmes are two examples, Perth just lost Tovey, Wollongong just lost Caporn, West Sydney lost Markovic, Townsville will lose Newley sooner rather than later. Look how different Sydney's team is from two years ago. I'm not saying there is no place for junior development in the NBL, but it doesn't pay the great rewards that it used to. My opinion anyway.

We do need players who can perform for us now. Unfortunately, having said that I don't think Copeland is a good choice.

Wheeler? There is some risk but it's one that's probably worth taking for us.

yea i think wheeler will b ok, should be an upgrade on rees, and hopefully we can get pero aswell, and Jayson Wells or someone like him would be a great import, i dont think we need someone like brannen, id rather a wells/dave thomas like player, id love jayson wells himself if we r able to sign him, not sure if thats a possibility. Not sure about copeland i guess if he can come off the bench and back up the 1,2,3 spots, without taking too many minutes from hill, farley or maher, and put up ok numbers he'll be ok, id prefer rucker out of the old players

A potential line up of
C Wheeler/Cooper
PF Pero/Hambour
SF Wells/Nash
SG Farley/Copeland
PG Maher/Hill
would be ok i think and could potentially push for a top 6 position or top 4 if we are really lucky as we would have a good balance of big players and athletic versatile players, and in maher, farley, wells we have guys who could avereage 20 plus points and take over any given game!

Please don't waste money or time on these guys Sixers. They're both way past their prime and they won't serve any purpose but to take minutes and places away from young guys

Anon #75204 you may prefer Wheeler over Cooper but Cooper is not the one being replaced, Cooper is here to stay for another season. Replacements are for Jacob, Oscar, Rees & Dusty. Now would you prefer Wheeler?

Forgot to mention, losing these 4 players now leaves the team with a 40-50 points per game deficit. That leaves a large hole to fill.

I know absolutely nothing about "Pero" than what I have read here. In sayting that if what I have heard rings true he sounds like a great option, up and down the court with a bit of pace, athletic and will just go hard. Whne we have played our best and most enjoyable to watch ball we have been a free wheeling up and down team.....Maybe this Pero could be a great pickup and fit into Phils system (if you can call it that) really well

and as for Copleand - he will spend more ime on the bench injured than on the court - Sorry Lanard but your time has well and truly come - go find Drewy and retire!

Ummm, which Pero is this? My first thought having watched the Boomers win gold tonight was Pero Cameron.

Was about to unload both barrels but on closer inspection I think maybe we're talking Vasiljevic?

If so, then thank the hoop gods for that! If it was Cameron I'd be distraught cos he's brickie not a baller.

The big V would be an upgrade over Rees/ Cooper. Just a pity the team has been gutted before we got a decent big man.

I disagree with the earlier poster that said developing players is not worthwhile. You could see the Sixers developing a future in Oscar, Jake and Hill. But with the financial sitch we have paid the price and will continue to do so until the Sixers sort that out.

The next few years are going to be Claxtonesque...

Interesting rumour re Wheeler and Copeland.

A gamble but we can't offer attractive long term deals to provide the security needed to sign decent young players this off-season.

I guess the benefit is that at best they will provide some valuable service and at worst they are expendable at the end of next season when hopefully we are financially secure and able to attract some young decent free agents.

I wouldn't sign Copeland but I guess someone has to replace Oscar's ability to spread the floor and we all know Lanard can shoot the ball.

Together with similar freedom in Smyth's offence that he enjoyed in Melbourne, I wouldn't be surprised if Copeland added some value.

Interesting to note that despite playing limited minutes in Brisbane, his stats were very similar to those of Oscar's (9pts 2bds to 11pts and 4bds). Plus it was only 2 seasons ago that Lanard was good for 20ppg and we all saw what D-Mac delivered this season as a 40 year old.

Wheeler is an unknown after being out of the league for a year. Again, he is a gamble but a gamble that the 36ers probably have to take with limited other big man options. Dragons and Razorbacks were also meant to be in the running for Wheeler so he must have something to offer.

Assuming the 36ers start Wheeler and a big man import, I wouldn't mind seeing the 36ers start a 3 guard rotation of Maher, Hill and Farley at the 3.

Eg

PG Maher/Gerlach (or someone like Adam Quick)
SG Hill/Copeland
SF Farley/Nash
PF Import/Pero or Moore or Cullen or Rice
C Wheeler/Cooper

A lot obviously hinges on the import as Dusty was a machine but the above team will still be competitive.

Stephon

Pero would start ahead of Wheels wouldn't he? Surly.

And if we can get Moore and Pero I would like to see a small forward recruited as the import spot, someone to take the scoring load off Brett and Willy.

My god has it come to this??

Wheels and Coops???

2 players I didn't mind seeing play for the other team!!

What has happened to Rucker? Better choice than Copes if we're talking this type of player. Pero (yes, Vasilojevic not Cameron) is an essential. Wheeler... sorry buddy!

Put Farley in at SF and as others have said, we will get torched by the Mackinnons and Savilles of the league due to Willie's defense.

what Farley defense?

Copeland swoops over Wheelers D


Check out those shorts! ,try wearing them today!

Time to put some more fuel on the fire.

Had reported to me that Smyth and Wheeler were spotted by some Adelaide based officials over here having lunch at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow. When Phil realised there were Adelaide people in tghe group, he and Wheels got up and moved as far away as possible.

Phil also had a VERY long chat with Stiffy before the England vs Nigeria game last night, but granted that might have just been a catch up.

Anonymous, you were doing well until you mentioned Bill Russell. He only ever played in Melbourne (1956), not Adelaide .....