Free up budget by going for youth
RETIRED Taipan Mark Worthington has urged his former team to become a “feeder club” and go ultra young with their 2019-20 roster.
Worthington said star centre Nate Jawai was the first player on the squad that he would sign again, pointing to his contribution within the community, as much as his play on the court.
As for Melo Trimble, the Olympian believes the community-owned club may be priced out for bringing him back for another campaign
But, for the overall outlook of the team in Mike Kelly’s second season in charge, the NBL commentator says ditch the experienced and implement a youth policy.
“If I am the Cairns Taipans, this year has shown it did not work with veteran players,” Worthington said.
“You are a community club and I am going after all the best young talent that is unhappy in college or coming out of college. I will be telling them that they will be getting more playing time here in Cairns and that gives you more money to get Melo Trimble again.
“We are almost going to become a feeder club, we would be happy if one of our young stars goes and gets a big contract elsewhere because that is where we are developing them.
“I would love to see that from the Taipans, I think they just need to change tack a little bit.
“If you have a bunch of kids working hard, that is a team the fans can get behind.”
Worthington, speaking on NBL Overtime, said shooting guard DJ Newbill was worth a second season in the Far North after impressing on both ends of the floor this campaign.