Battling Bullets can aid Baynes’ goal
BULLETS chief executive Peter McLennan insists Aron Baynes remains committed to Brisbane’s cause despite the club’s woes potentially damaging the Boomers star’s hopes of returning to the NBA.
The Bullets’ already disastrous NBL season went from bad to worse on Wednesday night when they were suffered a demoralising 49-point home loss to the Sydney Kings.
It was Brisbane’s 16th defeat in 21 games and it’s hard to imagine the Bullets turning around their form in time for Saturday night’s home clash against Melbourne United.
The Bullets’ plight has led to
them hiring American Stu Lash as the club’s senior basketball adviser.
Lash – who spent five seasons on the staff of the Memphis Grizzlies – will work with McLennan, the Bullets’ general manager of basketball Sam Mackinnon, the coaching staff, play an “active role in key planning moving forward” and act as a link to the club’s ownership group, particularly comanaging partners Jason Levien and Jake Silverstein.
McLennan said the addition of Lash would only help Baynes – who joined the Bullets in the off-season amid great hype after suffering a career-threatening neck injury at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – in his bid to return to the NBA.
Lash will also play a key role in Brisbane’s search for a permanent head coach.
Interim coach Greg Vanderjagt will remain in charge until the end of the season and is in contention for the permanent position. An extensive review of the club’s operations will also be conducted, with McLennan admitting his job was also on the line.