SEARCH FOR A CENTRE
Taipans set to cast net far and wide in search for next top NBL talents
ATHLETIC talls are the missing ingredient in the Taipans’ bid to become championship contenders and they’ll be at the top of Adam Forde’s shopping list when NBL free agency opens on Friday.
And the Cairns coach revealed the club’s retention of NBL award winners Bul Kuol and Keanu Pinder had made the Far North a more tantalising option for players.
ATHLETIC talls are what the Taipans need to become contenders and they will be at the top of Adam Forde’s shopping list when the NBL free agency period opens on Friday.
In his second off-season as Taipans coach, Forde will have more roster spots to bring in players similar to Bul Kuol and Keanu Pinder, who produced award-winning campaigns in their first season in the Far North.
Forde said re-signing his NBL22 rookie of the year and most improved player respectively made Cairns a tantalising option for those looking to break out in Aussie hoops.
“There are not too many players like Keanu who, as a local, has that kind of skill set,” Forde said.
“It frees you up a little bit with the types of imports you bring in, knowing you have a long threat and a guy who’s a fantastic rim protector.
“I think Bul was high on everybody’s list. There were teams who were very eager to have his services.
“To have Bul here now, knowing we have one of the best spot shooters in the league – he’s only going to get better.”
While there are plenty of big-name NBL free agents treading water in the market – including Vic Law (Wildcats), Duop Reath (Hawks) and Yanni Wetzell (Breakers) – Forde has been doing what he does best and scouring every basketball nook and cranny for more diamonds in the rough.
“That’s something I’ve enjoyed the most,” he said. “We have gone down the road with a handful of very good candidates. We’re looking at every European and Asian-based league for local (Australian) players and imports.
“We’ve deep-dived into the senior lists of D1 and D2 college lists. We’ve got ourselves a nice little talent pool.”
The Taipans’ off-season has been under way since before the previous competition had ended, according to Forde.
A “satellite initiative” has been established in which a network of coaches across the country looks for players to bring into the team for NBL23.
He said he hoped to get more do-it-all athletic talls who have length, verticality and a bit wing span that help them have an impact on both ends of the court.
“I’m in love with length,” Forde said. “That’s probably one of the things we did with the talent at the end of the season.
“One of the things we were exposed to defensively last year was athletic power forwards and centres and having that ability for us to know to defend them.
“But then on the opposite end, for them being able to switch out and guard multiple positions, that’s something we want to replicate and bring here.”
As for imports Stephen Zimmerman and Scott Machado, as well as fan and Forde favourite Tahjere McCall, Forde said the Taipans would see how local free agency played out before locking down international talents.
“We’re making some good ground work, (but) the focus for us was really to lock in with our local contingent,” he said.
“I still strongly believe that getting that local core is more important. Then you get your imports to complement that.”