




Isaac
Years ago
Melbourne United are excited to announce the signing of star forward Scotty Hopson on a one-year deal.
Hopson starred for the New Zealand Breakers last season, often taking charge of games and helping the Breakers to a number of wins almost single-handedly. Hopson was rewarded with a spot in the All-NBL Second Team plus an MVP nomination. He averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, shooting 47% from the field.
The 201cm Kentucky native has most recently been playing in the NBA G-League for Oklahoma City Blue, with the hopes of breaking into the NBA, but will return to the NBL with Melbourne United.


LoveBroker
Years ago
Melbourne Breakers favourites again.
After this they still have another import spot right?
Then Bogut to come as well.


Why's everyone bitching about this signing? Good player and good for the league. Breakers chose Patterson over him so what’s the problem

AngusH
Years ago
This isn't in the same category as Long/Trimble, but I still find it hilarious. United's scouting budget is a season subscription to NBL.tv.

United! Low ball Aussie talent then give it all to imports!

LoveBroker
Years ago
Why's everyone bitching about this signing? Good player and good for the league. Breakers chose Patterson over him so what's the problem
Its not that he is playing, its who he is playing for most likely.
Personally, he is a free agent, he can sign with who ever he wants.
Just wished it was Adelaide but we only get the Ramone Moores.

LV
Years ago
This is great. Hopson was one of my favorite players to watch in a long time
That point forward role, similar to Tucker or Hodge from yesteryear. He's an excitement machine and a great fit alongside McCarron and CG
Does this mean Mitch finally gets the reins at point guard? United has an equal opportunity offense anyway, Hopson will start plenty of offenses with the ball in his hands, as will McCarron and even CG43


Hard to see anyone beating United in a playoff series now

Playoffs series aren't won on paper. People were saying the same thing about Melbourne the past two seasons as well.

This MU team is different to the past few seasons with United. They've gone back to a more defensive roster, which suits Vickerman. His championship sides have been defence-first, so it will be good to see them prioritise that above all else and then let their star players spread the floor and score.

United are notoriously stacked but that doesn't always equate in the championship column.
Good signing nonetheless.
If the Bogut signing comes to fruition then Melbourne have an import spot to use at any given time.

Breakers did not sign Patterson over Hopson - they wanted Hopson and had offered him a contract. This is yet another case of United offering more than the Breakers could afford. Shawn Long all over again.

Really looking forward to seeing the Breakers beat Melbourne this year.



If Melbourne outbid NZ for Hopson, then does that mean NZ outbid Brisbane for Patterson? If so, unlucky.

United owner and the the league owner are the same, every one takes pay cuts to keep the league afloat due to covid but United still come through with the big money moves.
800k is 1.6 million to the cap.

LV
Years ago
[Playoffs series aren't won on paper. People were saying the same thing about Melbourne the past two seasons as well.]
Melbourne were the 2nd best team last season- at least
Sydney only won due to dodgy reffing.
Points spread across 3 games, and Sydney's subsequent GF performance showed who the grand Final should've been
MU can make amends this year- shouldn't have choked game 1 and wouldn't have given the refs the opportunity to screw us in Game 3

LoveBroker
Years ago
Breakers did not sign Patterson over Hopson - they wanted Hopson and had offered him a contract. This is yet another case of United offering more than the Breakers could afford. Shawn Long all over again.
Breakers signed Patterson because Hopson was Umming and Arghing. I don't know if he Ummed and Arhged because of the United offer, or the United offer came after they went with Patterson.
Patterson > Hopson any day of the week
I think I would take a healthy Hopson, If Hopson had been healthy all season, he could (would?) have been MVP and the Breakers would have likely made the playoffs ahead of United.

That's great LV, they still didn't win a series. And until they do win a meaningful one, there is nothing that should make them favourites at all.


Melbourne were absolutely not the second best team last season, lol. They were lucky to even make the playoffs - it should have been the Breakers, and would have been without all their injuries.

How does a team who finishes four games behind the second placed team and eventual champion suddenly become the second best team *at least*?

LoveBroker
Years ago
Melbourne were the 2nd best team last season- at least
Sydney only won due to dodgy reffing.
This is some elite level trolling LV.
Sydney only won because United did one of the worst chokes in recent times, even you recognised that but I see we have reverted to blaming the refs.
Points spread across 3 games, and Sydney's subsequent GF performance showed who the grand Final should've been
Again selective use of stats. This is lamentable.

LV has and always will be a sooky little girl. If any of you give him the time of day its at your own peril. LV is a victim, it's always someone else's fault

Perthworld
Years ago
I heard 800k he wanted.
Thanks Yoda. How much do United lose per season? Surely the income they generate doesn't cover payroll.

KET
Years ago
Just wished it was Adelaide but we only get the Ramone Moores.
150%

LV
Years ago
[Sydney only won because United did one of the worst chokes in recent times]
Sydney won game 1 because United did one of the worst chokes in recent times
Sydney won game 3 with their best players being the refs

Landale just tweeted "working on my coffee art"...

Zodiac
Years ago
According to the press release for Hopson's signing it says United now only has one spot left to fill on it's roster, presumably an import.
WTF? They've only got one player signed over 6'9", JLA and if he's playing serious minutes you're screwed.
Hopson, Goulding, Barlow, Jack White, Lual-Acuil, McCarron, McDaniel, Short, Ili, Baba, Peatling (DP)
Two of their better role player in Pledger & Smith-Milner are gone, Goulding already on the decline is a year older, Barlow's a corpse, McCarron's no PG and four of those guys would practically be DP's on other teams.
And Liam reckons they're now a championship contender with Hopson? Oh my. Even if Bogut signs on tomorrow I can't see this team making the playoffs.


Zodiac
Years ago
Almost everyone over United. NZB & Perth both clearly better, Kings will be better, Cairns will be too, I would rate Adelaide better, Bullets remain to be seen. At this stage I would only rate them above SEM and the Hawks.

LV
Years ago
One minute United's trying to buy a championship
Next minute we've got 4 DP level players
I sense an inconsistency in these criticisms
Last year Casper spurned United for a better offer, and Bogut was on mega bucks, but United were the big spenders cos they got Long and young Melo
Gotta love the peanut gallery

LV
Years ago
All depends who the import is.
It really depends on fit. They seem to have a good group re culture and intangibles right now
And Hopson was pretty much MVP when he was healthy last year, so who knows

Zodiac does not know a thing about basketbal...
Mccarron / Ili / short
Goulding / baba
Hopson / McDaniel
Barlow / white / Peatling
Landale or import or Bogut / Lual acuil
This side is easily a top 4 team on paper.
The deepest roster in the league easy.


LV
Years ago
If you were gonna design a player to fit alongside McCarron, CG and Barlow you'd design someone like Hopson. Makes plays, creates, gets to the hoop, is aggressive.
Paper is only paper but they should fit well.
Back court depth looks superb
JLA is the one I'm hoping takes a big step forward. Loose with the ball and foul prone, but huge raw talent- 7 foot, can shoot, a range of moves and can move with the ball. Hopefully after 18 months with United and putting in hard yards at training and tightening up those weaknesses, we see him given more minutes and see his raw ability come to fruition more consistently

LV
Years ago
Interesting reading Hopsons stats, I remember him getting to the foul line more than his stats suggest (3.9 FTA/ game)

McCarron is a far better point guard than any one Brisbane has, I'm not sell United short, they are quality. Re height, 7fters don’t seem that popular anymore, JLA will be fine.

It's gonna be even sweeter watching Perth win it again after another season of the United trying to buy a title

Poor LV getting his hopes high yet again. Every preseason you see him here all fired up to be ultimately disappointed when the finals come around.

Why do we get the demented idiots that always salivate over United? Uniteds roster is shit even with Hopson. Jo Lual is ridiculously foul prone, McCarron running point will go about as well as Sobey running point, Barlow is a traffic cone, Goulding is the king of hot and cold. White is a dud. They've not improved on last years squad at all.
Seems the goblin king Larry Kestlemunt has decided not to spend 3 million on his team this year.
United will be a rabble all year.



LV
Years ago
[They've not improved on last years squad at all.]
Yeah, they might struggle against all the squads that have improved since last year

"It's gonna be even sweeter watching Perth win it again after another season of the United trying to buy a title"....
You do know Perth, Sydney and New Zealand all spend significantly more than MU on their roster right? This consistent narrative is so far from the truth. Go educate yourself....

Perth spends on players that actually bring value and winning culture. 4 titles in 5 years says so

You do know Perth, Sydney and New Zealand all spend significantly more than MU on their roster right? This consistent narrative is so far from the truth. Go educate yourself....
Rubbish


Rubbish
Another strong hoops.com.au-worthy comeback. Facts dont matter huh?

Dario Hunt is actually doing quite well in Europe, can't remember which team at present. Gleeson is an educator.
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