Very thin on the ground and no coach isn't going to help. That's obviously No.1 priority.

As far as locals, I'm assuming Adnam, Galloway and AHT will have their options taken up. I wouldn't mind Stith either but that seems less likely. Waardenburg appears interested in staying so he'd be a priority re-signing. I'd think Gak will attract interest elsewhere and might chase a bigger pay packet. Antonio might be worth keeping as a 10/11 roster player and it will interesting to see how Stattmann develops into the full roster.

AussieHoopla reporting Groves and Pedro open to staying and I would happily get them both back.

That leaves guard spots to be filled. Armstrong is all but gone along with Edwards, so as usual we need to unearth a gun import to have any decent chance of success.

Coach is No.1 priority. The talk last season of getting Siulepa as a NS would also be a massive help, but I think a lot of that interest came through Forde so I don't know if it's still there.

Would love to see Wardenburg, Groves and Adnan back. Put a gun PG in there, have Adnam run the bench rotation and give the PG a break that's the start of a competitive group. Antonio doesn't offer enough, he's had three years, would rather roll the dice with someone else. Don't think I'm alone in my feelings on him.

Joel Khalu for coach please. Strong links to the community up here, just the right kind of character for Cairns.

Hogg is allegedly interested in returning to the NBL and was sighted in the Cairns crowd through the season. He'd come at the expense of Pedro but I'm not sure we could afford him and go for cheaper PG's. Corey Webster has also been mentioned, but I'm not overly keen to go down that path.

As Forde mentioned in his last presser, the HC does a lot more than just coach at Cairns. It's vital the right person gets appointed there before much else can/will happen, especially around recruitment.

Hogg been playing in Japan, was injured for approx 6 weeks but I highly doubt they would have allowed him to travel to cairns to watch a game. Playing under Gleeson.

Not a matter of doubting. I saw him personally.

Yes, I saw him there too

That might be a good get for Cairns he was very good there last time and likely needs to build his stock after that disappointing season with the Kings and then Japan this season.

Bradshaw is definitely a keeper if possible. One of those players who does everything without making any noise about it. Underrated and preferable to Hogg.

Maybe they could convince Connor Henry to give up his St Peter's gig. Bit of a paycut, but he's had a few years on the sideline to learn about league more. And take Cadee as coach in waiting.
But totally in the dark as to what they do, need to get locals signed first then fill in gaps with imports.

Groves playing in Japan, does well there, it'll be hard to see him returning as money better there.

Pedro in Germany as well.

Interesting that Edwards appears not to have suited up anywhere since he left. Seems strange given that there were apparently contractual reasons for him to depart at such short notice.

Edwards is in China.

Edwards playing CBA. Stats and link here.

https://x.com/SuperCoachPleb/status/1891613672981569654

Rightio, thanks.

I thought he'd gone to China but the site I was looking at had nothing for him after his last Cairns game.

Taran Armstrong has apparently had his FIBA clearance and work visa sorted and is expected to suit up for the Santa Cruz Warriors today.

Good luck to him, hope he does well.

23 minutes off the bench for Taran, scoreless on 0/2 from the field, but 7 assists, a steal and a rebound, also 3 turnovers

the idea of Crawford to Cairns was floated on overtime, thoughts?

I hadn't heard that. Could do worse I guess, but I wouldn't rush into anything either.

AHT's option taken.

And AHT's been upgraded to the roster too.

Waardenburg re-signed.

That's a big positive! Just need a coach now.

And Galloway as well.

As a community-based club, it's hard to imagine that Cairns will ever be able to afford to become truely competitive in this league. Should they quit/leave/be tossed out? No effing way.

But if this situation could be openly addressed, Cairns, as an "intro-level" club/team may have a very significant and innovative role to play in the NBL. "COE"-type team in a professional sport league! A world first?
(Can expand this theme, on its own, elsewhere if anyone would like to.)

Cairns' search for a new coach could do a lot worse than Schueller as Forde's replacement. I have stated my liking of Schueller at Brisbane before and would like to see him continue his progression in the NBL.

Would Schueller get similar results at Cairns (excluding injuries, of course)? If you remember, Brisbane were in a bit of a hole when Schueller was appointed to the HC job. General consensus is that he did well, up to a point, but probably reached his peak at Bris.

Whether that is true or not is up for discussion but most agreed that he is good at building culture, steadiness and playing philosophies/systems. All worthwhile aims for Cairns with nothing else on the drawing board, ATM(?). And the signings referred to above are a good start for a Schueller-type roster.

Or Rucker, if he misses out on the Bullets job (so, will definitely be available), DMac might need a job soon?, Sam McKinnon needs a job now, and has shown that he can coach and wants to. In fact, this opening is a fabulous opportunity for any aspiring AC!

Have to admit that none of the above would seem likely to turn Cairns of 2026 into the Illawarra of 2024 (Tatum's 1st half-year), let alone the Hawks of 2026! but I don't think that that is the aim for Cairns.

Who else should be considered?

I'm hearing Kerry Williams is close to a good-thing.

Really good coach, not sure how he'd go recruiting. Interesting times.

AussieHoopla reporting Robbie McKinlay is going to sign on as Head Coach.

Seriously, what the hell is going on with Cairns Basketball?

Most teams have got at the very least a core of talent signed, yet we haven't even signed a coach. And the players we have signed (Waardenburg aside) were fringe/development players all optioned to the club. Who is doing the Cairns recruitment while other clubs continue to fill out their rosters?

As if it isn't bad enough that the Taipans operate on a shoestring, now it seems they're not even organised enough to meet some pretty basic timeframes to attempt to field a somewhat competitive side.

Maybe I'm missing something and they're playing Trump-style 4D chess and will come up with a brilliant last minute plan where all will be revealed. But I'm not holding my breath.

They should bring back Groves and possibly Bradshaw too, and then JC as third import?

Don't disagree. But why would they (or anyone else) sign on when they don't at the very least know who's going to be coaching them?

Surely almost everyone would want to at least feel they'll be competitive and/or improve as a player when they're signing to play somewhere?

Very true, they need to get the coach signed soon

AHT will be playing summer league for Golden State, very exciting for the kid

AHT will be playing summer league for Golden State, very exciting for the kid

Finally a signing! And it's a good one- Reyne Smith

Very promising start.

Expect more to drop pretty quickly now.

Good signing would say similar or close to prime Gliddon.

Get another decent local or 2, nail the imports and that's a good team.

Creek signed in Romania.

Reyne Smith looks like a quality "Taipans-esque" signing. Seems almost exclusively a 3pt shooter on offense and stats-wise at least does not look like a PG, so maybe a slightly undersized combo guard-type.

With McVeigh locked down we still have three import spots left to fill along with another local I believe.

Surely a few quick fire announcements with preseason commencing next week.

Admiral Schofield being spoken about. Don't know much about him but been on a 2-way deal with Orlando in recent times.

Admiral Schofield being spoken about. Don't know much about him but been on a 2-way deal with Orlando in recent times.

Super happy for Cairns. Too often is their roster raided by richer clubs so it's nice to see them poach a high quality marquee.

Not sure why they're looking at Schofield (3/4 player) who would command decent coin considering his Resume.

Reyne
Mcveigh
Waardenburg

IMO makes more sense that Cairns should focus on getting a gun import point and a defensive minded C to roung up the starting lineup.

Only way this makes sense to me is if Schofield is okay with accepting a bench role.

Certianly agree on your call with the required positions SN.

Aussie Hoopla reporting Lloyd McVeigh signed on as DP. Might have been a package deal?

Marcus Lee apparently all but confirmed as signed from what I hear.

Also strong talk of Ashton Hagans as PG. I don't know much about him, but spent most of the last few years in G League then a season in China more recently.

Lee priced out of Melbourne and Sydney, instead heading to...Cairns?

Things are changing in the NBL. Can't remember too many experienced imports heading there. Or even imports with any NBL experience (except DJ Newbill)

Good signing though, every team needs a rim protector to compete against Harrell, JLA, Magnay, Harrison and McGee. Now Edwards too.

https://www.taipans.com/news/taipans-reveal-full-2025-26-roster

Haggans/Adnam
Smith/Stattman
Schofield/Higgins-Titsha/Mag
McVeigh/Galloway
Waardenburg/Lee

Ceiling?

Like most Taipans teams of years past, not huge depth on paper but that provides opportunities for kids, and if the imports go well, could compete to the pointy end of the season.

As always, will depend on how well the imports perform. We look a bit light on guards but Forde has seemed to recruit similar each year.

I don't know anything about Mag and it will be interesting to see how much AHT, Galloway and Stattman can progress.

But overall it should be a competitive team, especially if we can avoid injuries.

Seems like a pretty clear uptick in talent to me, assuming Haggans/Schofield are at least mid-tier import quality. Agree that the guards are a little thin, but if Reyne Smith steps in and can be a double-digit scoring threat and McVeigh is... well.. McVeigh, Cairns should push for top 4/6.

Talented team but Waardenburg at center is a choice. He's more of a SF than a C. When Lees not on Cairns will have no interior D.

I don't mind the look of that team at all. Obviously you don't know what you're going to get with the two new imports but Forde is a very good recruiter so there's that. Marcus Lee as a back up centre and not a starter is very good too.

Waardenburg played quite well in PR during the off-season had some big double-doubles so seems like he's ready to take the next step. AHT will have increased confidence playing for GSW in Summer League too. McVeigh & Smith won't die wondering either. They might even be a Top 6 team I think United & JJ's will be nervous.

If Cairns play small ball with Waardenburg at 5, there will be nights where they'll absolutely burn teams from deep

The point guard cant shoot but he’s a master distributor- the other 4 will provide maximum floor spacing, and some of the lumbering 7 footers will struggle to defend the perimeter and all the switches

Will be fascinating cat-and-mouse style battles going on

That's funny LV I don't rememebr you describing Lee as a "lumbering 7 footer" When he left Tassie and came back to United last year. Good back up but poor starting centre I think I called him which you didn't like.

I was referring to their opponents, not Lee

I think several of the traditional 7 footers might struggle to defend the perimeter, the way Cairns plays sometimes and with the bevy of outside weapons they have this year

Lee was awesome for United in 22-23 but not as good last year. Still, one of the better rim protectors in the NBL

I can't wait to watch all the traditional bigs battling inside the paint this year. Some of the hybrid types have left (Pinder, Oliver) with more traditional types coming in (McGee, Edwards, JLA)

No excuses now for Cairns, Forde will have to produce, I've never understood how he’s been rated so highly. Again it’s my opinion. I also believe Waardenburg plays very well in the five spot and Lee will be an excellent backup.

LV, Okay no probs. Just for fun I went back and looked at his two United seasons and although "awesome" isn't a word I would use to describe his first year at Melb there was more of a discrepancy between the two than I thought.

22-23: 9.7p, 7.6r, 1.4b, 69% FG, 60% FT

24-25: 6.9p, 5.8r, 1.6b, 62% FG, 48% FT

If you remove the first game, where he was fresh off the plane and had 2 points and 2 rebounds, over the remaining 15 games, his stats:

9.6ppg, 8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5bpg, 0.7spg, 71%FG and only 0.7 T/O per game

Efficiency was off the charts, I remember some media articles at the time talking about his efficiency and advanced stats

Example:

https://www.melbourneutd.com.au/news/marcus-lee-a-statistical-superstar

If he'd played an entire season at that level, instead of just 16 games, he probably would've been All-NBL 1st or 2nd team

Never quite reached those heights again with Tassie, or 2nd United stint. Nonetheless a good rim protector and Cairns will need him against the monsters

And Cairns new PG is known as an elite passer, so Lee should replicate his abilities as a lob threat and pick and roll gun that he showed with Delly and Ili

Not to go on about it but 16 games is only half a season so statistically meaningless, think 41/82 NBA game season and he plays limited minutes for a reason. But yes a noticeable drop off in two years and still only 30 too.

LV, if he's anywhere near what Taran was providing in the back half of last season I will be very happy.