From the Blitz he was the odds on favorite to go home early

I guess if you're gonna make the change do it early. He was always a strange fit.

Unless they sign an absolute scoring machine they look like they're going to be short on offence from the perimeter and inside IMO

I wouldn't mind betting this isn't their last roster change for the season

A far as "unicorns" go he certainly wasn't one. Some of the NBL talking heads love the smell of their own farts when it comes to exaggerating players abilities!

Didn't look like a great fit with the rest of their roster from the Blitz and would probably look ok on another team.
Credit to SE Melbourne for moving quickly.

Can't say I’m surprised, also noticed Alear missing from recent games. If injury they really relying on Brown.

Aliir injured

Some people were pegging him as an All-NBL level player when he signed. In my opinion this looked pretty obvious once we saw him in pre season.

It's been alleged he was fired for calling a ref a b*tch

It's probably an ideal way to move him on, use the calling ref a bitch, as far as Alir goes just noticed he was missing, even in the blitz.

Glad I don't have to remember how to spell his name.

lol agreed Angus

lol agreed Angus

Anyone who listens to Sebastian is wasting oxygen. He likes to sound connected but is so far off the mark in the Phoenix current environment. It's a true giggle. Didn't know he was keeping odds about the first import to go home after some preseason games, always the barometer to sack imports.

I responded to someone in another thread saying I thought Maldonado would be the first import gone and that VB might have a handshake no-cut deal, obviously not. I'm kind of surprised they gave up on him this early but supposedly his ejection on the weekend was quite the scene and probably knew his time was close to up.

Seems a pretty good barometer in this case

Certainly not announced by SEM yet, could be smoke and mirrors.

"I'm all good with SEM, they kept it all professional," said Bleijenbergh in an interview with CODE Sports.

“I loved being here, loved the club and I do like the city a lot.

"No bad blood at all, just an unfortunate situation."

https://nbl.com.au/news/report-phoenix-plan-to-release-import

Phantom - any chance you can improve the general tone of your posts? Too often they're vitriolic, bitter and lack constructive input. It would improve the forum if you could. Thks in advance

Official.

https://basketball.com.au/news/not-in-a-rush-south-east-melbourne-phoenix-josh-king-speaks-on-vrenz-departure-nbl-2025-2026

Any news on Alir, injured?

Adelaide have apparently added Vrenz Bleijenbergh for the game on Sunday. Not sure if trial or just filling in for Harrell. Maybe both.

What will VB bring to Adelaide? They don't need more fire-power They don't need his size, and he won't play D. Wells is going to love this guy!

What's the point?

Could VB be so cheap now, that they may as well try him out? With 2 imports (now) and 3 or so marquees (now), Adel must be close to being broke so saving on his wage and even an extra airfare may really matter????

Finally, where does he play/fit in? He is a shooter and so are Cotton and Vasiljevic, 2 of the best shooters in our league. Harris is their back-up and has been described as a fabulous future potential. Do you really want to take minutes from a local like Harris, for an import you don't need? Of course, he (VB) can always take minutes from 2 of their marquees, BC and DJV.

Good luck to all concerned with this little distraction.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Shakes head.

Is something going on with Harrell though?

Master Chief, are you implying VB for Harrell? If yes, still makes no sense to me.

RobT, not implying anything. Just seems to be some mystery around Harrell and the reasons why he might not be playing tomorrow. I have no idea. But thought the forum would be interested to know this guy is suiting up tomorrow it seems and has been training with the team.

RobT, not implying anything. Just seems to be some mystery around Harrell and the reasons why he might not be playing tomorrow. I have no idea. But thought the forum would be interested to know this guy is suiting up tomorrow it seems and has been training with the team.

I wonder if this has to do with the Basketball.com.au rumour.

" Which import around the NBL is rumoured to already want out? The birds are a chirpin' as we close in on one of the most anticipated seasons in league history. We've seen the South East Melbourne Phoenix already part ways with Vrenz Bleitjenberg, but that was THEIR decision, this one is the other way around.
Like any star import, this would be a disaster for the league and for this team.
Despite what we're hearing, everything could be smoothed over quite easily without resulting in a departure. We hope."

The rumour I heard that someone had been a naughty boy, again I impress that it was a rumour. By the weekends end, let's see who’s not playing or even on the bench to see if any truth in rumour.

Completely speculating, I have zero inside knowledge.

I wonder if there was a realisation that both Humphries and Trez can't start, and perhaps made the decision to start Ice but might need to bench him and let Trez start to smooth it over?

It’d be a disaster for the league if Trez left given how much they market him and even have him as the super coach person.

This is turning into a circus. We haven't even blown out the candles of Round 1 and already we have this much "game-changing" speculation. All because VB would not play any D.

This is the season that the off-season, just past, deserves. What's next?

I wouldn't read too much into the VB scenario. There is not really much to lose by giving him a run. Best case, he has something to offer through versatility, worst case they are simply not interested. It might be a bit like the way NBL clubs bolstered their rosters playing NBA teams. They have an import spot if they want it, plus a roster spot through injury. VB is in the country. It's just a chance opportunity for both parties maybe, with no promises or expecations.

Harrell has been posting discontented and frustrated posts on social media, plus some have been deleted. Who knows what is going on?

KET, then Trez can't seriously call KD a child if he throws his toys out for not starting. If hypothetically, it were as straight forward as that.

What was posted and then deleted?

If Trez is already creating drama I hope we cut bait with him soon. I was never on board with re-signing him no matter what our roster looked like.

KET, I don't remember exact wording or context sorry. It could have been something entirely unrelated to basketball. Olgun tweeted he would not be suiting up tommorrow and mentioned VB training and playing tommorrow.

Maybe Jamal Crawford could do a tour among the pro leagues of the world and explain to these people why starting DOES NOT MATTER.
The amount of deadset spooks that carry on like children because they're not in the starting line up is just ridiculous.

Maybe Jamal Crawford could do a tour among the pro leagues of the world and explain to these people why starting DOES NOT MATTER.
The amount of deadset spooks that carry on like children because they're not in the starting line up is just ridiculous.

Purely speculative of course - that could also be a total non-issue, part of it is none of us have any clue how Adelaide addresses the starting 5 because Humphries, Trez and BC haven't played yet.

Either way, the 36ers really need to have their heads down this year rather than featuring in the drama stakes again.

Re VB, my fear is why did SEM split from him?

If it’s cultural related (such as behaviour or lack of attention to defence) then im not on board with them testing those waters. More stable clubs could perhaps, but hard to trust the 36ers.

If it was because they simply needed a higher level output, then that’s a different story and understandable for Adelaide to see what VB could provide.

Harrell not suiting up tonight and I don't think is even with the team either. If it were an injury, you’d think the club would say so.

Maybe the same reason that Alir is missing, personal reasons.

Geez it'd be good to get some sort of info