Wildcats to keep it together
The Perth Wildcats are unlikely to make wholesale changes over the off-season, but coach Trevor Gleeson says it is inevitable there will be new faces added to the roster for 2015-16.
The Wildcats' title defence ended with an 80-68 defeat to the Cairns Taipans at home on Sunday night.
The 2-0 semifinal series loss to the Taipans means Gleeson's men will be onlookers when the grand final series begins in Cairns on Friday night.
NBA prospect DeAndre Daniels is the only player out of contract, though it is understood fellow import Jermaine Beal has an escape clause in his existing deal.
Gleeson said the club would endeavour to keep the core of the playing group together, but foreshadowed some changes.
"I've never coached a year that next year is the same personnel," Gleeson said.
"That's to be expected."
The financial stability of the Wildcats as an organisation is expected to be a major selling point in the club's approach to free agents following yesterday's news that the Wollongong Hawks had entered voluntary administration.
An NBL foundation club, the Hawks finished last with a 6-22 win-loss record and were forced into the dramatic decision after losing their major sponsor.
Hawks general manager Kim Welch said the decision was strategic and remained confident the club would compete next season.
"We are not asking Wollongong to save the Hawks again, we are simply informing the Illawarra community that in order to survive we need businesses to join us on an ongoing basis," he said.
If the Hawks fail to keep afloat it will cause major headaches for the league, with the Brisbane Bullets' return in 2015-16 understood to be on shaky ground.
Hawks owner James Spenceley said he would pay all staff, players and coaches during the month-long period of administration.
Spenceley, who took over as owner last July, said he hoped the shock announcement would prompt local Wollongong businesses to invest in the team.
"We've approached every big business that we have a contact for, but unfortunately no one has wanted to step up," Spenceley said.
"There are a lot of businesses that make money in Wollongong, but they don't seem to be keen on supporting the local team."
The Wildcats will again travel to the US during the off-season to scout NBA-affiliated imports.
Gleeson said he had faith Daniels would follow the path set by James Ennis and make his way on to an NBA roster despite an inconsistent year in the NBL.
Daniels is on the books of the Toronto Raptors, who selected him in last year's draft.
"Dre will head back and he'll probably try the same path that James Ennis did last year and work with Toronto in the off- season and summer league and get into training camp," Gleeson said. "I expect him to give the NBA a good shake and we wish him all the best."
