36ers Assessing Import Options

Ever since the departure of import guard Craig Randall II NBL circles have been abuzz with discussions of who the Adelaide 36ers could recruit to round out their already potent roster.

Since Randall left Adelaide the club’s remaining imports have hit top form. Robert Franks has been playing at an MVP level, while Antonius Cleveland has continued to be his lockdown self on the defensive end.

The team’s local talent has also elevated its game. Anthony Drmic has ably stepped up to start and play big minutes at the two-guard spot, while the likes of Daniel Johnson and Sunday Dech have increased their output on the offensive end.

Coming off the back of their destructive away win against the Perth Wildcats in Round 8, 36ers head coach CJ Bruton says he’s in no rush to bring a new face on board.

“They have to play seven games to qualify (for finals), so we’ll just leave it at that,” Bruton told the Adelaide 36ers website.

“We need to talk to our team [to] see where we’re at, and continue to keep building on what we need to continue to work on so we can be successful.

“If we bring someone in here it takes away something from someone I’ve already got, then everyone is wondering ‘why don’t you play that guy?’”

Just because Adelaide isn’t champing at the bit to bring a new import into the playing group doesn’t mean the club isn’t doing its due diligence surrounding who could help the roster in the run-in to the business end of the season.

After a high number of players' Exhibit-10 training contracts in the NBA expired a few weeks ago there’s plenty of top-end talent available for the 36ers to recruit if desired.

“I’ve had over 60 names come across my desk,” Bruton said of the club’s player hunt.

“My staff has looked at them, and everyone is calling every other day asking ‘what do you think of my player?’ but my job is to focus on our team.

“After I talk to the group and say ‘here’s a few names, what do you think?’ … we’ll see where we’re at.

“I can’t give you an update as my focus has been these past three road games.”

For the full story head to >> Bruton ‘exploring all options’ on import search.