Bruton Targets Roster Build D-Day

Adelaide head coach CJ Bruton has revealed a deadline for completing the 36ers' NBL24 roster build, and it's not far away. 

The 36ers have already made a handful of high-profile signings, including NBL stars Jason Cadee and Isaac Humphries, while Hyrum Harris and Anthony Drmic have departed for pastures new within the competition.

Harvey White, Akech Aliir and Fraser Roxburgh have been announced as the club’s newest development players, alongside the already contracted Keanu Rasmussen.

Bruton says he hopes the entire roster will be complete in just over two weeks’ time, upon his return from the NBA's Summer League.

“Clearly our roster is still a work in progress,” Bruton said. “I hope to have it finalised by the time I come back – hopefully around the 20^th we’ll have that competed, if not before.

“As of right now I’m going over there (Las Vegas) to do my homework and enjoy being around the basketball environment … I’m going to network and see people.”

Some of the world’s top young basketball talent will be featuring in the NBA’s flagship pre-season event, including a number of current and former NBL stars.

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The South East Melbourne Phoenix afforded fans a behind the curtain look at their dealings at the tournament ahead of NBL23, and emerged from Las Vegas with the highly-valued signature of guard Trey Kell.

Bruton says he’s going to Las Vegas with a clear type of player in mind that he would like to recruit.

“As a guard we need someone who can come in and close a game,” he said.

“There are a lot of young players at the NBA Summer League right now, so it’s making sure I do my homework, not just on their last couple of years playing basketball, [but] because youth means they want to go to the NBA.

“Here I want to establish something long term for our team growing and moving forward.

“Part of my vision when I came to the 36ers obviously was trying to bring through a winning program. While we’re still yet to achieve the ultimate [we’re] still building towards that.”

Adelaide’s opening game of the NBL24 season will come on Friday, September 29 against Brisbane.

The 36ers will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing NBL23 campaign, where they went in as one of the Championship favourites, but ultimately fell to eighth place.