Bullets star an uncertain starter

The Brisbane Bullets roster is slowly taking shape under new head coach Stu Lash, but there is uncertainty building around scoring guard James Batemon ahead of next season.

“Right now, I think it’s 50/50 on whether they keep him,” ESPN’s Olgun Uluc said on The Marketplace.

“Brisbane was in the Delly sweepstakes. If they had got Matthew Dellavedova, I think there was a very good chance they kept James Batemon.

“Not getting Delly, I think threw them in a little funk.”

Batemon had a roller-coaster of a first season in the NBL, which saw him battle through a tough start individually, before becoming one of the best scoring guards in the entire league.

Just as things were starting to roll for the 28-year-old, an ill-timed hamstring injury put an end to his season and ultimately the Bullets’ hopes of a playoff push. 

“I think Batemon did enough to be brought back, irrespective of who else they may sign,” Derek Rucker said.

“I thought they’re focus needed to be elsewhere on a high-level import point guard (instead of Dellavedova) and I would still then pair him with James Batemon and Casey Prather.”

The Bullets are well poised as it stands, with three of their key starters locked away in Prather, Tyrell Harrison and Sam McDaniel. Now their attention has turned to their guards, which could prove to be pivotal in their championship aspirations.

“I believe right now they’re exploring all their options of who they put in that position,” Pete Hooley added.

“I think they need more of that consistent scoring punch in one of those two guard positions.

“One of those two import guards having an All NBL calibre season next year, will probably be the difference in whether this team competes for the top six or top four by the end.”

Currently Batemon is playing well in Spain, which would likely open more doors for the guard if a reunion with the Bullets didn't occur.

Last season he became one of only two players over the last decade to score 50 points in an NBL game, further stamping his arrival in the league after that troublesome start. While the uncertainty grows about his future as a Bullet, there still is hope that he will return in a Bullets uniform.

“If they can use that allotment of money (they set aside for Dellavedova) and get more of a ball carrier… a Kendric Davis-type or Parker Jackson-Cartwright-type, it feels like that is the direction they would prefer to go,” Uluc said.

“If they can go and get that guy and put him next to James Batemon, I don’t think they’re against that.”