“Money Talks”: Roth on JJ’s Imports

Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has conceded money will be a key factor when deciding if the club can keep its three imports.

Josh Adams, Josh Magette and MiKyle McIntosh all played important roles in Tasmania’s dream run to the Grand Final, but all three are out of contract heading into next season.

Roth, fresh off his own three-year extension with the club, said fans need to be prepared for the business of basketball to potentially kick in.

“My preference is what they're comfortable with. It is a business. They’ve been all great. I'd love to have them all back,” Roth said.

“We'll start to talk with our imports next week and get more serious about that ... see where we're at with financial stuff.

“The reality is, money talks and where they're at in their life talks, what they're looking for down the road talks. We'll try to be as accommodating as we can to make them come back here.

“Let's not fool ourselves, Josh Adams has played very well, he's taken a pay cut to come here the first time. If he chooses not to come back the second time, we've done our job to make these guys better players, better people, send them out, make more money, you have a short window of time in your lifetime to do that. There's nothing wrong with that.

“I know people get attached to him and I've been on that side of it, but you have to do what's right and what's comfortable for you.

“If they move on, it's congratulations, and we've done our job to make them more money somewhere else or more opportunities somewhere else. That's not a bad thing.”

The JackJumpers are retaining their core Australian talent, with Will Magnay, Jack McVeigh, Clint Steindl, Fabijan Krslovic, Matt Kenyon, Sam McDaniel, Jarrad Weeks and Jarred Bairstow all signed up for next season.

“We have our core guys back, which was hugely important to me. The locals, I think, are the driving force of all the franchises here,” Roth said.