Reported whispers surrounding potential Hogg, Cairns reunion

There looks to be an impending changing of the guard at the Cairns Taipans this off-season, and ESPN’s Olgun Uluc has reported the Far North club has shown extensive interest in a pair of high-level talents – one of whom is already known to the club.

The Taipans’ roster merry-go-round has already started with the departure of Sam Mennenga to New Zealand, but Adam Forde could look to a former fan favourite to come in and help return the side to the post-season in NBL25.

Hogg earned an All-NBL Second Team nomination in his sole season with the Taipans, and was a key cog in Forde's side that recorded a fourth-placed regular season finish.

Shoulder injuries restricted him to just 16 games this season under Mahmoud Abdelfattah at the Kings.

“I heard a whisper the Cairns Taipans have internally had a thought about bringing DJ Hogg back into the mix,” Uluc said on NBL Overtime.

“There has to be a decision made with his mutual option with the Kings, but with the incoming signing of Xavier Cooks it seems unlikely that they will be able to have Cooks and Hogg, even though there is theoretically a world where they could play together.”

Uluc also says the Taipans could be leading the race to sign one of Adelaide’s most impressive improvers from the club’s resurgence under Scott Ninnis.

“Kyrin Galloway, we saw the way he ended the season with the Adelaide 36ers, and you can see what he can bring to teams, the athleticism, the jump shot,” he said.

“Adelaide does want to retain him and they’ve made no secret about that – they’ve tried very, very hard to retain him – but it seems like he’s going to strongly consider his options elsewhere and the two Queensland teams are the ones that are preparing to show the strongest interest.

“Out of those two teams, I understand the Bullets are in advanced talks with Deng Adel to likely fill a similar spot … the Kyrin Galloway sweepstakes, the spot is there in Cairns that I don’t believe will be there in Brisbane.”

It’s not all good news for Cairns though, as Uluc says Bul Kuol is all but certain to find himself a new home for NBL25.

“Bul Kuol has informed the Taipans he won’t be returning,” Uluc said.

“He is one of the marquee level, top free agents on the market right now. There are a bunch of teams interested in him – the Sydney Kings and the South East Melbourne Phoenix are the two teams I think are hottest on him, the Illawarra Hawks and New Zealand Breakers are also super interested in Bul Kuol.

“My feel is that it’ll come down to the Kings and the Phoenix.”

NBL free agency will begin no later than two weeks following the final game of the Championship Series.

Game 4 of the Championship Series between Melbourne and Tasmania will tip off on Thursday night at 7:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo.