News and transactions for the 2008/09 BBL season

[robbe2]

I know the 07/08 thread is still running, but as the first roster transactions are already taking place, it isn't too early to open the next one. Please still use the 07/08 thread for news that fit in there.

Braunschweig extended its contract with Kyle Visser for the 08/09 season. Ratiopharm Ulm meanwhile signed young PG Per Günther. Low-budget club Paderborn Baskets re-signed headcoach Doug Spradley, who has a no-relegation clause in his contract. In his case though, this doesn't mean he's free to go when the club gets relegated. It means the club can't get relegated.

 

[woma2]

I know the 07/08 thread is still running, but as the first roster transactions are already taking place, it isn't too early to open the next one. Please still use the 07/08 thread for news that fit in there.

Braunschweig extended its contract with Kyle Visser for the 08/09 season.

One thing we are not still having in Poland - teams which are able to re-sign anybody until june at earliest. This drives me crazy.

 

[CoachL2]

In Trier Coach Yves Defraigne received a two year contract extension. It will be very interesting to see what he can do with a team that is created by himself.

Moreover young PG Chris Hoffmann signed a new contract. Due to his work ethic and injuries he worked himself into the rotation this season and showed that he is able to give a strong PG some backup minutes in the BBL. For his age he is a good shooter and most importantly a very good defender.

 

[Gruebler2]

One thing we are not still having in Poland - teams which are able to re-sign anybody until june at earliest. This drives me crazy.

Well it's a special situation in Braunschweig. They got some extra money and decided against signing up a new player close to trading deadline earlier this year but said to use the money for keeping the team together.

Braunschweig already has signed big men Kyle Visser, Anthony Drevo and Jason Cain as well as Guard Jonathan Levy for next season. Visser is free to go if an NBA team is ready to sign him... according to newspaper articles they currently try to re-sign Fehse and Allen, too. They're looking for a new point guard.

Göttingen signed young German PG/SG Robert Kulawick (22, Berlin/Bremerhaven/Den Helder) and center Jason Miller (Jena 2.08m, 14.7ppg, 5.5rpg).

Cory Rouse (PF/C, 10ppg, 6rpg) will stay with Gießen 46ers next season, while the contracts of Marko Buljevic and long-time injured Tory Walker have been terminated.

 

[robbe2]

How about the roster situations for the offseason. I know we don't have supporters from every team here, but it should be interesting nevertheless.

In Bonn, the situation is as follows:

C John Bowler (Free Agent)
C Bernd Kruel (Free Agent)
PF Ronald Burrell (Free Agent)
PF Patrick Flomo (Free Agent)
SF Moussa Diagne (option for another season; of which kind is unknown though)
SG/SF Jason Conley (Free Agent)
SG/SF Eddie Basden (Free Agent)
SG/SF Artur Kolodziejski (Free Agent)
SG Winsome Frazier (under contract until summer 2009)
PG Johannes Strasser (under contract until summer 2009)
PG Miah Davis (Free Agent)

HC Michael Koch (under contract until summer 2011)

So much for the contracts. I'll go a bit deeper on who they'll probably try to keep once the defining part of the season (playoffs) is over.

 

[Souljacker2]

In Trier Coach Yves Defraigne received a two year contract extension. It will be very interesting to see what he can do with a team that is created by himself.

I belgium Newspapers it's told that George Evans will go to Trier. It's a kind of reunion because Defraigne was the one who brought Evans to Mons.

 

[CoachL2]

I belgium Newspapers it's told that George Evans will go to Trier. It's a kind of reunion because Defraigne was the one who brought Evans to Mons.

Are the newspapers serious sources? Is it possible for you to quote (and translate) the articles or lines about Evans and Trier. Would be definitely a great signing for Trier, although Evans is already 37 years. Saw him in Mons last season and he is a quality player and still able to produce. Nevertheless Evans has never played for an other club than Mons and it's hard to imagine that he will go to a new league at the age of 37. It's up to Yves Defraigne to convince him to look for a new challenge.

 

[Souljacker2]

Are the newspapers serious sources? Is it possible for you to quote (and translate) the articles or lines about Evans and Trier. Would be definitely a great signing for Trier, although Evans is already 37 years. Saw him in Mons last season and he is a quality player and still able to produce. Nevertheless Evans has never played for an other club than Mons and it's hard to imagine that he will go to a new league at the age of 37. It's up to Yves Defraigne to convince him to look for a new challenge.

I think the chances are pretty high that the rumour is true. Can't really say much about it.
Evans is still a good player but he is getting old. This year he didn't play as well as he normaly did but I think that has something to do with the coach.

Brandon Gay, you should know him aswell, will probably leave Antwerp.

 

[CoachL2]

That's why I have my doubts about this rumour. Evans is good, but he is not getting younger. The problem is that he would have to play on a extreme high level to show the fans that it was the right decision to sign such an old player. Another thing is that Evans isn't a cheap player, but he won't be able to play many minutes. Playing with Evans would mean that you have to sign a strong Backup, who could give Evans some minutes and I don't think that our budget is that big. We will see.

Surely I know Brandon Gay. He played here for two seasons and was a real talented player. Unfortunately he played the wrong position in his second season over here. I followed his season in Belgium, because I know him personally. During the season he had some real nice stretches, but I think Brandon doesn't really like the Belgium lifestyle. When he played here, he always stressed how important big city life is for him. I would really like to see him here again, especially with Yves Defraigne as his coach.

 

[Souljacker2]

first of all, Antwerp is not such a small city. it's bigger than Trier. The reason why Bradon probably didn't like it in Antwerp is because he played on a real bad team. They had 2 terrible coaches and they had a real bad scouting year.

I don't know how much Evans will cost. I do not think it's that much but don't think he can't play anymore. He played 23minutes in a team that a least would make the play-offs in the German league.

 

[Souljacker2]

rumour has that Matthias Desaever will also go to Trier.

 

[CoachL2]

Where did you get that rumour from? I had Desaever already on my mind for last season, but then he went to a second division team in Belgium. In the past he was a very strong player, but how is he now?

 

[Souljacker2]

Where did you get that rumour from? I had Desaever already on my mind for last season, but then he went to a second division team in Belgium. In the past he was a very strong player, but how is he now?

a supporter of Mons who knows his club verry well. I never really liked Deseaver. He never convinced me. He got range and is a excellent passer but then again that's it. He could probably do some damage of the bench in 10-15min a game.

 

[CoachL2]

Do you know why he went to the second division? A player with range and passing skills sounds like the perfect Defraigne-rotation-player. They already worked together in the past and I think that Defraigne knows him well. From what you are telling, I would say that he only would play the 10-20 minutes from the bench. Is he a good defense player?

 

[CWILL2]

As already rumoured weeks (months?) ago, Dirk Bauermann will not coach Bamberg next season. Bauermann decided to sign with DBB and will coach germany's national team for the next 5 years!

Meanwhile newcomer Noerdlingen signed Danny Gibson for the next 2 years.
Gibson had two great seasons in Germany's second division and really looks ready for division 1!

 

[Cypher2]

How about the roster situations for the offseason. I know we don't have supporters from every team here, but it should be interesting nevertheless.

Well, it's worth a try.

Bremerhaven:

unter contract:
C - Nate Doornekamp (until 2009)
SF - Zygimantas Jonusas (2009)
PG - Brian Brown (2009)

options:
SG - Jan Lipke (2009)

Free Agents:
C - Matt Haryasz
C/PF - Alexander Zyskunov
PF - Anthony Tolliver
SF - Ivars Timermanis
SF - Jannis Michael
SG - Nate Funk
SG/PG - Tony Bobbitt

HC Sarunas Sakalauskas is also a free agent. He wants to decide by mid June if he wants to return to Bremerhaven. Team management wants him to stay, but they'll likely have competitors Sakalauskas' services. An article from the local newspaper threw out the thought that Sakalauskas might go back to Rytas in Lithuania.

If Sakalauskas stays Doornekamp is very likely to leave the team despite his contract. They never seemed to find a good working relationship, they had trouble with each other all year long. Brian Brown isn't a real lock to stay either, he was one of the biggest disappointments of the season.

Jonusas will stay (if no one buys him out of his contract), Lipke is also very likely to stay. Timermanis mentioned that he'd like to stay too, Bremerhaven would be his first option if they want him back. Jannis Michael and Alexander Zyskunov will have good chances to stay because of their german passport. The rest of the free agents is probably leaving, the chances of re-signing guys like Tolliver and Haryasz are slim (to put it nicely).

The team also has unresolved financial issues to deal with, management has asked the city of Bremerhaven for an additional sum of 300.000€ for the current season. The city is basically the biggest sponsor of the team, already paying 965.000€ per year to the team and even more through backchannels via city-owned businesses. It is not known what the money is supposed to be used for, manager Rathjen claims that all salaries have been paid in time and that the team has no outstanding accounts.

 

[Souljacker2]

Do you know why he went to the second division? A player with range and passing skills sounds like the perfect Defraigne-rotation-player. They already worked together in the past and I think that Defraigne knows him well. From what you are telling, I would say that he only would play the 10-20 minutes from the bench. Is he a good defense player?

not good definsifly. Played in second division cause in lower level teams didn't have the money and the need to sign new player and in higher level teams he just didn't fit. Couldn't find a club so he went to play in second division to get his confidence going on the offensif end.

Brandon Gay will stay in Antwerp(official)

 

[CoachL2]

Now it's officially: George Evans is finally leaving Mons after 7 years. Eurobasket says that he has 3 offers on the table. Probably Trier, one team in belgium and another team. Did you hear anything new about Evans?
Hopefully he will come to Trier, if we stay in the league. I don't think that he will take a high risk for the new season, because it will be probably his last one. Here in Trier he knows the coach and as far as I know him this seems to be very important for him.

 

[Souljacker2]

No news about Evans but still rumours go on about trier. The team in Belgium would probably be Antwerp (but that's just me guess).

their is also a rumour that Don Beck would return to Germany and coach artland dragons. But this rumour is verry strange cause Beck still has some years left on his contract.

 

[german2]

their is also a rumour that Don Beck would return to Germany and coach artland dragons.

Noooooooo!

Please, stay in Belgium! Please! I am sure that nearly no fan in whole Germany want him back. Please stay...

But in Germany we have this rumor, too. Tomorrow is a decision possible.