Adelaide 36ers could be without Sobey, Froling and Deng for next season

The Adelaide 36ers could be without vice captain Nathan Sobey, star big-man Harry Froling and sharp shooter Majok Deng after what looms as a dramatic off-season.

Harry Froling is entering the 2019 NBA draft. Picture: Richard Wainwright/AAP.

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Adelaide 36ers could be without vice captain Nathan Sobey, star big-man Harry Froling and sharp shooter Majok Deng after what looms as a dramatic off-season.

Sobey is shaping as one of the most sought-after free agents on the market who is understood to have agreed to terms with Adelaide mid-season but has not signed a new contract.

He is currently playing in France as the 36ers await his decision as to whether he stays with them for their move to the Entertainment Centre next season or takes up free agency and moves on.

It’s believed Sobey has NBA ambitions which may include a G-League pathway similar to former teammate Mitch Creek but reports have also linked him to the Brisbane Bullets under Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis and the new South East Melbourne franchise that would spell a Victorian homecoming.

Deng is the other free agent who could be on the move from Adelaide when the NBL’s free agency period officially opens on April 1.

Froling, meanwhile, is signed for next season but has suddenly decided to nominate for this year’s NBA draft after what he described as a development that “came out of nowhere”.

In a video statement released this week, Froling - who won the NBL’s rookie of the year award this season - said he would not be playing with Tasmania’s Southern Huskies in the off-season and would instead leave for the US soon to prepare for the draft and training camps.

Harry Froling drives past Shawn Long last season. Picture SARAH REED

“Sadly I won’t be appearing for the Huskies this season, some stuff has arisen and I’ve got to enter the NBA draft this year, so I’m going to be based in America for the next couple of months and preparing for draft workouts and meeting GM’s and all that stuff,” Froling said.

“It’s disappointing, I really wanted to play for the Huskies but the staff have all been really supportive of me chasing my dreams and they know this is something that came out of nowhere.”

If Sobey does leave Adelaide next season the 36ers’ search for a point guard is likely to gain momentum.

It’s understood former 36er and league MVP Jerome Randle is eyeing a possible return to Adelaide but the club is unlikely to entertain a comeback.

If Froling isn’t drafted he will return to Adelaide’s roster alongside Jacob Wiley, Anthony Drmic, Ramone Moore, Daniel Johnson, Brendan Teys and Jack McVeigh who are all contracted for the 2019-20 NBL season.

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