How the Adelaide 36ers convinced the son of a Melbourne Tigers great to sign with them even in a time of crisis
Details of Adelaide’s two-hour Sydney hotel pitch to sign Josh Giddey have emerged as the club reveals why Harry Froling and Jerome Randle will return, but why Anthony Drmic may not.
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Details of the Adelaide 36ers’ two-hour Sydney hotel pitch to Boomers sensation Josh Giddey have been revealed as club owner Grant Kelley declares both Jerome Randle and Harry Froling will return next season.
Giddey’s signature as part of the NBL’s Next Stars Program was some welcome good news for the club on Thursday, after it endured two weeks of upheaval with the departure of coach Joey Wright and a bitter public feud with co-captain Kevin White.
The 36ers met with 17-year-old Giddey – the youngest Boomer since Ben Simmons and a 2021 NBA draft prospect – the day after White’s stunning Twitter tirade plunged the club into crisis mode last month.
As that crisis raged around them, Kelley and Adelaide’s basketball operations manager, Jeff Van Groningen, boarded a flight to Sydney where they met with Giddey and his manager Aaron Moldovan at the luxurious Park Hyatt Hotel.
Kelley and Van Groningen believed Melbourne United was in the box seat to secure Giddey given his father Wawrick is a Melbourne Tigers great, but they grew in confidence after presenting their case to the young star.
“Jeff and I started talking back in early January on the need for a revamp, it was the point it looked like we weren’t going to make the finals and then accelerated,” Kelley told The Advertiser.
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“I felt we needed a point guard who was a passing guard, could react well to a screen, we have been vulnerable in the pick and pop.
“A guy like Harry Froling could set a screen then roll down to the post, what we were missing was the ability to pick and pop and that requires a quick point guard who’s a 10-second preferred pass as opposed to a 14-second.
“Jerome (Randle) has the ability to drive to the bucket and shoot a fadeaway jumper, so (with Giddey) we have the capability of an additional weapon off the screen that will be set by DJ (Daniel Johnson) as well as enabling more pick and roll, and pick and pop plays.
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“We were not a three-point shooting team, we’ve been relying too much on our wings to shoot our threes, but not on our other players and bringing them into the game coming off screens.
“We explained (to Giddey) that we have older point guards, particularly Randle and (Brendan) Teys, and he would complement that group beautifully with youth.
“And next year we intend to emphasise Harry Froling and Daniel Johnson as power forwards more, and we need a coach who can understand Harry’s potential, to be the superstar he can be, and I think Josh Giddey will be instrumental to that.”
Kelley boarded a flight back to Adelaide at 6pm that night and got a text message from Van Groningen while still in the air saying he believed they were in with a shot.
Confirmation of Giddey’s signature followed in days and was announced this week.
Although Giddey is likely to only spend one season at Adelaide before joining the NBA, Kelley reiterated it was not a marketing ploy and the teenager would see significant game-time.
Froling – the NBL’s Rookie of the Year two seasons ago – is out of contract but in advanced discussions with the 36ers on an extension.
He was one of four players named by Wright – along with imports Randle, Eric Griffin and Ramon Moore – for letting the team down this season but the club has told him he is a required player.
Randle meanwhile is recovering from knee surgery in Spain but has been told there will be a job for him at the Sixers next season either on or off the court.
The second year of his contract is a club option.
“I spoke to him two days ago and he’s in Spain doing his rehab,” Kelley said.
“It’s (Randle’s return) subject of course to his health, the last thing I want to do is put him in a position where he’s compromised, but if he can’t play we will look for a role within the club.
“He’s a bit of an unsung hero, an extraordinary club guy, the first guy running clinics and an exceptional point guard.”
Sharp-shooter Anthony Drmic is yet to re-sign with the Sixers for next season and the club has granted him permission to speak with rival clubs before free agency opens later this month.
Kelley would not comment on the playing future of co-captain White, who has removed his tweets in which he blasted Wright, accused him of assaulting a player and the club of covering it up.
Adelaide is conducting the first round of interviews for its vacant head coach position this weekend, having pre-screened shortlist of 10 candidates to replace Wright.
reece.homfray@news.com.au