Robert Franks Europe-bound as the Adelaide 36ers chase a former athletic forward

The Adelaide 36ers look set to pull the trigger on a former star as a current import makes a move to Europe.

Adelaide 36ers forward Robert Franks is set to sign a deal in Europe, paving the way for the 36ers to pursue former star Jacob Wiley ahead of NBL24. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

Adelaide 36ers forward Robert Franks is set to sign a deal in Europe, paving the way for the 36ers to pursue former star Jacob Wiley ahead of NBL24.

Franks has a player option in his contract for next season, but CODE Sports understands he is closing in on joining a European team.

It’s understood Adelaide are open to the American moving on to free up salary cap space to pursue another import.

The 36ers are keen lure Wiley home from Puerto Rico, where he is currently playing playoff basketball for Vaqueros de Bayamon.

The California-born power forward played 28 games for Adelaide during the 2018-2019 NBL season.

Wiley scored 343 points, shooting 56.5 per cent from the field while adding 141 rebounds and 26 assists.

Former Adelaide star Jacob Wiley is on the 36ers’ radar. Picture: Sarah Reed

Adelaide officials believe the athletic forward would perfectly complement its current roster.

It comes as Franks almost left the NBL prior to joining Adelaide from Brisbane last season when he received a lucrative offer to join Russia’s PBC Lokomotiv Kuban.

Franks had agreed to a deal with Lokomotiv, but the club withdrew the offer when he couldn’t train or play due to an ankle injury sustained while playing for the Boston Celtics at the NBA Summer League.

The Seattle-born power forward has a buyout in his Adelaide contract that allows him to explore his options should a superior deal surface.

Franks confirmed he tested the open market at the time, but stressed the lure to join the 36ers was too good to refuse after his initial chats with coach CJ Bruton.

“When CJ called me, he gave me that pitch of me coming in, elevating my game, elevating the players around me and building something special,” Franks said.

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

“It was more so on the business side of things, an opportunity in Europe came up and it was close to happening.

“But for all good reasons, I am here so that’s in the rear view.”

Franks played 28 games in his first season for Adelaide in NBL23, averaging 17.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

His highlight came last October when the 36ers created history to become the first NBL team to beat an NBA side in a pre-season game.

The @Adelaide36ers take down the Suns in Phoenix, 134-124 😮 #NBAPreseason

Craig Randall II: 35 PTS, 9 3PM

Robert Franks: 32 PTS, 6 3PM pic.twitter.com/lsjV7m6MLm

— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 3, 2022

Franks dominated for Adelaide, dropping 32 points (including six threes) as the 36ers went on to defeat the Phoenix Suns 134-124 in a major boilover.

He has proven to be a top performer during his two NBL seasons, so he would be a loss for the Australian domestic basketball scene.

Franks averaged 18.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in his maiden season with Brisbane.

He played seven NBA regular season games for the Orlando Magic in the 2020-2021 season, but spent most of his time in the G League via stints with the Stockton Kings and Lakeland Magic.

Franks, who went undrafted in 2019, is currently playing for Hapoel Gilboa Galilin in the Israeli league during the NBL off-season.

Originally published as Robert Franks Europe-bound as the Adelaide 36ers chase a former athletic forward