‘Hopefully his best option is the Sixers’: Adelaide coach keeps door open to retain former NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells has made a big call on star NBA signing Montrezl Harrell’s future at the club, as they await the return of big man Jarell Martin from a foot injury.
Basketball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells has left the door open for star NBA signing Montrezl Harrell to remain at the club even when big man Jarell Martin returns from a foot injury as early as late October.
Harrell, who collected the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2020, joined the Sixers in September as an injury-replacement for Martin.
The veteran power forward agreed to a short-term deal, but had scope to stay in Adelaide even when his role as an injury-replacement expired.
For Montrezl to extend his stay in Adelaide the club would need to deactivate a local player to accommodate the move.
Wells expects the former NBA mainstay to attract significant interest on the open market, but hopes he chooses to remain with the 36ers.
“He (Montrezl) is a very talented player, he has a ton of connections in the NBA and I’m sure that he is going to have a ton of different options,” Wells said about Harrell, who has averaged an impressive 16 points, 9.8 rebounds and 60 per cent shooting from the field in his four games to date.
“And hopefully his best option is the 36ers.”
Wells’ comments on Harrell come as Martin edges closer to a comeback from his foot injury.
The 36ers aren’t putting a time on it but there’s a realistic possibility the big man could be in uniform as soon as October 20 against Tasmania.
For now, coach Wells is focused on maintaining Adelaide’s winning momentum against the Sydney Kings at home on Friday night.
The 36ers head into the Kings clash full of confidence following back-to-back wins over the Phoenix and Illawarra.
Wells credits Adelaide’s turnaround after two losses to open NBL25 to a greater focus on the defensive end.
And while the 36ers are far from the finished product, the coach is taking confidence from his team’s renewed intensity in defence.
“I think we can be a very good defensive team,” he said.
“We’re a young group and we are still figuring dynamics out. Our defence has allowed us to hang in games against South East Melbourne and Illawarra.
“I thought our defensive commitment and attention to detail was better.”
The Adelaide 36ers came into round 3 under-fire after a 0-2 start.
— CODE Basketball (@codebballau) October 6, 2024
But after an emphatic response they leave the weekend with two wins and their season back on track.
Crosscourt âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/6KslhGE8kkpic.twitter.com/Mzk6LKx66N
Adelaide’s appetite to defend must be dialled in against an offensively potent Sydney side in Friday’s blockbuster.
The Kings possess scoring threats across the court through the likes of Xavier Cooks, Jaylen Adams and Alex Toohey.
Wells is fully aware of the challenge awaiting his charges against Sydney, but stressed they are a different side to the one that lost by eight points to the Kings in the opening round.
“We have a ton of respect for them (Sydney). Who they are, the talent they have, the coaching staff and the whole organisation,” he said.
“We’ve obviously grown a little bit and we’re in a different spot compared to where we were a few weeks ago, but so are they.
“We’ll just try and put our game plan together, compete and see where we are at.
“They (Sydney) have a lot of offensive weapons that you have to be dialled in on and they’ve got some bigs who can shoot the ball and space the floor.
“Then Adams and Cooks at the rim, so there are a bunch of different dynamics there.”
On the plus side for Adelaide, import guard Kendric Davis has discovered his finest form after having his long-term future in the league questioned.
Doubts were raised if Davis’ play at both ends was conducive to winning in the NBL.
The Texas-born talent took umbrage to the comments, fuelling him to drop 21 and 32 points in Adelaide’s past two wins.
According to Wells, the secret to Davis’ success has been simple.
“His attention and overall competitiveness and physicality on the ball has changed,” he said.
“I think he has played both sides of the ball really well. You can just feel his presence in a lot of different ways with this team.
“Whether it is offensively getting the ball down the floor and defensively his presence on the ball has been much different than the first few games.
“There was probably a learning curve. An import coming over and learning the NBL.
“You know, guys know how to play in this league and there is a lot of experience.”
NBL FRIDAY NIGHT
ADELAIDE 36ERS VS SYDNEY KINGS
Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Tip-off at 7.30pm (AEDT)
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘Hopefully his best option is the Sixers’: Adelaide coach keeps door open to retain former NBA Sixth Man of the Year
SuperCoach NBL experts reveal revised trades for round 4
An injury to Taran Armstrong has forced a rethink of this week’s trades. Who are our experts getting instead? See all their moves here.
Exum set to miss months after brutal injury setback
Luckless Boomers star Dante Exum has suffered a horrific setback on the eve of the NBA season, with the Dallas Mavericks guard set for a lengthy stint on the sideline.