BASKETBALL
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Wollongong Hawks are set for a roster overhaul after one of the club's all-time worst seasons.
Wollongong wrapped up their 28-game campaign with weekend losses to Townsville and Adelaide, finishing with an atrocious 6-22 record.
Under contract with the Hawks next season are Luke Nevill, Brad Hill, Tim Coenraad and Oscar Forman.
Imports Gary Ervin and Jahii Carson have almost certainly played their last games with Wollongong, though Ervin could stick around if he gets Australian citizenship and is eligible to play as an Aussie.
Adam Ballinger has retired and Dominique Cooks has put his basketball career on hold after scoring a promising nine to five job in Sydney.
Tyson Demos will play for Mackay in the Queensland Basketball League and may not be back with the Hawks in 2015-16, while off-contract centre Larry Davidson is weighing up his future.
Last but certainly not least is guard Rhys Martin, a free agent who might be lured home to Queensland to play with the NBL's new Brisbane club.
Of all the players on this season's roster, Martin should be the Hawks' number one priority. He has blossomed into one of the best at his position in the entire league and is usually the first player opposing coaches discuss when preparing for games against Wollongong.
For evidence of Martin's influence on his team, look no further than Sunday's season-ending 20-point loss to Adelaide.
Wollongong were down 7-5 in the opening quarter when Martin went to the bench with his second foul.
The Hawks were out-scored 17-2 over the next five minutes and the game was as good as over.
"I've known Rhys since he was a smart-ass 15-year-old," Adelaide coach Joey Wright said.
"I coached him for a while at the [Brisbane] Bullets and that kid can flat-out play. We always talk about him in warm-up as being the catalyst for them. He's one of the Aussie guards that can play with any import in this league."
The Hawks made the mistake of not re-signing Martin this time last year. He came back six games into the season and team performances gradually improved, but the losing feeling had already set in.
Retaining him as soon as possible would be a step in the right direction for a club that needs to reassure fans with some well-planned off-season moves.