| 26 July 2011
Drive north on the motorway toward Bamberg, Germany and right outside the city limits you'll notice a sign welcoming you to "Freak City", a nod to the rawkus fans at Stechert Arena that fittingly helped Brose Baskets Bamberg go undefeated at home during the regular season and throughout the playoffs.
The result - a second straight title for Bamberg in the Beko BBL.
Yet in a business where there really is no offseason, the mission for Bamberg's braintrust isn't so much about basking in basketball glory during the summer as it is about revamping their roster for another title run.
Easier said than done. As Brose Basket's Scouting Director Brendan Rooney knows all too well, it's been another hectic offseason of players coming and going and constantly trying fit a unique puzzle together.
Now in his fourth year with the team after stints with Bremerhaven (Germany) and Galil Gilboa (Israel), Rooney just hopes these pieces fit together.
"We prepare every season like we will lose guys," Rooney told Beyond the Beat, as the team declined to renew the contracts of point guard Brian Roberts and BBL Finals MVP Kyle Hines.
"That's just the way it works in Europe most of the time, unless we have them on a 2-3 year deal. Before the season begins we always meet and discuss which spots we need to focus on when scouting throughout the year. This year I spent a lot of time watching combo guards in case Brian (Roberts) left."
In Roberts' case, offers coming from Spain and Tukey were just too much to compete with. Hines, with his MVP honors increasing his stock, also drew interest elsewhere. That left General Manager Wolfgang Heyder, head coach Chris Fleming, lead assistant Arne Woltmann and Rooney to continue with their detailed offseason game plan.
"At the beginning of the year we typically have 15-20 guys by position that we like. And as the season progresses and we continue to scout them and do background work, we narrow it down to 5 or so by the end of the year," Rooney continued.
"We also had to prepare three separate ways at the '5 spot' (center). Tibor (Pleiss) had an opt-out clause in his contract (the Oklahoma City Thunder also hold his rights), so he could have left - in that case we would have needed to add a German player. If Kyle (Hines) left we would need to find someone capable of playing a big role at the 5. If both Tibor and Kyle left...we were prepared for any of the scenarios. But you also have to have a realistic view of whom you can possibly sign. And that is where the payroll comes into play. We can't go out and compete with the big teams from Spain, Italy, Russia, Turkey, and others. So we have our work cut out for us."
Enter Julius Jenkins from Finals foe Alba Berlin and Marcus Slaughter.
Jenkins, the 30-year-old guard who played at Georgia Southern, inked a two-year deal and was part of a Berlin team that won the 2008 German league title and two MVP honors in 2008 and 2010. Slaughter, 26, is a force on both ends of the floor. The 6'9 power forward out of San Diego State spent last season in the Spanish ACB and averaged 9.9 points and 6 rebounds per game.
"We're excited to add Jenkins and know what he can do," Rooney started.
"Marcus is a very long, athletic and skilled player and has a very unique package of skills and athleticism. We wanted to get bigger, rebound better, and get some more post game but also keep the athletic component, too. Marcus has been a high level player everywhere he has played (Germany, France, Spain) and we've spent a lot time scouting him. We think he'll be an impact player on both ends."
The team also took care of another very important piece of business: extending the contract of team captain Casey Jacobsen. Jacobsen received a three-year contract extension ("not the norm" according to Brendan) and Rooney admitted Bamberg, "would not have had the success we've had over the last two years without him".
"He brings much more to the team than his on-court production. He’s a big-time leader."
It's hard not to think of the NBA when bringing up Jacobsen's name. After arriving in Bamberg in the summer of 2009 after spending one season at Alba Berlin, the former Stanford standout - and two-time German League Finals MVP - will forever be linked to his time in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies.
And with the phrase "NBA lockout" and "considering playing overseas" in a current state of matrimony, many are curious to know if the Beko BBL or even Brose Baskets for that matter will get in on the bidding action for an NBA player or two.
Don't count on it.
"I'm sure that some NBA guys will come over (to Europe). I think it will be more of the fringe guys than actual legit or long-term contract guys. It makes no sense for them to do it and jeopardize their health. What Deron Williams is doing is quite surprising and maybe they'll be more.
"For us, we probably won't look at any of them. It doesn't make sense for us to do so when we've been scouting guys in Europe and haven't paid any attention to the NBA guys at all. Plus, it is not easy to get an NBA guy and have it work out. Talent-wise, sure. But there is a lot more involved in having it become successful. We've had Dan Dickau and Alexander Johnson at Brose over the past three years. Both times it did not work out for various reasons. Nothing to do with talent. It just didn't work."
What has worked out for Rooney and Bamberg however is doing their due diligence scouting teams and talent abroad in an attempt to maintain a certain level of championship excellance in Bamberg.
Unlike NBA teams who stock their organizations with multiple scouts - domestic at a league and college level, as well as international - Rooney is a one man gang. This lone Bamberg scout from St. Louis who went to Eastern Illinois to play basketball before transfering to Kansas will be the first to admit many parts of basketball around the world simply aren't the same.
Around here, teams have to make their money stretch.
"Our approach is probably different than most NBA teams. They always go for the 'best available' by position, more likely than not. Talent wins in the NBA and money is usually not a deterrent for them. Whereas for us, money is certainly a major part of the process. We know what players on the market we can pursue and potentially sign, and we know which leagues make the most sense for us to scout."
Players will arrive in Bamberg for their team physicals on August 15, and the team holds their first day of practice on August 20.
Every other team in the 18-team Beko BBL will be gunning for Brose Baskets Bamberg this season. Some things never change. But instead of looking over their shoulders worrying who is coming after their title, Bamberg is focusing instead on taking care of business in "Freak City".
"We are being patient," said Rooney before looking a little further down the road.
"The season will be here before we know it."
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