How Armstrong's NBA ambitions impact Cairns

Adam Forde is building Cairns’ NBL25 side around the talents of Taran Armstrong. Jackson Makoi has been brought in as a backup point guard with a comparable skillset, while Kyrin Galloway and Tanner Groves have been added as versatile front-court options around the local floor general.

The question is, though, will Armstrong be in Cairns for NBL25?

The talented sophomore guard is currently in the United States preparing to attend the NBA G-League Elite Camp, with the hopes of earning a position at the upcoming NBA Draft Combine. ESPN’s Olgun Uluc also reported there is potential for Armstrong to sign a two-way contract on a recent episode of The Marketplace.

Forde says should Armstrong be selected to take the leap to the NBA, his side will alter its recruiting focus.

“The NBA is on the radar for him and we’ve been supportive every step along the way, selfishly we hope he comes back but it’s a great opportunity for him to be there,” Forde said.

“He’s been over there working out and this is a chance for him to showcase. The hope is they’ll select a handful from the G-League combine and bring them to the NBA Draft Combine which is where Bobi is at the moment.

“Taran Armstrong is the starting point guard who is going to drive and steer the whole thing, irreplaceable from a local standpoint. If, selfishly, we were able to get him back we’d go for an import two-three. If we lose him then it becomes import one.

“If he does get a call-up we’ve had two guys get promoted into the NBA in one season, and that makes for a very effective recruiting tool for the next Taran Armstrong we want to bring in.”

Regardless of the future of Armstrong, the Taipans have already secured their first import for next season in the form of Tanner Groves.

The 24-year-old is currently representing German side Rasta Vechta alongside former NBA forward Wes Iwundu, and they sit sixth in the competition after 33 games played.

He played for Oklahoma City’s NBA Summer League side with former NBL Next Star Ousmane Dieng in 2023, and Forde says that’s where the connection with the forward began.

“Dave Patrick was assistant coach at Oklahoma when he was there, at Eastern Washington he’s played with Mason Peatling and Tyler Robertson, so he already knew of the NBL and Australian basketball,” Forde continued.

“We were looking to go early on this and lock it in. Summer League is different now, you go back eight years and you could pluck a fringe NBA guy out of the D-League as it was called back then for 20 grand. Now guys are fringe NBA dude, two-ways are half a mil, E10 is 120, and there are competitive G-League salaries.

"You get into this feeding frenzy at Summer League trying to secure a good prospect and bigs are always harder to get.

“[Last season] we had a guy lined up who, for whatever reason, went down a different path. Summer League had been and gone and our b, c and d options had gone, and Josh was fantastic but he wasn’t our first choice, and there were things we struggled with in his debut season. With Tanner, it’s completely different.

“We know exactly what we’re getting, and we can start to design a playbook that is going to accommodate him and that ability with the bigs we’ve already got and our roster, he’s the perfect fit.”