THE Cairns Taipans might be facing an uphill battle in the upcoming 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season, but under masterful coach Adam Forde, it would be remiss to rule them out of a finals appearance.

Coming off a campaign that lacked consistency and the punch that saw them storm up the rankings the season before, the Taipans will be aiming to return to the postseason action at the end of the fixture.

However, there still are a few question marks surrounding Cairns’ prospects, and in an even landscape, the team will need to get going early in the piece if it is to compete for a top six spot.

Cairns Taipans

Last time around

The season prior, the Taipans had made a stunning charge into the postseason from the bottom of the table, and came close to a championship series berth, so expectations were high for Cairns in the 2023/24 season. However, Forde and his team fell one win short of a play-in berth, and were forced to watch the finals from home.

The Taipans’ campaign was not short of impressive highs, with the team able to pull off some impressive wins, including a final-round victory over Melbourne United to shake things up on the eve of the finals. These sorts of results were reflective of the potential of Cairns when on song, able to get the most out of its roster.

However, those wins were often followed up by a loss, and the team lacked the consistent results to make their way up the ladder. In the most even season in recent memory, that sort of performance was not enough to keep their season alive.

The off-season

The Taipans have a different looking team in the upcoming season, with some exciting young talent set to lead the way.

Cairns added three imports, all of whom will be heavily involved in the rotation and crucial to the team’s success throughout the fixture.

The first addition was Tanner Groves, who brings a decorated college career to Cairns and should be an offensive contributor. He was a valued member of Oklahoma’s college program before spending time in the G-League and in Europe. At six-foot-nine, he is a physical player that will be a serious presence in the frontcourt for the Taipans.

Another G-League and college gun joined the team in Rob Edwards a few weeks later. He will occupy the shooting guard spot and is a professional scorer who does not have much trouble finding the bottom of the net. He has earned a nickname of ‘the Microwave’ thanks to his ability to heat up and take over matches on the scoring front, a trait that will be valued by Cairns.

The final import signing saw the Taipans acquire the services of Pedro Bradshaw late in July. The small forward is fresh off playing with the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Summer League, and will slot into Cairns’ starting lineup immediately.

Predicted starters (when healthy)

Taran Armstrong
Rob Edwards
Pedro Bradshaw
Sam Waardenberg
Tanner Groves

One to watch

With the departure of Tahjere McCall over the off-season, it is expected that this team will now be in the hands of Taran Armstrong. The point guard has been highly touted as a junior and played for the California Baptist Lancers at college level. With an elite passing vision and a scoring game that has a high potential, he could be one of the breakout players of the upcoming season, and with added responsibility and some impressive weapons around him, Armstrong should thrive as the go-to option.