Revealed: One player who could save Illawarra's season

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Could a former Australian NBA player be the answer to the problems of the Illawarra Hawks?

NBL legend Jason Cadee believes Mitch Creek is the perfect person for the struggling Hawks to bring in to save their season following a horrific 2-8 start to the season, where they sit anchored to the bottom of the ladder.

The former South East Melbourne Phoenix and Adelaide 36ers star is currently playing for Al-Ula in the Saudi Basketball League and has teased of an NBL return in recent seasons and one of his former teammates says Illawarra need to pick up the phone and bring in the Australian Boomers forward.

"I just think they need someone who can influence the game in a different way," Cadee said on the latest episode of Cut to the Jase.

"Look, everyone (is sayng) they need a point guard, they need a five man, like everyone's got an opinion. I actually don't know what they fully need, but I think they just need someone that can affect the game in a different way, and someone who can bring energy to their group at the other end.

"I think Daniel Grida does a great job of bringing energy, but Dan Grida is a role player who's always been that kind of eighth to 11th guy.

"Some games he'll spark you, and some games he won't play.

"I feel like they need a guy in that top six who just brings energy the right way, but can also has a skill level above what others have."

Cadee said the other player who should be at the top of Justin Tatum's list is former Sydney Kings and Hawks defensive stopper Justin Simon.

The comments came on the basketball.com.au podcast, where Cadee and co-host Brayden Heslehurst, grilled each other about things that have happened during their careers as well as on topics involving today's game.

It was there where Cadee revealed he was leaving the Gold Coast Blaze even before the franchise folded in 2012.

"The moment it got dragged out close to free agency, (36ers coach) Marty (Clarke) was one of the first calls, and as we all know, free agency normally starts when the season ends," he said.

"Marty had basically said, I still want Jason, I want him to come across and I had agreed to go over there to Adelaide.

"There were other things going on that maybe also led to why it got to that place of me choosing something else but I'd actually made that decision before (the Blaze folded). So, there you go.

"Maybe if they were in a more stable position, (staying for the rest of my career) might have happened."