The Sydney Kings have taken drastic action to fix their slumping NBL season, signing reigning league MVP Jerome Randle and former NBA centre Jeremy Tyler.
They have axed import Travis Leslie to make way for Tyler while Jeremy Kendle's stay as an import injury replacement is being cut short to make way for Randle.
Sydney are bottom with a 2-6 record and their early season draw has them playing just three of their first 11 games at home.
Kings managing director Jeff Van Groningen said they still had 20 games to turn their season around and it made sense to bring two imports in at the same time so they could be integrated into the team together.
Tyler, who played 104 NBA games with three clubs from 2011-14, is expected to arrive in Australia on Friday and could suit up for the away game against Melbourne United the following night.
Brilliant point guard Randle will arrive in time for the Kings' away game against Illawarra Hawks next Thursday before a road clash with his former club Adelaide 36ers on November 18.
He has been playing with Turkish club Bahcesehir since setting the NBL alight last season, when he topped the league in scoring, averaging 21.3 points for Adelaide.
"We know what he can do, we've got ideas on how he can do that best with us and I think that will be a really wonderful thing to see unfold." Van Gronigen told AAP.
"But unfolding does take a little bit of time you've got to let it come to the surface."
Van Gronigen doubted the changes would increase pressure on Kings' coach Andrew Gaze to deliver better results.
"Whether the pressure goes up or down doesn't affect Andrew because his internal expectations have always been high," Van Gronigen said.
Randle's signing means the Kings will boast two NBL MVPs in their starting backcourt when skipper Kevin Lisch returns from injury - but could mean a lesser role for fellow guard Jason Cadee.
However Van Gronigen didn't foresee any problems, suggesting it would lighten the workload for the three men.
Leslie has paid the price for the the club's more urgent need for a dominant big man than a swingman.
"We also feel that our young Australian centre Isaac Humphries is a future star, and for him to have another strong '5' on the roster will assist his trajectory," Van Gronigen said.
Tyler has played the last three seasons in China, most recently with Tianjin Ronggang, with whom he averaged 20.8 points and 9.6 rebounds in the last campaign.
