Justin Tatum ideally wants to retain the exact same roster that took the Illawarra Hawks to within striking distance of this season's NBL Championship Series.
But the resurgent Wollongong side is likely to have a fight on its hands to keep star import Gary Clark now that their campaign has drawn to a close.
Illawarra pushed championship favourites Melbourne United until the last minute of their three-game Play-off series but a 100-94 loss in Wednesday night's decider extinguished their finals flame.
The defeat ended a rollercoaster season at the Hawks, who sacked coach Jacob Jackomas following a 2-7 start but rose from the ashes and into the top four under his ex-assistant Tatum.
Much was made of the fact that Tatum executed the turnaround with the same roster as began the season, and one similar to that which finished the 2022/23 campaign in last place.
"I inherited the team but this is my team," Tatum said after the loss to United.
"I hand-selected or knew who was going to be a part of this team as I was coming in as an assistant. So I was building that relationship there.
"This is my group."
When the dust settles on Illawarra's finals exit, Tatum will turn his attention to configuring his roster for the first season of the three-year contract he signed last month.
Starting centre Sam Froling, long-time Hawk Daniel Grida, veteran Todd Blanchfield, ex-United forward Mason Peatling and the sharp-shooting Hyunjung Lee are already contracted.
But the Hawks' import trio, Justin Robinson, Tyler Harvey and Clark are all without deals.
The club are also yet to announce new contracts for defensive ace Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Will Hickey, a rock for the Hawks in the Play-off series against Melbourne.
The biggest challenge appears to be keeping ex-NBA forward Gary Clark, the club's most valuable player this season and a member of the All-NBL First Team.
Clark has immersed himself in the Wollongong community and has been open about his desire to remain with the Hawks if he is in Australia next season.
But like all NBL players coming off bumper seasons, he is likely to be able to command bigger money overseas.
Clark isn't the only Hawk on Tatum's wish-list for next season.
"I want everybody back on this team," he said.
"We've got to do our best to retain and get them back but GC, Sam and everybody knows that I want the same 12 or 13 guys that were in there.
"But if it doesn't work out, we'll find a way to make it work. But that is our first priority."
