SMITH LOOKING FOR NEW INSIDE BODY

He vowed: "I want someone with height and inside presence who can play wityh his back to the basket and who can knock down the shot wheh he's facing it.. I need a big body to complement Gaylon Moore.

"Gaylon is still an offensive threat and he's coming ofa League MVP year. Jamal briught us speed up and down the court and a game above the rim.

"He was a rookie and although he got frustrated with the referees in the second half of the season and that took away from his game on court, he would have got better this year. But it wasn't to be.

"Although he wanted to come back here, his agent had a say and Jamal's departure was for the same reasons as Lavoris Jerry left us this time last year."

Smith has parted company with London-based back-up forward Damian Harris, who has been training with Kingston Wildcats, and has also to replace dynamic English guard Steven Gayle, now a Brighton Bear.

He added: "I want to get all our other English players back and I'd have loved to have had Steven back. It will be tough to replace him. So far, I've had no contact from Mike Brown, who was with Bears last season and I read may be leaving them this year.

"I've always got players calling 24/7 wanting to play for the Thunder. It isn't going to be hard to replace Jamal or Steven."