REPORT: Hawks eye centre, but is size the real fix?

The Illawarra Hawks are reportedly chasing a "straight five" as they search the import market for a replacement for Darius Days.

Days played just one regular-season game in his second stint with the Hawks before he and the club mutually parted ways last week.

ESPN's Olgun Uluc stopped short of naming Illawarra's target, but described him as "a more athletic, higher energy type of guy" who "has played at a high level before" and recently played in Europe.

"The name I'm hearing that Illawarra is targeting right now, it's a straight five," Uluc said on the Aussie Hoops Hour podcast. "You wouldn't even put consideration into playing this guy at the four.

"I'm not going to say the name because there's a chance it doesn't happen, but I think there's a good chance it does happen."

The NBL25 champions sit 10th with a 0-3 record after losses to the New Zealand Breakers, Brisbane Bullets and Sydney Kings, the latest a 121-100 defeat to the Kings on Sunday.

A true centre would fill an obvious gap in the roster. With Days gone and Mason Peatling (foot) and Todd Blanchfield (thumb) sidelined, Sam Froling is currently the Hawks' only genuine big.

"As soon as you take Sam Froling out there's no bigs, zero bigs," former NBL guard Jason Cadee said on the podcast.

Three-time NBL champion Chris Anstey made a similar point on NBL Now.

"They absolutely need size, and they absolutely need speed," Anstey said. "[They are] two really important things in a team, and that they just don't seem to have at the moment."

Cadee said any new signing would need to offer something different to Froling.

"You can't bring someone in who's exactly like Sam," he said. "So if it's someone that's above the rim, can be a rim protector and a lob threat, I think that can help."

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The Hawks' point guard situation has also come under the microscope.

"Brad Rosen [commentator] on the telecast in the weekend just kept talking about a point guard and I do agree with him," Cadee said.

Cadee said Milton Doyle needs to take ownership of the role.

"I think if it's going to work, Milton Doyle has to put his hand up and say, 'I am the point guard. Let me run the show and then see how we go,'" he said. "But right now, it doesn't feel like anyone necessarily offensively or defensively are putting their hand up."

Uluc backed Doyle to fill that role, pointing to his form in the Hawks' championship season.

"I think Milton can go and be that primary creator for them," Uluc said. "We've got to remember that like two years ago, Milton Doyle was very high level, and we still see glimpses of it here and there."

However, both agreed the Hawks' biggest problems lie at the defensive end.

"I think my feel is the point guard thing is slightly overstated and the actual issue of this team is almost entirely defensively," Uluc said.

Hawks coach Justin Tatum insists a turnaround is coming, despite a less-than-ideal start.

"We're still working on having a full roster, so I know our season's going to change drastically and swiftly once we get everybody on the same page, when our roster is at full strength and we keep building the confidence of the guys we have in the locker room," Tatum said.

"I promise you in a month's time we'll be having a different conversation."

The Hawks play their first home game of NBL27 on Friday, hosting the Adelaide 36ers at WIN Entertainment Centre from 7.30pm AEST, live on ESPN.