36ers Operations Manager Paul Bauer has told The Advertiser Luke Schenscher is looking increasingly likely to be unavailable for Adelaide next season.

Schenscher has just signed a new contract for the remainder of the 2006/07 NBA season with the Portland TrailBlazers and Bauer told The Advertiser's Boti Nagy that the South Australian centre was firmly focused on earning a long-term contract in the NBA.

"His agent knows we want to put an offer to Luke but has told us to hold off sending it to him," Bauer said.

"His agent is consumed with getting Luke into the NBA or Europe, although he has told us Adelaide would be Luke's destination if he comes back. Personally I think we need to have a look at some of the other big man options available to us because the way he (Luke) is going (in the NBA at present), I don't think he'll be with us."

Hopes had been high that the 36ers could convince Schenscher to sign with the Sixers if he did not earn a contract for the 2007/08 NBA season at veterans' camps later this year.