The Dunedin-based team is winless after 10 games and, short of a minor miracle, is unlikely to beat the top-of-the-table Waikato Pistons at the Edgar Centre tonight.
Despite the unimpressive record, Arlidge believes his young side has made some pleasing progress. But the reality is the franchise needs to recruit two or three players to bolster what is a green playing roster.
"For us to move ahead next year we definitely need to be out there looking to add two or three pieces to the puzzle that we've got," Arlidge acknowledged.
"We lack two or three older guys who have played in the league for five or six years . . . who would just bring us a little bit more leadership," he said, adding the Nuggets were reliant on too few players to do the bulk of the scoring.
"Let's face it, there is so much pressure on our imports because we don't have someone else there. In the last five or six years the Nuggets have always had one or two other good Kiwis... We just don't have that."
The franchise has been working on creating a good environment and culture but Arlidge said what was needed now was a cash injection. More money - better players.
"It is that simple," he said.
"We need to find the money and find the guys who, might not be the best players, but will be guys who will fit in."
While the Nuggets have been taking a hammering most weeks, there are some good signs for the future. It has been a steep learning curve but the team is starting to understand what it needs to do to be competitive in the league, Arlidge suggested.
"They are starting to believe in each other and play as a team. The guys are starting to understand their role in the side and I'm coming to terms with coaching in the league. It has taken me just as long as the guys to realise things are different . . . it is a step up from what I've done before."
Arlidge believes captain Sam To'omata has made good progress and has shot well from the outside. Back-up point guard James Ross has been a spark off the bench, forward Tom Rowe is improving, Matt Trueman works hard and Riki Buckrell has a touch of class and makes good decisions.
If the Nuggets can hold on to their core of players and put some experience around them, then there is no reason why the team cannot start getting better results, he said.
But in the short term more pain was imminent. The Pistons played the Southland Sharks last night and will be backing up. But with a classy line-up including Tall Blacks Thomas Abercrombie and Alex Pledger, experienced campaigner Tony Ronaldson and former Nuggets guard Hayden Allen, the Pistons should be too strong for their undersized opponent.
"The Pistons, along with the Saints and the Heat, are the hardest sides for us to match up against because they have some really big guys, and we struggle in that area because we don't."
NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
- Teams to play at the Edgar Centre tonight
Otago Nuggets: John Barber Jun, Tyler Amaya, Matt Gillan, Steve Robinson, Sam To'omata, James Ross, Matt Trueman, Tom Rowe, Riki Buckrell, Hayden Miller, Luke Aston, Chris Hepburn.
Waikato Pistons: Tony Ronaldson, Ray Cameron, Hayden Allen, Thomas Abercrombie, Alex Pledger, Carl Krauser, Gerard Bowden, Puke Lendon, Mike Homik.
