The Cairns Taipans re-signed club MVP, Dusty Rychart, centre Ian Crosswhite and club stalwart, Aaron Grabau. This leaves the majority of the ‘Pans roster unsigned, including imports Julien Mills (right) and Rich Melzer, Kiwi international Phill Jones, the rumoured to be retiring Gary Boodnikoff and young gun Kerry Williams. Tony Rampton had already announced his retirement previously.
The New Zealand Breakers signed players en masse, re-signing seven, including key players CJ Bruton, Kirk Penney, Paul Henare, Dillon Boucher, as well as promising young star Tom Abercrombie. Import and former NBA centre, Rick Rickert appears on the free agent list, however he has been made an offer by the Breakers which is pending upon his naturalization as a local. Oscar Forman and Jeremiah Trueman have been released to allow them to look for other opportunities. Forman will no doubt be recruited by more than one team.
In a big signing, the Gold Coast Blaze have inked rising star Chris Goulding to a three-year deal. In the process they have snared a bargain, as Goulding remains rated as a one point player under the NBL’s Player Points System. The Blaze have a lot of work to do from here however, as imports Erron Maxey and Ayinde Ubaka, as well as the likes of Craig Bradshaw, Mika Vukona, Greg Vanderjagt and Tyson Demos appear on the free agent list. Adam Gibson, James Harvey and Anthony Petrie are already signed to contracts, forming a solid core along with Goulding.
The remainder of the free agent list includes a number of stars including Townsville Crocodile Corey “Homicide” Williams, injured Wollongong Hawks import Tywain McKee and Adam Ballinger of the Adelaide 36ers. In addition, additional free agents who may be seeking entry to the league and appear on the list include big man Wade Helliwell, Neil Mottram, Luke Nevill, Kavossy Franklin and potential Sydney Kings returnee, BJ Carter.
With the return of the Kings to the league and the retirement/departure of a number of Melbourne Tigers stars, this signing period will likely be quite fast and furious. Those teams that fail to secure key players quickly may struggle with the “runts of the litter”. The potential for the return of former NBL players to Australia is an interesting prospect, as is the likely arrival of Australians who have been playing in the NCAA. New Kings coach Ian “Moose” Robilliard has already stated his desire to build the team around a strong big man, so it will be interesting to see if that signing will come from this free agent list or via the attraction of an import.
(Julien “Skip” Mills photo credit: Mike Watt, Cairns Post)
