Big dollars come out to keep star Machado
After years of key departures, Taipans don’t want to lose their general
TAIPANS coach Mike Kelly admits the club would “love” to retain MVP candidate Scott Machado for a second season as contract negotiations heat up with the instrumental floor general.
The retention of big-name and productive talent has been a constant issue for the Snakes in recent years, with Melo Trimble, Travis Trice, Cameron Gliddon and Mitch McCarron, among others, all having strong years in FNQ, before defecting to rival NBL clubs, usually for more money.
In April 2019, Kelly revealed a group of wealthy sponsors put together an offer, including cash outside of the salary cap, to help retain reigning club MVP Trimble, but it was still not enough.
Australian hoops broadcasting doyen John Casey revealed during Saturday night’s game against Adelaide that Cairns had offered the biggest contract in club history to retain American point guard Machado.
A league source yesterday told the Cairns Post that the Taipans have offered Machado a “very competitive” offer and are actively trying to retain their playing group, which has driven them up the ladder this season.
There is a keen interest from both parties about exploring a contract extension, the league source said, with the discussions heading in a positive direction.
Throughout the 2019-20 season, Machado, who is leading the league in assists, has spoken of his love of Cairns, but also his desire to eventually return to the NBA.
Kelly, who was instructed by club staff to not answer questions around Machado’s contract, eventually offered this after being asked twice:
“I do not know about contract negotiations,” Kelly said after training yesterday morning.
“We love
Scott and we would love to have some continuity.
“I just can’t talk about contract negotiations, we would love to have him though.”
Adelaide-based basketball commentator, Casey, said Cairns are pulling out all the stops to keep Machado for a second season.
“The biggest offer that has ever been made by the Cairns Taipans is being given to Machado to keep him for another season,” the respected commentator said.
In his first season in Australia, the 29-year-old Machado has averaged almost 17 points a game, to go with four rebounds and just over eight assists.
Last week, alongside fellow American imports DJ Newbill and Cameron Oliver, Machado was nominated as one of 15 candidates for the competition’s MVP this season.
The finals-bound Snakes finish the regular season with a road double this weekend, away at Melbourne on Thursday and Brisbane on Saturday afternoon.