Exit clause in Delany’s new Giants contract
Finn Delany has recommitted to the Nelson Giants for the 2018 National Basketball League but the emerging New Zealand Breakers star’s new contract has an exit clause in it that allows him to be released should a European club come calling.
The 22-year-old Tall Blacks forward was Nelson’s top scorer during the 2017 season, scoring 18 points per game.
Delany is currently averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game for the Breakers in the ANBL.
Giants chairman Bill Dahlberg was rapt to have Delany, a crowd favourite at the Trafalgar Centre, back on deck for 2018.
‘‘It is important that we retain our Giants if we can. That is one of our board’s top priorities, to retain local players,’’ he said.
Dahlberg confirmed that Delany’s new contract has a release clause in it that would allow him to be released should a European club want to sign him.
‘‘We know he wants to go to Europe, it is one of his goals, and being a successful Tall Black is another one. It is our job to help him move down that path if he keeps developing.
‘‘We have a clause inserted that if he gets a contract in Europe then we want to support him to do that. If you’re going to try and grow players then that is part of what happens.’’
Delany joins previously announced signings Kyle Adnam, Tohiraukura Smith-Milner, Tom Ingham, Ali Granger, Sam Dempster and Bronson Beri in a so far familiar looking squad that features just one new name in Tall Black SmithMilner who heads north from Canterbury Rams.
Dahlberg said the Giants were still looking to acquire a shooting guard and centre, with those spots likely to be filled by imports.
The rest of the squad would then comprise of up and coming domestic talent, with ‘‘two or three’’ players from outside of Nelson set to trial with the Giants in the coming weeks.
The Giants, who finished sixth with a 4-14 record last season, will be coached by Jamie Pearlman, the current Cairns Taipans assistant.
Next year’s NBL will run over 16 weeks, starting on April 16.