Wesley rapt to be back for Breakers
HE’S the one who got away and, if we’re truthful, the one who should not have been allowed to leave in the first place.
But marquee Breakers offseason signing Tai Wesley is also the one who was always going to come back if general manager Dillon Boucher had anything to do with it. A two-year process to achieve that very outcome ended a few days ago with confirmation the Guam-qualified American was returning to the club on a one-year deal for the 2018-19 Australian NBL season.
It’s a brilliant pickup. Wesley has one more year as an unrestricted ‘‘local’’ courtesy of the now defunct Oceania player rule, yet he has the game very much of a top-end import (11.5ppg, 5.4rpg, 2.8apg and 1.2bpg last season on a stacked Melbourne roster).
It was one of Boucher’s first major tasks as the newly installed boss at the Breakers in 2016 to wave a reluctant goodbye to Wesley at the end of a highly successful two-year stint that featured two grand final appearances and the club’s fourth championship in his first campaign.
As Boucher stood at Breakers’ headquarters recently to hail Wesley’s celebrated freeagency pickup, it was easy for his mind to throw to the corner office just a few loping strides away where he and Wesley made their reluctant parting of the ways two years previous.
‘‘He’s one we definitely didn’t want to let go,’’ Boucher recalled. ‘‘I can recall Tai and I sitting in my office and having that conversation. We really wanted him to stay, but unfortunately at that time we didn’t have space financially to give him what he wanted.’’
The upshot was that Wesley departed for Melbourne United where at the end of two quality years he was again cutting the nets down as the club achieved its historic first championship in a thrilling five-game series against Adelaide.
‘‘Being able to secure his signature has been really satisfying,’’ Boucher added. ‘‘We sat in that office, I wanted him to lead this club one day, and now he’s got the opportunity to come back and lead from the front.’’
Boucher makes no bones about the importance of the Wesley pickup. Three grand finals, and two championships, in four seasons in the ANBL speaks to his value. So does his now beautifully well-rounded game as a stretch four equally capable pounding it down low, or pulling up for the dagger triple.
‘‘He’s the best low-post player in the league,’’ Boucher said. ‘‘I don’t want go as far as saying unstoppable but he’s certainly a handful down there. But he’s also shooting the ball better than he ever has, and will continue to focus on being able to stretch the floor.
‘‘He’s also a consummate pro that everybody enjoys being around. Every opposition team hates him with that little smile on his face when he scores . . . but you love him on your team.’’ GETTY IMAGES
Wesley only left in the first place because Mika Vukona was still playing some very effective hoops in the same position. Now the veteran Tall Black has fled to Brisbane, and fellow greybeard Kirk Penney has retired, there is both the cap and roster space to bring back this ultimate glue guy.
Welsey, back home in Idaho where he’s spending his offseason with wife Chyna and children Major (2), who was born in Auckland, and Royal (6 months), said it felt good to be heading back to a place he knew so well, and where he’s so comfortable.
He’s also rapt to be reuniting with new head coach Kevin Braswell whom he played with at the Southland Sharks (in 2015) and then under for the Wellington Saints the following two seasons. They won titles all three seasons. Did we mention this bloke’s a certified winner?
‘‘Kevin is a great guy, a great coach and I know him well. I’m excited to play for him and see what he can do on the big stage,’’ Wesley said.