Breakers bring back Ngatai
The Breakers may have blown up their bigman rotation to make way for the return of Tai Wesley, but their perimeter contingent looks set to stay relatively stable for the 2018-19 Australian NBL season.
The Auckland-based club yesterday announced it had re-signed 25-year-old Tall Blacks small forward Jordan Ngatai to a two-year deal, bringing to three the perimeter players returning from last season, alongside young point guard Shea Ili and experienced three man Tom Abercrombie.
Ngatai’s re-signing does not come as a surprise. He is a low-cost, low-maintenance player, with fairly decent upside via a game showing signs of improvement. He is not relied on for major contributions, playing behind Abercrombie, and often a multifaceted import as well, but can deliver quality spot minutes off the bench.
He also has a strong relationship with new Breakers coach Kevin Braswell – they are both chasing a Kiwi NBL threepeat with the Saints – and it was notable that Braswell mentioned Ngatai among his priority resignings when he was unveiled as Paul Henare’s replacement.
But the same stability is not happening up front, with the Breakers set for a cleanout under the new ownership of the American consortium led by Matt Walsh.
Already Mika Vukona (Brisbane Bullets) and Rob Loe (Cairns Taipans) have been jettisoned, and veteran centre Alex Pledger will follow suit after being told he is not required for next season, despite being under contract. There is no chance the Breakers bring back late-season import Rakeem Christmas who was a defensive liability.
The Breakers have told the 2.15m centre he is free to talk to other clubs with a view to his 2018-19 commitments.
Loe, according to sources, was offered less than he was willing to accept to remain at the Breakers, with the Taipans happy to snap up the three-point-shooting big man on a more agreeable deal.
That leaves just young Tall Black Finn Delany on the books among the big men, though all indications are that Wesley, a former Breaker and two-time ANBL champion, will be heading back across the Tasman to boost those stocks.
Wesley was a key component of Melbourne’s title-winning squad in 2017-18 but entered free-agency when he was not offered the contract he was after to remain in Victoria. Braswell, who coached the Guamqualified American with the Saints, has identified the crafty power forward as an ideal recruit.
But with Loe and Pledger both cut loose, the Breakers will be on the hunt for an Aussie or Kiwi centre, probably to sit alongside an import.
Tom Jervis is one potential recruit (he has a player option with the Bullets he is still pondering), as is his Brisbane teammate Daniel Kickert.
Ngatai, meanwhile, said he was delighted to continue his association with Braswell at the Breakers.
‘‘KB has been great for me and my development,’’ he said.
‘‘He’s always telling me to just stay aggressive and go and play. He’s always the one saying good things happen when you stay aggressive, whether it be me scoring or by me being aggressive my team-mates are open.’’