Breakers nab Loe but rest of roster remains puzzle
The New Zealand Breakers have locked up a strong Kiwi core, but intrigue remains over how they will fill the rest of their roster.
The Breakers yesterday announced the signing of centre Rob Loe, the seventh New Zealander to sign on for the 2017-18 Australian National Basketball League season.
Loe signed on a one-year deal, turning down offers from Europe to remain with the franchise.
“They expressed interest once the season had finished and I was talking with them ever since,” Loe told Radio Sport.
“I was considering other teams and other leagues in the world but there is something about playing at home and playing with the Breakers organisation that really enticed me,” he said.
Loe averaged seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes per game last season, but led the league in plus minus differential, a statistic which displays how well the Breakers played with him on the floor, compared to when he was on the bench.
A potent shooter from the centre position, Loe shot 34 per cent from beyond the arc, giving the Breakers’ offence vital spacing, and held his own on the defensive end.
With many of New Zealand’s big men playing overseas or in college, head coach Paul Henare says it was important to lock down Loe, who joins Alex Pledger, Mika Vukona and Finn Delany as contracted New Zealand big men.
“In terms of locals there’s not a large pool of quality big men going around in this part of the world, so from that point of view it was great to get him back,” he told Radio Sport.
Loe’s signing leaves the Breakers with four roster spots left to fill, three of which can be occupied by imports. However, Henare says the club are likely to start the season with just two imports.
“[It’s] not likely that we’ll have three imports. Never say never — it depends on how the budget is looking and the balance of the team.”
A point guard is highly likely to fill one of the import roles, while at least one of the prospective two local spots should go to a New Zealand NBL player, with Ethan Rusbatch and Jordan Ngatai leading contenders.
The Breakers are also said to be gauging Tai Wynyard’s interest in a return to the franchise, after the highly-promising centre played just 54 minutes in his first collegiate season with Kentucky.