Long a long-shot for a return to Breakers
The Breakers would love to bring back Shawn Long and Tai Wesley for another Australian NBL season, but admit there are significant obstacles to re-signing both standout big men.
With Long, who had a fine first season in the NBL, his NBA ambitions could come into play, as could big-spending European clubs who are likely to throw the sort of money at him the Breakers cannot hope to match.
‘‘We’re going to do everything we can to bring Shawn back with the phenomenal season he had, but we know that he may be financially out of our reach with what he can probably command in other countries,’’ Breakers general manager Dillon Boucher told Stuff.
Long, who was named second-team AllNBL and averaged 18.2 points and 9.1 rebounds, is likely to pursue the NBA pathway but has indicated to the club he enjoyed the experience and would at least consider a return in the right circumstances.
‘‘I said to him if money wasn’t a factor, would you come back? He said ‘absolutely’. He wants to be here, him and KB [coach Kevin Braswell] have a great relationship, he loves New Zealand, and enjoyed his time here,’’ added Boucher.
‘‘He feels like he’s grown. We’ve worked a lot with him off the court to build him into a complete person and complete player, and he made it very clear he would love to come back. We’ll be trying to do everything we can to make it possible.’’
Boucher rated Long as possibly the most talented import the league has had, and certainly the Breakers’, though with all that raw ability comes the likelihood he will be hotly pursued by clubs with deeper pockets than the Breakers.
‘‘He’s not a polished product, otherwise he’d be in the NBA already, but he’s not far off.‘‘We feel like we’ve been able to help him grow in that area and if we got him for another season, that would be it, he’d be in the NBA.’’
Wesley’s situation is different.
The Guam-qualified American power forward is now no longer a non-restricted player under league rules and unless he is able to change his immigration status he would be considered an import.
Boucher said Wesley (14.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.5 apg) was a priority re-signing, though his playing status did complicate things.
‘‘We’re certainly having conversations with him about wanting to bring him back,’’ said Boucher.
‘‘He was a key part of what we did and we think continuity is big. It’s the same with Shawn. Having guys who have played in the league is far better than those who haven’t.
‘‘We’re talking with the NBL and his agent because his immigration situation is still progressing. A decision hasn’t been made, so therefore a decision hasn’t been made on his status.’’
The Breakers have six players already on contract (their five New Zealanders and Jarrad Weeks) and five spots to fill for next season.
Boucher confirmed that soon-to-graduate University of Virginia centre Jack Salt was high on their wish-list.
‘‘Jack is a fantastic player, a great guy, a great leader and locker-room guy, and he’s an Auckland kid, so of course we’d be interested in bringing him home. But his focus is on finishing his college career right now, and then he’ll have his sights on the NBA.
‘‘But we’ve made it clear to him should he be interested in coming home we’d be interested in bringing him back.’’
Boucher is also not ruling out another stint for import guard Patrick Richard who has just signed on in Italy for the rest of the European season. ‘‘He did everything we asked of him,’’ said Boucher.
‘‘He’s someone as far as character you’d want to bring back. But his situation will depend on the makeup of the team, and what we can get in for other spots.’’