The New Zealand Breakers may have ultimately lost the all-in battle for Will McDowell-White, but some big-time consolation prizes, including former Australian NBA big man Jonah Bolden, are set to be available when free agency begins on April 15.
As predicted, the revolving door at Breakers HQ on the North Shore has spun rapidly, with highly prized “locals” McDowell-White and Tall Blacks striker Finn Delany, as previously reported by The Post, likely to decline player contract options and leave the club. This, combined with the retirement of veteran swingman Tom Abercrombie, creates a big vacuum in the Australian NBL lineup for the 2024-25 season.
Added to that, nuggety defence-minded Kiwi guard Izayah Le’afa – currently plying his trade with Wellington’s Saints in the New Zealand NBL – is also off contract and yet to confirm his intentions for next season and beyond.
But head coach Mody Maor has been busy, and well-connected hoops sources in Australia have told The Post the Breakers are set to make quite a splash when free-agency officially opens on April 15.
Bolden could be at the top of that list, as the 2.03-metre Sydney free agent is said to be highly coveted by Maor. According to the Post, Bolden may be ready for a move after an underwhelming season with the Kings (8.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in around 17 minutes per game), that he highly values Maor’s coaching, and that he is intrigued by the prospect of playing alongside star import guard Parker Jackson-Cartright.
Between 2018 and 2020, the 28-year-old Australian appeared in 51 NBA regular season games for Philadelphia and Phoenix, as well as 10 postseason games for the Sixers in 2018-19. He’s a decent size, has a great shooting touch, and can play both center and power forward. Last season, he shot 40% from deep for the Kings and 49% overall.
McDowell-White’s resignation from Australia’s pre-Olympic Boomers roster of 22, announced on Thursday, is not surprising. He had played for the Breakers for the previous three years and turned down a slew of big-money offers in the offseason to return and continue his growth under Maor.
However, his fit alongside the ball-dominant Jackson-Cartwright was not a seamless one, and when Maor was able to land the all-NBL standout for a surprise return for ‘24-25 the writing was somewhat on the wall. The talented point guard is being heavily pursued by the Sydney Kings (coached by national boss Brian Goorjian), his home-town Brisbane Bullets and recently crowned champions Tasmania, among others, and sources indicate he has already said his goodbyes at Atlas Place.
It is thought to be a similar story with Delany who is coming off an under-performing season (9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in just 17 games) and was looking to explore options elsewhere.
According to The Post, Bolden will not be the only Breakers signing when free agency starts.
Mojave King, a Dunedin-born perimeter player, has been associated with the team and could be ready to return to this part of the world after a couple of seasons in the NBA’s G League. He’s a gifted athlete with a lot of potential, and he looks like a player Maor could really grow into.
Mitch McCarron, a veteran Australian guard who recently left the Adelaide 36ers, could possibly be available for pickup (basically as a substitute for Cam Gliddon). He currently plays for the Taranaki Airs in the Kiwi NBL and would make an excellent backup guard.
Asked for comment on the looming signing period, Breakers spokesman and communications boss Craig Stanaway said: “We don’t comment on rumours and speculation. NBL clubs are not allowed to talk to players before free-agency begins on Monday.”
The Breakers currently have three (of 11) main-roster players signed for next season, with Kiwi forward Sam Mennenga (currently playing in Greece) picked up from the Cairns Taipans and backup Aussie big Dane Pineau (on the second year of his deal) joining Jackson-Cartwright.
Expect that number to swell notably when free-agency opens on Monday.
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