Former MVP Candidate set for United Reunion?

It looked likely that Keanu Pinder signing with the Perth Wildcats or Will McDowell-White’s re-signing with New Zealand would be the two biggest moves this NBL Free Agency. Not anymore.

With ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc reporting former NBL MVP nominee Jo Lual-Acuil Jr is set to re-sign with Melbourne United for NBL24, United has drastically shaken up the landscape of the competition – and have made an unambiguous declaration of their championship hopes.

Lual-Acuil left United following the culmination of the NBL22 season – his breakout season which saw him nominated for the competition’s MVP award and earn All-NBL First Team honours.

The season prior he was named as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year while backing up current Phoenix Suns centre Jock Landale, and helped United to its most recent championship.

Since leaving United he’s represented the Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings in the Chinese CBA.

“This brings back one of the elite Australian bigs and really bolsters the frontcourt,” Uluc said on The Marketplace. “I’m told things were effectively agreed on weeks ago, but it was just about ironing down the contract and getting little things sorted.

“Dean Vickerman loves coaching Lual-Acuil Jr. He likes the style of play, he likes the versatility at both ends of the floor.

“He’s one of the guys up there with Duop Reath and Nick Kay – and maybe Brock Motum – where every year we think ‘are teams going to be able to afford them?’

“Thankfully for Melbourne they’re able to put the money up, and Lual-Acuil Jr wanted to come home.”

The reported signing of Lual-Acuil Jr and the confirmed re-signing of NBL Next Star Ariel Hukporti means United’s centre spot is all but sorted for the upcoming campaign.

Inconsistency at the centre position due to Hukporti’s Achilles injury and Jordan Caroline’s early departure from the club was a crucial factor in Melbourne missing the post-season in NBL23.

“Now other teams are really going to have to prepare to face not just Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, but also Ariel Hukporti,” Uluc said.

“That’s just a giant front-line teams are going to have to prepare for.

“Having that five-spot locked in with two players – two guys who can give you elite production at that position – it’s an absolute win for Melbourne United.

“It’s going to be one of the biggest deals this free agency.”

How the reported return of the South Sudanese international representative impacts United’s import search remains to be seen, however, due to United’s possible rostering of two of the most talented local players in the market.

Lual-Acuil Jr – alongside United mainstay Chris Goulding – both have the power to pull in a marquee contract, however Uluc believes the possibility of Melbourne signing one less import won’t weaken the side if they can roll out ‘JLA’ and Goulding together.

“Now they have Chris Goulding and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr who are both guys you can marquee, it does take away some flexibility with imports,” Uluc said.

“It means they can now, at the most, bring in probably two imports.”

The reports of Lual-Acuil Jr’s signing comes after Melbourne confirmed the arrival of guard pair Flynn Cameron and Tanner Krebs to the club for NBL24.