Free Agency Analysis: Max Darling to The Hawks

With free agency underway, NBL Media’s Liam Santamaria is taking a look at each and every signing and breaking down what it all means ahead of #NBL21.

SIGNING SNAPSHOT: MAX DARLING TO THE HAWKS

Signed by: The Hawks

The deal: Three years

Age: 19

2019-20 team: Vrijednosnice Osijek (Croatia)

2019-20 stats (per game): 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 51.4 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 66.7 FT%

Projected role: Back-up power forward.

Quote: “I’ve always wanted to play in the NBL and this is the greatest opportunity for me to do so. I’ve heard [Goorjian] is an amazing coach and I can’t wait to get to work. I’m happy to do whatever they need from me.” – Max Darling

My take: There’s a lot to like about this exciting young talent and the Hawks have done well to lock him up on a long-term deal.

Originally from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, Darling is an adopted Kiwi who was New Zealand’s best player at the FIBA U19 World Cup last year. Standing around 6’6, but possessing a 7’1 wingspan, he’s a strongly-built undersized power forward with a whole bunch of bounce. Think of him in that Zion/ Charles Barkley/Jae’Sean Tate mould of sturdy guys who play much bigger than their height. 

He’s raw, there’s no doubt about that, but has heaps of untapped potential. I mean the kid spent the past two years playing as an import in Europe. Last season he was starting, playing 30 minutes a night and putting up 10 and 5 in the Croatian league on a team with a winning-record. That’s pretty darn impressive.

Darling, who is coming to the NBL to learn under Goorjian, won’t play a massive role for the Hawks in year one as he predominantly plays reserve minutes behind Bairstow. He’ll help though and his future in the game looks very, very bright.