Star Free Agent Makes Huge Call

Another key NBL Free Agency domino is reported to have fallen, however it’s not a new signing. It’s a re-signing.

ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc has reported that star Breaker and NBL Most Improved Player nominee Will McDowell-White has reaffirmed his commitment to New Zealand by putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal.

McDowell-White and newly minted Perth centre Keanu Pinder loomed as the two most high-profile and sought after local talents in the free agency market, and Uluc believes the signing represents a huge coup for New Zealand.

“This is a huge retention for the Breakers,” Uluc said on The Marketplace. “He wanted to stay in this development system, stay under Mody Maor and reach the next level of his development to get in that upper echelon of players in the NBL.

“McDowell-White had offers across the board in the NBL, but he ended up agreeing to stay in New Zealand.”

The decision for the star point guard to stay in New Zealand was far from an easy one, as almost every side in the NBL made a pitch to secure McDowell-White’s services.

The Perth Wildcats were often mentioned as the frontrunners should McDowell-White elect to leave the Breakers – and were reported to be attempting to form a big three of McDowell-White, Pinder, and Bryce Cotton.

“From what I was told it effectively did come down to New Zealand and Perth,” Uluc said.

“Perth brought in Keanu Pinder which really excited McDowell-White but there was still a level of uncertainty, and you naturally get that when you’re going to a new team.

“At the very least with the New Zealand Breakers he’s going to a situation he knows, with a coach he knows, and he gets to stay in this developmental timeline.

“He doesn’t have to get to know a new coach and learn how to play under a new coach, he can basically pick up where he left off and continue his growth as a player.”

Now McDowell-White is reported to have committed to the Breakers, last season’s runners-up can surge on with their re-tooling for another tilt at the title.

As it stands McDowell-White is set to join Tom Vodanovich, Dan Fotu, Alex McNaught, Cam Gliddon and Izayah Le’Afa on the squad for NBL24.

“Now they can build around him,” Uluc continued. “They knew throughout the season the type of players they’d need to get to maximise Will McDowell-White and to maximise your team if you have a player with that skillset as your point guard.

“Now they can bring players in, they can get can another big man or bring back Dererk Pardon who can excel setting picks and rolling to the rim, they can bring in shooters to stretch the floor when you have Will McDowell-White coming off those on-balls.

“This does clear a lot up for every team.”