United's Recruitment Pivot

Melbourne United are looking to fill not one, but two roster spots now, after the news of Jo Lual-Acuil Jr being out for 4-5 months. 

United’s Chief Executive Officer Nick Truelson confirmed the club are scouting both a shooting guard and an injury replacement centre to replace Lual-Acuil Jr.

“We’re looking for a shooting guard as well, so two spots to get. We thought it was only one, but we think there will be a part role for someone to come in and hopefully cover Jo for a period of time,” Truelson told NBL Media.

Lual-Acuil Jr is recovering from a wrist injury, sustained prior to his return to the club in April. It is expected he will miss 4-5 months, with the club optimistic he will be able to re-join the team following the FIBA Window in November.

“We’re going to take it slow, surgery was only last week. Jo’s welfare is the most important thing for us," Truelson said. 

“We’re working it through with our medical team. We’ll have some more news for everyone soon but we’ve got to keep an open mind.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Squad update: <br>Jo Lual-Acuil Jr is set to miss a portion of the upcoming NBL24 season as he recovers from a wrist injury. <br>JLA suffered the right wrist injury prior to his return to Melbourne and therefore underwent surgery on Thursday. <br>Full details ?</p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1677180652960247808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Melbourne went to work in the offseason, as they gained Australian basketball royalty Matthew Dellavedova after his stint with the Sacramento Kings. Lual-Acuil Jr was also brought back into the mix, followed by the attainment of local talent Luke Travers.

Truelson was optimistic on the roster-build so far and hopes for it to be complete by the end of Summer League.

“If we can get a shooting guard that can come off the bench behind Delly and give us that scoring punch, we’re pretty excited about the season ahead,” Truelson said.

“We’ve had lots of conversations…lots of new names coming up all the time. We want to find that right person and make sure we make the right decision.

“That player might not be here, and we will be making that decision over the next two, three, four weeks.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">4pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk for our guy this morning. <br><br>Cavs 100 defeated Memphis 77.<a href="https://twitter.com/NBASummerLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBASummerLeague</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/cavs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cavs</a> <a href="https://t.co/4cWadtjcpk">https://t.co/4cWadtjcpk</a></p>&mdash; Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1678553891267567617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With the reputation of United being an NBA break-through club, Truelson insisted on the continuation of defining them as a “destination club”.

“When we look at what’s happened for the guys; with Jack White getting his deal, Jock Landale getting his four-year deal. We want to be seen as that destination club,” he said.

Melbourne's first game of NBL24 is on Thursday, September 28, against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the Throwdown.