Adelaide 36ers seeking compensation for losing MVP Mitch Creek to NBA club Brooklyn
THE Adelaide 36ers will pursue compensation for losing their best player, Mitch Creek, to NBA team Brooklyn but say they will not stand in his way by refusing to release him from his contract.
THE Adelaide 36ers will pursue compensation for losing their best player, Mitch Creek, to NBA team Brooklyn but will not stand in his way by refusing to release him from his contract.
Creek is on the verge of signing an agreement with the Nets after the German club he had signed with for next season, Wurzburg, announced his exit on Friday night.
His move to Brooklyn is expected to be confirmed on Tuesday and the 36ers have sought legal advice as to whether they are entitled to a buy-out.
Creek was contracted to Adelaide for the next NBL season which was the final year of a three-year deal.
But the 26-year-old had the usual NBA and European out-clause that entitled him to be released if he received an overseas offer - like Brooklyn which was announced on the NBL’s website on Saturday.
Creek was released to trial with German club BG Gottingen in April then cleared back to Adelaide. He was again cleared to play in the NBA summer league then cleared back to Adelaide.
Although he had signed with Wurzburg for next season it’s understood that clearance has not been done and he remains a 36ers player until June 30, 2019.
The 36ers say they are thrilled for Creek - who won the club’s most valuable player award in his eighth season this year - and he will go to the US with their blessing.
But they are investigating whether they are entitled to compensation for losing their star forward and are believed to be seeking at least $100,000 from Brooklyn.
Adelaide 36ers chief executive Ben Kavenagh yesterday confirmed that process had started.
“We are thrilled and delighted for Mitch that he’s a step closer to realising a dream of playing in the US,” Kavenagh said.
“All we are doing is our due diligence by working through the detail of the move to determine if our club is entitled to any appropriate transfer fee, and that process is under way.”
Adelaide 36ers owner and chairman Grant Kelley, said his club had no issue with Creek but wanted to be treated with professionalism by other franchises.
“Part of my objective and why I brought in talent like Steven Trigg (former Adelaide and Carlton AFL chief executive to head the advisory board) is that the 36ers really want to be a world class organisation,” Kelley said.
“Part of that is ensuring we are treated professionally by other groups and I would fully expect Brooklyn to honour this because I know they are a professional body.
“We have no disagreement with Mitch at all, we love him, we really want to see him do well and I regard him and his father Jeff as personal friends.
“It’s nothing to do with Mitch, we love him, we are proud of him, we think he is one of the greatest 36ers, it is to do with the club and we just want to make sure this is handled properly and in a professional manner.”
At a club board meeting on Friday night it was confirmed Adelaide would launch a 36ers academy this year.
“That money (clearance fee for Creek) will be reinvested in player development, to foster basketball in South Australia and be put into the next Mitch Creek,” Kelley said.
Creek’s management company was contacted for comment on Saturday but declined.
The Brooklyn Nets are estimated to be worth $1.8 billion and have an annual revenue of $223m by global business media company Forbes.
According to the NBL’s website, Creek has signed a deal to participate in a Brooklyn training camp which could see him added to the Nets’ roster or play with its G-League team.
Creek’s move to Brooklyn would make him the second player in two years to go from Adelaide to the NBA following Terrance Ferguson who was drafted from the 36ers to Oklahoma City.
Creek played NBA summer league with the Dallas Mavericks where he had 34 points and 26 rebounds in five games including a breakout performance against NBA champions Golden State.
Adelaide is poised to announce its second import for next season to play alongside Ramone Moore who is returning to the team.
It’s understood that both Shannon Shorter and Josh Childress are not returning for a second season.
reece.homfray@news.com.au