Melbourne United offseason news: Luke Travers NBA dream live, Jack White mulls return as roster takes shape
Facing the prospect of Luke Travers making the NBA leap, Melbourne United is eyeing a familiar face. Here’s the latest on the beaten grand finalists’ roster build.
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With Cleveland increasingly likely to tap young Aussie draft pick Luke Travers for the NBA next season, Melbourne United has a series of contingencies in place — chief among them a beloved former star.
While no deal has been done yet, CODE Sports has been told the Cavs liked what they saw from the 22-year-old in his first season at Melbourne United last campaign.
Should Travers, who is contracted at United next season, depart for the US, Jack White, who has spent the past two seasons in the NBA and G League, remains contracted and both club and player are open to a return.
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“Luke’s a United player right now but we know that Cleveland have great interest in bringing him over to the states but nothing is done there at the moment,” United coach Dean Vickerman said.
“We’ve had to build out our contingencies and, obviously, Jack was wonderful when he was with us and we think he’s an NBA player but, if he’s not in the NBA, we’d love to be in a position to bring him back.”
White, called up to the Memphis Grizzlies late in the regular season, exclusively told CODE Sports he had a burning desire to win an NBL title with United, given he was grounded by a ruptured Achilles during the 2021 championship run.
“I’m definitely interested in going back to Melbourne, that definitely feels like my home away from home, my home in the NBL,” White said.
“I definitely want to be on the court winning a championship there and not on the sidelines.
“It’s just a matter of timing, whether things match up well, whether things make sense.
“In terms of what that looks like exactly, I’m not sure.”
Much-loved import star Ian Clark is a chance to return, which would give the club the same four guards, with Shea Ili, Matthew Dellavedova and Flynn Cameron, as last season.
“It’s an open one right now, we’ve had good early strong conversations with IC about what it would look like and we’d love to have him back if possible,” Vickerman said.
Vickerman said the club would take its time in securing a key tall to replace the departing Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
Kiwi stretch five Rob Loe is locked in and, while names including Tasmania champion — and former Melbourne centre — Marcus Lee and ex Charlotte Hornet Mangok Mathiang are on the club’s list as potential replacements, Vickerman could head to NBA Summer League later this year with a vacant spot in the middle.
“Marcus will be someone who we certainly talk to, we loved him at our club and we played pretty well when he was with us and he was a great connector,” Vickerman said.
“I thought Mangok’s second half of the year with the Breakers was really solid. I thought he got back to really the core of where he’s great and what he can offer a team, so he’s an interesting one for us.”
United will look closely at 204cm big man Akech Aliir, the 23-year-old half-brother of gun Port Adelaide AFL defender Aliir Aliir, who was a development player at the Adelaide 36ers last season. Aliir is averaging 16.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2 blocks for Mt Gambier in NBL1 and the club is keen to add a developing centre to its mix.
Next Star Ariel Hukporti is NBA draft bound, and, while Vickerman confirmed there had been come conversations with potential Next Star replacements, it was an “unlikely scenario”.
“I still see ants run across the floor and don’t like it,” he laughed.
“But we’re all good, we’ve moved on and we’re focused on this off-season.”
MELBOURNE UNITED STATE OF PLAY
Contracted: Chris Goulding, Flynn Cameron, Kyle Bowen, Matthew Dellavedova, Shea Ili, Tanner Krebs, Rob Loe, Luke Travers
Free Agents: Ian Clark, Zac Triplett, Campbell Blogg, Tom Koppens, Malith Machar
Departed: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, Brad Newley
Potential departure: Luke Travers (NBA)
Potential targets: Jack White, Marcus Lee, Mangok Mathiang, Akech Aliir
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Originally published as Melbourne United offseason news: Luke Travers NBA dream live, Jack White mulls return as roster takes shape
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