NBL free agency news 2023: Latest player movement and signings
South East Melbourne are set to unveil the final piece of its roster puzzle, landing highly-rated, and well travelled, scoring machine Will Cummings.
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South East Melbourne will unveil the final piece of its NBL24 puzzle with highly-rated scoring machine Will Cummings set to join the Phoenix.
Cummings, an undersized combo guard at 188cm and 84kg, was a former teammate of South East Melbourne big man Alan Williams at Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban and Code Sports has been told he comes with the blessing of the superstar centre.
The 30-year-old will arrive in The Heartland with regal pedigree, boasting a list of accolades in second-tier European competitions the rival of any.
After leading Turkish club Darussafaka Tekfen to the EuroCup title in 2018, Florida-born Cummings hopped to German Bundesliga’s Oldenburg where he poured in a league-leading 20.5 points per game on his way to the season MVP.
He would spend the next two seasons in Russia, where he eventually linked up with Big Sauce Williams, before a starring role at Metropolitans 92 — yes, the same club as 2023 No.1 NBA draft pick Victor Wembanyama. He missed the Wemby hype by a season but claimed the LNB Pro A MVP on the back of 17.2 points on 50 per cent shooting, to go with 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals.
He underlined that effort with selection on the All-EuroCup First Team as leading scorer in the multi-league competition (17.4ppg).
A fractured hand in his first appearance for new club Zhejiang Guangsha Lions hampered his 2022-23 foray into the Chinese league and, now understood to be healthy, he will join Puerto Rican Gary Browne in a small but feisty back-court the Phoenix hope can help stars Williams and Mitch Creek become a championship contender.
Zhejiang #Lions guard Will Cummings suffered a fractured hand in the season opener against Liaoning #FlyingLeopards on Monday. He will be sidelined for 6 weeks due to the injury, according to Zhejiang’s latest announcement. pic.twitter.com/9VQEDo1Idl
— Sports China (@PDChinaSports) October 12, 2022
While he’s never played in Australia, Cummings has further familiarity with the NBL, having played alongside one-time Cairns All-NBL first-teamer Scottie Wilbekin in Turkey and former United import Jordan McRae during his time in France and, even dating back to his college days at Temple as a support to ex-Adelaide 36ers international Ramone Moore.
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Most-importantly, though, he adds a winning mentality and is a universally loved teammate wherever he has played thanks to a team-first ethos and willingness to sacrifice his own game to achieve ultimate success.
That’s the view of former teammate Dejan Vasiljevic, who believes the Kings would not have won the 2022 NBL title without the American sharpshooter.
Clark, 32, has signed a one-year deal with United and, with the addition of the Golden State Warriors’ NBA champion as a bench weapon and late-game finisher, Melbourne will have an even tougher time keeping a lid on expectations.
“Without IC, there is no way we win that championship series against Tasmania,” Vasiljevic said of his former teammate.
“Take basketball away completely and talk about culture: he’s the definition of it.
“Winning player who cares for each person individually on and off the court, wants to leave a cultural legacy everywhere he goes, hence why everyone talks about him in the most positive manner.
“United already have an elite roster on paper, but adding a guy like Ian, who is all about winning and culture, puts them up there as one of the favourites alongside Sydney and Illawarra, in my opinion.
“I also believe the rivalry will be very spicy and I’m keen to see how both teams match up, with United going with a very good local group and Sydney going with a whole new starting five and head coach.”
Clark averaged 16.2 points per game and an ultra-efficient 52 per cent from deep during the Kings’ unbeaten NBL22 postseason run and, after a late-season stint in Adelaide in NBL23, joins his third NBL club.
United acted swiftly to compile a roster of elite local talent, bringing back the likes of Matthew Dellavedova and Jo Lual-Acuil and signing boom youngster Luke Travers, but took its time to pinpoint the right import to fit its needs.
With so many high-level talents across the roster, the need for players to sacrifice for the betterment of the team is paramount.
“We really wanted high-level shooting, a level of creation to make others better and really solid defence which are all things Ian has showcased during his time in the NBL,” he said.
“There’s a clutch component to his game where we’ve seen what he can do in the biggest moments of games.
“He’s a guy that can just get hot. He’s got a streak in him that allows him to break the game open.
“When we were considering the age profile and shooting that we were looking for, we wanted an experienced combo guard who’s played at a high level around the world and Ian certainly ticks those boxes.
“The references that we got from previous coaches, team managers, guys that have been around him in Australia were exemplary as a professional and as a person.”
Clark’s arrival in Melbourne was likened by one Sydney source as “like Luke Skywalker joining the dark side” but DJ doesn’t subscribe to the notion.
“Honestly the whole dark side thing never came to my mind until someone tweeted it,” he said.
“My first reaction was I laughed, but that narrative shouldn’t be used because teams and fans may think he’s betrayed former clubs like Sydney or Adelaide, but you have to keep in mind we, as athletes, play basketball for a living.
“Financially, if the price is right, then all these narratives mean nothing.”
Vasiljevic, who will join the Washington Wizards in pre-season in the hope of securing an NBA future, will spend a month in Melbourne before heading back to the US and will train out of United’s Hoop City home.
He’s looking forward to catching up with his mate.
“The first thing Ian texted me saying was, ‘We out to GYG (Guzman Y Gomez)’,” Vasiljevic said.
“He gets to town in two weeks time, so it will be good to reconnect in Melbourne and go grab a bite to eat and even compete.
“I’m hoping I can get the chance to play with him again.”
United still has one local spot to fill and there is a school of thought that they will wait until after the World Cup.
It’s understood they’ve spoken with recently-retired South East Melbourne Phoenix star Ryan Broekhoff about his interest, but Vickerman will surely have his eye on dual champion Vasiljevic during his Melbourne stint.
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