Perth Wildcats have missed out on securing former NBA centre Matt Freije but coach Rob Beveridge has already got the plan B wheels in motion.
Freije, a US-born Lebanon international, was expected to sign on with the Cats on a one-year deal but pulled out in order to remain in America to be with his pregnant wife.
Beveridge said former NBA power forward Theron Smith was eager to come to Perth but there were also other players he was keeping a keen eye on.
"I've got a guy over in the States looking to work Theron out so we'll get his feedback to see what his thoughts are, but we've got some other options as well," Beveridge said.
"It's important we do our due diligence and make sure we are getting the right person for our team.
"Right now we've got an outstanding team chemistry, they're playing for each other so we have to make sure we bring in people who have the right personality as well.
"By the end of the week we should have made our choice."
Theron, 28, notched 53 games in the NBA from 2003-05, spending his first season with Memphis before linking up with Charlotte.
More recently the 206cm American has been playing in China.
"He's a big body, strong, athletic, rebounds and scores inside," Beveridge said.
"He played in the NBA in that role, power forward.
"In China he had some huge numbers, some massive double-double games, 48 points, 18 rebounds-type games.
"Three-point shooting isn't his strength but he can shoot them."
Beveridge said he was disappointed to miss out on Freije but understood the former New Orleans and Atlanta big man had to put his family first.
No comments:
Post a Comment