pwned
Years ago
Kings considering Tigers' Corletto
From Gaze.com by Daniel Eade
The Sydney Kings are making enquires and hoping to add Daryl Corletto to their roster for the upcoming 2010-11 season, while the Melbourne Tigers continue to delay contract negotiations with the 9-year veteran.
Corletto, a free-agent, has been left in limbo by the Tigers with the signing of a new contract delayed time and time again during the off-season, and now with club CEO Seamus McPeake overseas until mid-May, Corletto is at a stalemate for the next few weeks with Melbourne.
Speculation surrounding Corletto's future took a sudden twist a few weeks ago, when Grantley Bernard reported in the Herald-Sun that the Tigers were looking at Peter Crawford, who has since re-signed with the Townsville Crocodiles.
Why Melbourne would make contact with Crawford while leaving Corletto un-signed in unclear, and with Melbourne saying that both imports slots will be taken up by guards, rumours circulated that Crawford would’ve been signed to replace Corletto.
Melbourne have said through the off-season that they will build their roster from the inside-out, focusing on adding size, highlighted by the free-agent signings of Cameron Tragardh and Matt Burston. And while Melbourne were quick to get Bennie Lewis and Tommy Greer to sign on the dotted line for next season, Corletto has continually been put on hold.
When asked about the offer from the Kings, Corletto said, "It’s an option I will have to think about. It was a phone call to ask about my plans and why I hadn’t re-signed with the Tigers. But at the moment I’m waiting on Seamus to return from overseas."
Kings CEO Bob Turner played down the enquiry, “We have an option for about four or five guards,” said Turner.
It is also believed that Corletto has received up to potentially three offers from Europe, including teams from France and England. Corletto, who has a dual-passport, is expected to be selected in England’s team for the 2012 Olympics in London and playing over there in a lead-up to the selections is obviously very enticing.
After last season’s shock decision to not re-sign fan favourite Stephen Hoare, after his 9th season with the club, Melbourne Tigers fans are in awe at the current situation that has kept Corletto un-signed, even igniting the birth of a Facebook group, “Daryl Corletto For Tigers Captain”.
Averaging 9.8ppg last season, Corletto scored in double-figures in 14 games off the bench and has spent his whole career with the Tigers, winning two championships in 2006 and 2008, and has his very own cheer-squad at home games, TEAM CORLETTO.
But Tigers head coach Al Westover gave the biggest indication that Corletto may have played his last game for Melbourne.
“He’s still in the mix,” said Westover, “We haven’t finalised the squad. We won’t sort it out until Seamus gets back.
“There are a lot of scenarios that could cause a domino effect as to who we sign.”
When asked about Sydney’s interest in Corletto, and whether he was afraid of losing red no.4, Westover said, “We told them (players from last season) they’re free to look around and if they get an offer take it. We didn’t give anyone a guarantee.”
With Melbourne intent on bringing in two import guards, Westover put it down to what type of American guards are signed would be a huge factor in whether Corletto stays or disappears, “We’re wanting to bring in two American guards, if they can both play a bit of point, fine. But if we think we need a pure point as a back-up, then Dazza (Corletto) is not the man.”
