Very smart by the Breakers to wait and see who else others have recruited before making their final signing. Interesting though, does this mean he will come off the bench or will Pledger?

Pledger is missing the start of the season so Jackson will start. After that I imagine they'll play it by form and team balance.

The Breakers know where their bread is buttered though, that's how they've kept Pledger, Vukona, Abercrombie and Webster out of European clutches, so if the Chief is fully fit and playing well I think he'll start.

"Very smart by the Breakers to wait and see who else others have recruited before making their final signing."

BTW, what makes you say that?

They haven't rushed their decision. They waited to see how other teams recruited- Kings got Khazzouh, Hawks got Ogilvy and obviously with Chief not in, they need an interior presence- which from the highlight it looks like Jackson will be, providing the rim protection that e-beks gave.

Yeah, I reckon they were pretty keen to replace those key traits of Ibekwe's. If this kid lives up to billing NZ are certainly early title favourites again.

Only real question mark is McDonald whom won't be expected to do much with Cedric Jackson and Corey Webster soaking up most of the guard minutes. The rest of the team is proven at both ends of the floor and should come close to another title.

Te Rangi showing some really promising signs for the Tall Blacks, expect him to pay a bit more at SG this season if that form continues.

If Chief comes back fit and firing then he is essentially a 'new recruit' and the same for te rangi- he was quiet last year so if he breaks out and continues TB form then that will be like having a new recruit also. McDonald will be honest, not expected to do a whole heap but provide a punch off the bench.

Paul Henare just cut Leon Henry and Dion Prewster from his Tall Blacks squad to face the Boomers so must be happy with TeRangi's cameo's off the bench and hopefully his form of late can carry into the NBL season.

I agree Paul, Vickerman will try to bully teams with TeRang's size and strength at the 2 and Abercrobie/Bailey at the 3 and Vukona/Wesley at the 4 and 5 spot at times.

NZ will need Pledger fit and healthy sooner rather than later if they want to keep pace with Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Illawarra.

so Breakers should look like this:

PG- Ced Jackson/McDonald
SG- Webster/Te Rangi
SF- Abercrombie/Bailey
PF- Vukona/Wesley
C- Charles Jackson/Pledger

8 deep, with Bailey and McDonald to provide serviceable minutes for sure.

who will be the best of the imports with locks?

Charles Jackson (NZ Breakers)
Jordair Jett (Townsville Crocs)
Marcus Thornton (Sydney Kings)

definitely not Jordair Jett, he looks very limited to be nice to him and I think the only thing he has going for him is his previous experience with Conklin.

It's been really interesting watching the Australian teams improve and start talking their chances up and forgetting about the defending champions a bit but there is certainly some confidence over your way

I dunno, Jett's last season at St Louis was pretty impressive, conference player of year and all-first team to go with three straight all-defensive team selections.

Watch Charles Jacksons college highlights, he looks capable of doing a lot of what Ibekwe did and if Pledeger can come back fit and healthy sooner rather than later NZ are in a good place.

Looking forward to hearing "Jackson to Jackson for the massive dunk"!