Basketball: Kiwi exodus to continue at Breakers as club eyes up Australian big man

Alex Pledger (left) could be replaced by Majok Majok (right). Photo / Photosport

The new regime at the New Zealand Breakers will have no room for sentiment.

In the first offseason under new ownership and rookie head coach Kevin Braswell, the Breakers have already seen over 800 games of experience leave the club, and a further long-time stalwart could soon follow.

In one offseason, four of the franchise's most long-serving figures could be out the door. Mika Vukona and his 354 games are off to Brisbane, Kirk Penney has retired, while Paul Henare's 15 years as player and coach are over. And now, 239-game veteran Alex Pledger is set to follow suit.

While the Breakers veteran is under contract for next season, he has been told he is free to chase new opportunities. Pledger had his role reduced last season, averaging just 15.7 minutes per game, and was at times the third-choice centre late in the year.

Reports from Australia have linked Pledger with Melbourne United, where former Breakers coach Dean Vickerman could reunite with the 31-year-old.

In return, two of Melbourne's big men could be coming back across the ditch. Tai Wesley has been long linked with a return to the Breakers, and the signing of the dominant Guam international is expected to be announced by the club shortly.

Additionally, the Breakers are understood to be targeting Australian forward Majok Majok, who is currently playing under Braswell with the Wellington Saints in the New Zealand NBL.

Majok has played three years with Melbourne, and is a proven rebounder, though was hampered with injury last year, averaging 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10 minutes per game.

He would likely be a cheaper alternative to come off the bench for the Breakers, and Wesley strongly recommended Majok's talents when Braswell signed him for the Saints.

If the pair do reunite in New Zealand, it would continue the Breakers' stark philosophy change. After spending two seasons with a solely Kiwi core under Henare, the additions of Wesley and Majok would follow the signing of Australian point guard Jarrad Weeks to make it three non-Kiwis on the roster.

The moves are not without merit. Vukona and Pledger's production had stagnated – neither being above-average starters in the league - and Wesley will be a significant upgrade. With centre Rob Loe also gone, having signed a two-year deal with the Cairns Taipans, it would leave promising power forward Finn Delany as the only Kiwi big on the roster.

With changes in ownership, coaching, players and strategies, a new era of the Breakers is about to begin.