KEY POINTS:
The Breakers have been forced to rebuild mid-season following the loss of import Wayne Turner.
The influential point guard has been ruled out for the entire NBL season after an MRI scan revealed a tear to a quad tendon that requires surgery.
Turner arrived in Auckland with a weighty CV that included two NCAA titles with Kentucky and a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. He quickly lived up to his billing, demonstrating a cool head and a dazzling array of skills as the Breakers surged into the top four on the NBL ladder nearing the halfway point of the season.
But the veteran playmaker has not played since suffering the injury making a lay-up in the win on the Gold Coast 15 days ago.
It was originally thought he had suffered a muscle strain and would be out for one or two matches but he limped out of training last Wednesday and a scan on Friday revealed the more serious extent of the injury.
Breakers general manager Richard Clarke said he hoped to finalise a replacement today.
The club is believed to be in negotiations with a player boasting close to 100 games of NBA experience.
Clarke said he was devastated for Turner, who would remain with the club for the rest of the season in an advisory role.
"Wayne has made a huge impression on his teammates and the club and he will be staying in Auckland for the rest of the season," Clarke said.
Turner would act as a mentor for young development player Ryan Kersten and would also help train his replacement.
Kersten's encouraging progress and Paul Henare's solid return from knee surgery should help lesson the blow.
Kersten can expect to get more game time until Turner's replacement arrives and he said he was looking forward to the challenge.
"I definitely view this as an opportunity," he said.
"There would probably be more pressure if I hadn't been playing, but I've had more court time than expected. I now have a feel for the NBL, I kind of like playing at this level and I want more."
The team will be without an import for the second successive week when they take on the Dragons at home on Thursday.
Centre Rick Rickert, whose rebounding prowess was badly missed during last week's defeat by Cairns, is resting at home after being diagnosed with a disc problem that is affecting his lower back and hamstring. His progress will be evaluated late this week.
The Breakers are currently 4th in the 13-team NBL with an 8-win, 6-loss record.
