Basketball: Breakers face more player decisions

Kirk Penney has been slated for a return in three weeks' time but the ongoing uncertainty over his back injury is complicating matters. Photo / Brett Phibbs

They axed import Awvee Storey and brought in veteran Australian guard John Rillie yesterday, but the tough decisions aren't over for the struggling Breakers.

Whether another import is brought in to replace Storey, who averaged 7.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in nine games, is still under consideration.

More pressing is a decision on Rillie's roster status, a call that will be made today.

If the 38-year-old is deemed an injury replacement for Kirk Penney then he would have to be released when Penney returns to the side and could not return to the club this season.

But if Rillie is granted full roster status then another player would have to be released if a second import is brought in.

Penney has been slated for a return in three weeks' time but the ongoing uncertainty over his back injury is complicating matters, as is back-up big man Alex Pledger's knee injury.

In effect, the Breakers must make a call on whether Rillie is a good fit for the team before they see him in action.

"It is a little bit tricky," chief executive Richard Clarke said. "It is a rule that probably needs a bit of revision but it is what it is right now.

"It is a matter of long term what is right for the team, what is going to put us in position to win the championship."

Rillie was cut by Townsville in May but in five years with the Crocs, the former Boomer averaged 16 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.65 assists.

Penney, who has been out since October 3, was expected to return last week before suffering a reaction in the muscles around his injured disk.

"He was always three-to-six weeks and we are still tracking around five to six weeks," Clarke said.

"He is in shooting every day and he was doing a series of running and agility drills [on Monday]. He now has to get some explosiveness back and be able to take contact."

The Herald reported on Saturday that the club was considering axing Storey but the decision still took the American by surprise, Clarke said.

"It definitely came as a shock to him. It is one of those things that is never nice. I feel for him."

The club would continue to pay Storey until he picked up another contract but that didn't limit their ability to recruit another player, Clarke said.