The New Zealand Breakers are set to unveil their latest import, just in time for a crucial stretch of their ANBL season.
29-year-old Paul Carter will this morning be announced as the fourth import to join the injury-plagued Breakers this season, with the American forward on board to cover forthe loss of Corey Webster and Tom Abercrombie.
Webster's indefinite absence and Abercrombie's estimated three-to-five week stint on the sidelines left the Breakers with significant holes to fill, and Carter has been pegged by the franchise as a productive replacement.
Carter has a well-travelled resume, having played in Cyprus, Mexico, Finland, France and Germany since the conclusion of his college career in 2011. He has also played in the NBA D-League and suited up for the Atlanta Hawks in NBA Summer League in 2012.
He most recently took the court in Germany for ALBA Berlin, but averaged just nine minutes per game on a side led by former NBA player Peyton Siva.
Paul Carter supporting his Alba Berlin teammates. Photo / Getty
On the surface, it seems Carter will provide a distinctly different impact for the Breakers. At 6'8" and possessing defensive length, Carter's rebounding rate is strong for a small forward - the position where he will seemingly play the majority of his minutes considering the loss of Abercrombie to a hand injury, as well as the Breakers' depth up front.
However, Carter's three-point shooting will be a downgrade on the accuracy of Abercrombie, with Carter a career 30% shooter from deep in his pro career to date, a figure which could put a bigger emphasis on the likes of Kirk Penney and Rob Loe to provide adequate spacing.
The impact that Carter provides will likely have a significant say on the Breakers' playoff chances, which have fluctuated over recent weeks.
A four game losing streak saw them slump to a season-low on the ladder, but the four-time champions picked up two wins in their last three encounters to rebound to an 8-9 record, good enough to sit right on the precipice of the playoffs.
However, Perth, only marginally worse with a 7-9 record, sit in last place - such is the parity in the league this season.
To contend for their six playoff berth in seven seasons, the Breakers will need a boost from the offence, with the Breakers ranking second-worst in Offensive Rating.
While the performances from Penney and the Breakers' frontcourt have been consistent, they will need more from import point guard David Stockton, who after a promising start has been less productive of late.
If Stockton and Carter can match the output of some of the league's other key imports, the Breakers could hang tough throughout Abercrombie's absence, which looms as a pivotal period.
Having played just twice in the past 20 days, the Breakers' schedule intensity ramps up through the remaining 11 games of the season. That is especially the case in a busy January which should prove as a litmus test for the Breakers' playoff potency.
That test begins on Friday against the Sydney Kings, a clash the club is hoping to have Carter available to play in.
