Must be something in the works. Imagine if they scored Bairstow!

On the surface this seems like an odd move. Over the past two seasons he never seemed a good fit in Fearne's system though.

Would really like to see him come home to Brisbane, but don't think that will happen this season with the roster as it is.

won best 6th man 2 season ago, so I didn't think he had a problem fitting in. Even if defence isn't his greatest asset.

without knowing the facts of what/how/why it happened it's hard to say anything except that he gave the orange his all on and off the court, and the Orange Army has to appreciate that.

Everything but the man bun will be missed.

The man-bun was his undoing !

Wasn't he playing state league this season with the Marlins, or is he injured again?

He came back from an ankle injury last weekend for the Marlins. 19pts but not too many other stats to speak of.

I wouldn't have thought the Taipans would have the money to cut someone, pay them out and then sign someone else (particularly to a big contract). Unless they're not paying him out in full??

A shame, one of the real characters of the league.

Certainly a big surprise coming from a team like Cairns, Perth, sure... Is it still the norm that the "financial obligations" would extend to Cairns paying him out only if he doesn't get another deal up to what he had with them? Like others, I can't see them splashing the cash around to just cut someone willy nilly...

Still a few options though, maybe heading back to the Hawks?

Seems like a genuinely nice guy, man bun aside, so it's a shame to see this happen...

So there is a chance they can re-sign Burston to lesser contract but not re-sign Trigger to the lesser contract himself?

This feels somewhat wrong like Trigger didn't get along with Jawai or McCarron or something because it just came out of the blue

Neither Wortho or Jawaii will come off the bench so what's the play here? Paying out(when your not flush)a crowd favourite early for say a young college kid may not end well.

This is Wortho's last season so he might be willing to come off of the bench but with the signing of Jawai your need for Burston over Tragardh becomes much much greater.

More than likely, Trigger was released purely for the need to gain athleticism in the post. None of Jawai, Loughton, Wotho or Trigger are athletic, and Wortho is the only half-way decent perimeter defender of the lot of them.

The reason it was Trigger and not Loughton would probably come down to the fact that Loughton has two years left on his contract, and Trigger just had this year. There may have been basketball related reasons, too!

The Snakes will be looking to sign (or are already on the verge of signing) an athletic 4 or 5 man. I can't see why they would do this otherwise.

I have very good intel that prior to signing Jawai, the club was looking at TWO "really good" Australian players. They are still looking for a point guard, a small forward and a power player, so it's possible it could be Bairstow. I doubt it, unless they have found a strong sponsor in a local economy that's pretty weak at the moment.

He will probably be replaced by a college grad from the US, I think. I doubt Burston will be back, unfortunately. He still has a lot of upside, too.

But where's the money coming from?

The plot thickens with Adelaide releasing Lucas Walker.

I would expect McCarron to be a back-up at this stage of his career. Lots of potential though.

@snooch, i hear (silent) local investors who dont want to be named???

3 imports will be announced very soon.

I doubt it, unless they have found a strong sponsor in a local economy...

Why? This is a forum where people discuss stuff, and discussing why he only got 50% of his contract paid out is valid.

Ultimately he's agreed to it, so it's moot anyway, but that doesn't mean we can't discuss it.

50% payout the contract terms. Nothing to see here.

Was there a comment made by the team captain or did he back Fearne's decision to release Tragardh?