Unlikely unless new Melbourne club go for him as a cheap bench option.

What's the g-o with Walker here?

I’ve never been a fan but he always seems to put up decent-ish figures to at least earn a bench role somewhere.

To me, Cairns declining is especially alarming given that their roster sucked and he was occasionally one of few that did ok. Could’ve easily seen him being kept on next season.

he was very underwhelming. if he'd put up the same numbers as his time in Perth he would've been fine but for my money he made too many bad shot choices, turned over the ball too much and spent a lot of time injured or recovering. also not clear whether he ever really recovered from the ankle injury he had.

I hope this means cairns have lined up a half decent 4-man to replace the creaky walker/Loughton combo from this season. if those two had both played anywhere near the same as the year before cairns would've been a lot more competitive.

he's also just had a baby with his partner (who's from the USA) so wonder if family also had anything to do with his exit. can't see him getting another job in the Nbl tbh.

Waxy is 34 and well past it.
He was past it, 3 years ago, unable to get a gig.
He was brought in as a Training Player and short term injury replacement by Perth, and impressed Gleeson with his work ethic. He was impressive enough to earn a one year offer to replace Redhage on the end of the bench, last season, but played so well early that with Knight on the way out he was promoted to starting (and even earned a Boomers call up.) As expected, he slowed towards the end of the season, but it was nevertheless an impressive comeback for a 32-33 year old.
But it was never going to last.
Ultimately, with Hire, bringing in Vague, and Wagstaff slowing down, the end of the Perth bench was going to get crowded, and there was no room left for Waxy. (Maybe if they'd had to persist with Jesse or Waxy starting, but recruiting Kay ensured that was never necessary.)

Whilst I'm not sure recycling so many players was a good move, it was good to see him get a spot with Cairns, and I'd guess was a good fit for their budget.

As for the 8 extra roster spots, well there are only 5 left. Maybe 6 if Perth don't go for a 3rd import.
Yes, I think SEM will hoover up some talent and create extra opportunities, but I'm not sure there'll be a spot for Waxy.
He might get picked up as a TP again.

https://www.3x3hustle.com/news/eventful-off-season-leads-waxy-to-first-3x3-crack/

That's probably because the cut-off date is this Friday so I would expect announcements during the week.

CLUB STATEMENT ON LUCAS WALKER

The CQUniversity Cairns Taipans would like to clarify reports regarding Lucas Walker and his future with the club.

While his comments to NBL Media were in line with "the club not taking his option" for the 2019/20 season, further clarification would have revealed that the club were considering not taking his option, and instead considering a new contract.

The club have been in regular communication with Lucas' agent, and both parties agreed this would put him in a better position for all potential negotiations for the upcoming season.

The club also have until Friday 29 March 2019 (prior to the start of free agency) to make a final decision on Lucas’ option.

Lucas still lives in Cairns and has been working out with Taipans Head Coach Mike Kelly on-court regularly throughout the off-season.

If the club is not taking his option but is open to a new contract, this would mean they want to pay him less and let him 'test the market'.

Truly amazing powers of deduction there lovebroker.

Not sure you can get much better than Waxy as a back-up. Pay him a pittance and get an import power forward worth a fair bit of coin.

The fact that's it now the off-season has truly hit me with this being the big NBL news of the day.

Although if Adam Gibson is gawn, that's prettybig.

Has it actually happened? All I see is an anon saying it has.

Yeh an anon would know more than tne club

Likely to just be Cairns saying: instead of 70 for next season, we offer you 50 for each of the next two. Take it or leave it.

Two years is too much imo. Would want to string him out yearly, like they did with Loughzy. Pretty sure they would've given 40 another year had he been up to it

I had checked the NBL site and Bullets Twitter ...no mention of Gibbo news.

Hope it's not true...if anyone needs to go it's Cadee.

No one could question Walker's desire, athleticism or effort. But he has always been limited with a low basketball IQ. That has been the knock on him throughout his impressively long career.

As the time starts coming for the athleticism to drop off, the pure skills and wiles might not be there to take over.

It may in fact be the other way around?
Hard to think he would have been on much this season gone, so maybe they are giving him the opportunity to test the wasters elsewhere and see if there is a better offer, anywhere???

I know its hard for them with budget constraints, but even with Jawai having a good season, they need to find some decent local quality. Otherwise even 3 reasonable imports just isn't enough.

I'm worried that in the past they have looked at Loughton and Jawai and decided getting castoffs was a good way to build a team???
Loughton had his own reasons for wanting out, and Jawai wanted to return home.

Not sure what their options are? Maybe look for young Aussies playing in the 3rd & 4th rate leagues O/S??

I think Cairns are trying to set the benchmark for salary cap compliance by paying their bottom 10 players under $400k combined.

There's a salary floor set at 90% of the cap, so that wouldn't be compliant at all...

It may in fact be the other way around?
Hard to think he would have been on much this season gone, so maybe they are giving him the opportunity to test the wasters elsewhere and see if there is a better offer, anywhere???

See this is what I hate about Southern Huskies not coming in this season, it would have been a fantastic opportunity for two Tasmanians to go home and be a part of a brand new club... I think both may be too old by the time they get their licence (and stadium).