Breakers have become a joke of an organisation. All about the buyout money.

I don't recall seeing an agreement like this before - more weird stuff from the Breakers.

Great decision by the management team.
Corey can make some serious money, the club benefits from the buyout and Corey is happy and signs on long term.
I put a fork in the season a few losses ago so it's not like we’re missing out on a chance at a championship with him gone for the rest of the season.
Shamir can look to who else he wants to keep from the current squad and build chemistry between them for the rest of 19/20 season and get some continuity heading into 20/21.

It's probably not so much that Webster doesn’t like the situation at NZ, he wants to set himself up for life after basketball and China money is much better than NBL money unless you play for the Kings or United.

If RJ is drafted, he is signed for next season so NZ also get a buyout.
Walsh isnt as silly as he looks.

Bought out for $150k, maybe needed some cash to help Rice Jr with his legal battle

Trying to rationalise a key player (for the future of your franchise) ditching the team (& the opportunity to build that chemistry with other players looking to be kept) while still taking a dig at other teams able to retain their key players (both expensive and inexpensive) is a bit rough...

I never begrudge any professional athlete getting paid... Their window is shorter than most, but this is MERCENARY... What about all the fans? You're willing to ditch the team when you could be a key player in actually getting them wins and regaining some professional respect, if only on the court, not off?

I wonder how many of those Breakers fans turning up this season and watching the team tank for their remaining games will want to return next season?

If you have a look at the NZ Breakers fan pages on Facebook there is nothing but positive comments about this move from die hard Breakers fans.

Walsh handled this a lot better than the Sixers did with Mitch Creek.
At least Corey is coming back, and not playing for an opposition team.

Seems like a smart move from NZ's end, but it could set a precedent of other players on teams who are not going to make finals leave as well with a similar agreement.

I think you'll find that Breakers fans are supportive of the decision because they support Webster and see it as win for him. Not so much because they think its in the Breakers best interests. There's an acute difference.

You have to remember that Corey was probably first involved with the Breakers in 2006-odd. He's a forefather of North Shore basketball and has a lot of support;

I'm happy with the decision because it takes care of Corey;

But if I had no care for Corey; then its a bad decision by the Breakers in terms of their own interests.

Anon - it's not about warm and fuzzies, it's about honouring your contract... He tried to get out of it before the season, and now actually managed it to China... If you want the big money, go for it, back yourself, but don't sign somewhere in the meantime, get fans on board and then fuck off... that's a dick move at any level... It's not like he's bettering his playing career by going to the NBA, he's going to jack up 50ppg in China and sit back and not have to work for it...

"and he's committed to the club for the next 2 years"
- He was committed to the Breakers this season as well...

Lets not forget Corey left NZ and signed with Perth under the previous Management/Ownership Team and Walsh & Co bought out his contract and got him back to the Breakers.
After the WC's he got a decent offer from Turkey and wanted to bolt for the cash as he no doubt reads hoops.com.au and has seen that Jason Cadee's on $400k and Sydney's rosters worth 4mill....

Walsh seems happy to sacrifice some short term success for a long term gain.

NZ still have exciting players in Henry, Hopson & Delaney and despite losing have been getting decent crowds.

In the words of the Warriors (NZ not GSW), "next season boys, next season" lol

Sydney did honour Kuany's contract by paying it out in full. I'm a bit torn about the Webster situation. It's not exactly the same as that Brisbane import a few years ago who asked to be released from his contract because the Bullets were out of contention (because Webster is signed for next year), but this feels to me like NZ are either trying to appease Webster into coming back next season, or are engineering a way out for both sides re: his current deal that doesn't make either side look bad.

...and if I were his teammate, I wouldn't be happy about this at all to be honest.

It's basically a "Sabbatical clause" which NZ sports have precedent with e.g. the NZ Rugby Union have put into a lot of senior All Blacks contracts a sabbatical clause allowing them to elect to play a season abroad in lieu of Super Rugby (most go to Japan); basically lets them earn a nice little retainer and gives them enough of a temporary out to prevent them leaving permanently. Then they come back and return to Super Rugby/the All Blacks after the stint.

The All Blacks' use of it makes a lot more sense though, because they are basically sacrificing the player's availability to their Super Rugby team to preserve their availability for the national team.

But in this case, the NZ Breakers (and not a lower team) are the ones sacrificing Webster's availability.

Anyway this post didn't real achieve much - just thought I'd highlight it been done in NZ Rugby circles.

Thats a good post Macdub, similar situation.

I know its not part of their thoughts and finals teams should expect to beat NZ but could making NZ weaker influence 4th place?

NZ still play:
S E Melbourne 3 times
Brisbane 3
36ers 2
Cairns 1
Melbourne 1

Wow, some people believe whatever is fed to them by the organisation. The Breakers said it's a good move for the club, so I guess it must be!

Walsh has been awful this year but you'd expect him to reflect and be much better next year. He's treated the entire thing as an experiment. When you move in a different direction to every other club in just about every area, you're going to fail. He needs to come back to the pack a bit next year.

As an anon. said above this only comes about because of all of his other missteps. If the team was competing for the four Webster wouldn't be leaving, well, at least you'd hope they wouldn't let him leave.

And so what if he's got a contract? He's got a contract now and he's leaving. There's no guarantee he'll be back. And even if he is, no knowing he'll be happy like people assume he will be. In my experience, people who make more money don't want to just stop doing that to return to their previous job.

I'm shocked the fans keep buying this stuff. If I was a member I'd want a refund based on the season so far.

I have no problem with this and see it as a win win for both sides

Just as the Kings honoured Kuany kuany contract by paying it out, Webster has honoured his contract by buying it out (via the Chinese team)

Its a win for Webster who gets to cash in after trying to earlier in the season

Its a win for the Breakers as they get a buy out payment, also got him to commit long term, where as if you refuse again he likely walks at the end of the season.

Given the season is dead in terms of playoffs or championship its not at a real risk or loss to the Breakers season any way

They had Sek Henry who plays the same position as Webster anyway, so he just now gets a bigger role

They still have 3 good imports and some decent locals like Abercrombie, Delaney, etc to put on a decent product for the fans, and most fans will support Corey on this and see the longer term benefit of more Corey in the future. Many would realise if Walsh had blocked this again, he probably moves on after this season and would not be a happy member of the team going forward.

They also get to have a real look at some of the other guys like Rasbautch to decide whether they wish to keep him next season.

I think this is a good move.

Webster gets to make good money.

Breakers get to tank for the rest of the season and hopefully get #1 in the NBL draft lottery.

Webster's child isn’t 7 yet so he can legally move between cities and counties .

I don't have an opinion on the merits or otherwise of this move. But it should kill of any ideas of some form of draft, with low finishing teams getting higher draft picks.

Sorry nah, bailing on your team just after half way, because you figure they won't make the finals, just stinks.

Everyone has been all up in arms over claims that Ball or Hampton might do it. But Webster does it and suddenly its all cool??

Claiming he's signed for another 2 years, at the same time as allowing him to bail mid season, really doesn't make a lot of sense.
What exactly have they signed him to?
Two more years where he hangs around just long enough to get a better offer?

Guys who want to become mercenary journeymen, hopping from club to club as cash dictates, need to bite the bullet, hire an agent, and leave. That's not the kind of thing we value.

Maybe Kiwis are different and think this is ok??

Also a winner here? Sek Henry. I think Webster/Henry shared a similar role where one of them on court was great, but both wasn't ideal.

Seems like a transition year before 2020-21. Very happy for Ethan Rusbatch, this guy has NBL 3-and-D role-player written all over him and surely he's a keeper going forward. There's a nice Kiwi core here - Loe, Abercrombie, Delany, Webster, Rusbatch.

Plot twist: Walsh was drunk when agreeing to Webster's release.

"Very happy for Ethan Rusbatch, this guy has NBL 3-and-D role-player written all over him"

Hopefully he can add to the D bit because he is a natural offensively.