Mitchell discusses Creek, Hunter opt-out clauses

South East Melbourne General Manager of Basketball Operations Simon Mitchell has called for calm amongst the rumours of reported Asia opt-out clauses in the contracts of new signing Jordan Hunter and star forward Mitch Creek, and says options like those are “far more common than people realise”.

Creek set the rumour mill wagging following an interview with News Corp in which he declared “if” he returned to the NBL it would be with the Phoenix, before he stated the opportunities in China are “extremely lucrative”.

He is currently playing for CBA side XinJiang.

ESPN’s Olgun Uluc also reported new signing Hunter’s contract contains an Asia opt-out clause in each season of this three-year contract, including the NBL25 season.

“It's been widely reported, but it’s far more common than people realise,” Mitchell said on NBL Now.

“It’s something that we’ll build contingencies around, but in the same time in our conversations with Jordi we’re comfortable he’ll be playing for us. This one has been widely talked about, but it’s far more common than people realise.

“Mitch has always had these outs. Many, many players do. It seems to have swamped the media and Mitch has come out and spoken about it as well so it is where it is.

“Having said that if he does some absolutely wonderful things in these Chinese Playoffs, then who knows? He would absolutely be getting our blessing if great financial windfalls were to come his way.

“At this point in time we certainly have our plans around Mitch Creek being a cornerstone of the South East Melbourne Phoenix going into NBL25.”

Hunter’s signing has followed the arrival of former Brisbane sharpshooter Nathan Sobey and fellow former King Angus Glover to the club.

The Phoenix have been the most active side in the early stages of free agency, and look to be rebuilding their core of local players in the hopes of another push towards the NBL title.

Mitchell believes the trio of local signings will add an edge to the Phoenix roster.

“[Sobey] always has a point when he gets out on the floor, and that’s one of the things we like about him,” Mitchell said. “He plays with that edge and we feel like this team needs a little bit more edge, personality and toughness, and he brings that.

 “I’m an unabashed Angus Glover fan. I love his grit and his toughness. He’s been through a lot in regards to his health earlier in his career, and that’s really the steel within him, to get through those setbacks and go three years on the trot with great health and performance says a lot about the man, it says a lot about what we want as a club.

“I put a big circle around that name when you heard the whispers things maybe weren’t going ahead with him in Sydney.

“[Hunter is] an elite pick-and-roll guy at the offensive end but, more importantly for us, his rim protection, his wall-ups around, his disruption in the paint are things we’ve never had to the level he brings at South East Melbourne since our inaugural season.

“We’ve been waiting on a talent like that and it’s been great to get away this week having had secured it.”

>>Original article via NBL.com.au

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