Experienced point guard Luke Martin could be playing his basketball for the Otago Nuggets this season.
Otago Nuggets coach Alf Arlidge confirmed the franchise had approached the 30-year-old and was hopeful the talented player would agree to don the blue and gold singlet this year.
"I've talked to him, and Brownie [Basketball Otago general manager Markham Brown] has talked to him, and we've obviously put something in front of him," Arlidge said when contacted for comment yesterday.
"There are a few teams chasing him and we're looking at a few other players as well. But if we got him it would be really good for the franchise.
"We are right in the running, I'll tell you that."
Should Martin sign with the franchise, it would be the second big signing.
Tall Black forward Craig Bradshaw inked a deal before Christmas and the pair would give the Nuggets some much-needed credibility.
The Nuggets have struggled to compete in the National Basketball League since the late 1990s, but with Bradshaw and Martin on board the Dunedin-based team can expect to break its 27-game losing streak which stretches back to April 12, 2008.
Martin made his debut in the NBL in 2004 for the Manawatu Jets and has played for three other NBL teams.
He had three seasons with Waikato from 2005 to 2007 before joining the Wellington Saints.
Last season he helped the Southland Sharks reach the playoffs in their debut season.
Martin has played 121 games and has built a reputation as a quality point guard with one of the best passing games in the league.
He averages 11 points a match and, more importantly, 4.8 assists a game.
"We want a pure point guard and that is what he is," Arlidge said.
"If we can't pull it off we'll have to get an American point guard. But if we get him then we can load up a forward spot with some American, or maybe an Australian."
Arlidge said the franchise was tired of being anchored to the bottom of the competition table and was determined to get better results.
"We want to be more professional and we are trying to put a winning team on the floor. It is as simple as that. And Martin will be a really big part for us.
"But I'm still very driven to bring the young guys through. When they come through, if we can keep them all together, we'll be really strong.
"We've got to keep them together and they have to buy in to it as well. This will be a crunch year because some of them won't play as much as they have been."
Brown, whose wife, former Silver Ferns shooter Jodi Brown, gave birth to the couple's second child, daughter Aria, late last month, is on leave but confirmed the franchise has approached Martin and was waiting for his response.
