The Southland Sharks cut American import LaGerald Vick earlier this week in an effort to turn around their 0-7 start to the season.
He is the second overseas player the Sharks have released this year.
They dropped American guard Josh Turner just two games into the campaign, and recruited Caleb Asberry as his replacement.
Southland Sharks operation manager Jill Bolger declined to be interviewed when contacted for comment.
However, in a brief email she said "our roster decisions have not been made as simply a knee-jerk reaction to our record," she wrote.
"They've been made with the best interests of the team at heart and to give us the best chance to get back to playing Sharks basketball, starting with the Giants on Friday night."
The Sharks will be making no further comment.
While it is not unusual to swap out imports during the season, it is a costly business and the short response suggests it is not a happy camp.
Marcale Lotts is the sole survivor of the trio of Americans who all arrived in Invercargill in early March with such high hopes.
Lotts has been a solid rather than spectacular performer. Vick, however, produced some standout efforts in the orange singlet.
He arrived with a big reputation and some seasoned observers had him on their watch list for MVP.
The 27-year-old shooting guard poured in 32 points against the Wellington Saints in Invercargill on April 15.
But his form has been patchy and he could manage only four points in 23 minutes in his last outing against the Canterbury Rams in Invercargill on Saturday night.
The heavy 87-65 loss left the Sharks feeling like they had to act and Vick paid the price. He averaged 17 points in seven games for the franchise.
The Sharks’ next assignment is against the Nelson Giants in Invercargill on Friday.
There is still plenty of time in the season to turn their campaign around.
But coach Guy Molloy will need more out of Lotts and Asberry, and whoever the latest replacement is, if the three-times champions are going to climb their way up the standings.
The Saints and the Franklin Bulls lead the competition standings with five wins from six games.
The Otago Nuggets sit in sixth place with three wins from five games.
The Sharks are without a win and are dead last.
