Mitch Creek exits Würzburg, possibly closing on potential NBA deal
Mitch Creek's NBA dream could be realised, much sooner than anyone expected.
The Australian forward is leaving Germany's s.Oliver Würzburg, and has used his NBA out clause. The team announced on Twitter that Creek had accepted an NBA offer, and also confirmed the signing of fellow Australian Xavier Cooks. At the moment, there has been no independent source confirming an NBA signing for Creek.
According to Fox Sports Australia's Olgun Uluc, Creek could be closing in on a deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
https://twitter.com/olgunuluc/status/1022762983653486592?s=21
Fairfax Media's Roy Ward has confirmed that Creek had been working on a two-way deal with at least three NBA teams, but was unable to verify further details with Creek's management.
What is the NBA two-way deal?
The NBA two-way deal, which was piloted last season, allows NBA teams to sign two additional players beyond the standard 15-man roster. These two players are allowed to move to and back between the NBA team and its G-League affiliate. When called up to the NBA team, the player is allowed to suit up for NBA games, up to a maximum of 45 days, before a decision is made between either retaining, or waiving the player in question.
Creek on Summer League
Creek had made a definite impression at the Las Vegas Summer League with his physical brand of basketball. He averaged 6.8 points and 3.4 offensive rebounds over 17.9 minutes a game in Summer League, and showed an ability to play with an edge that belied his actual size.
In a column with PlayersVoice, Creek wrote about his mentality and how he wanted to play in the tournament.
I’ll do everything I can to make my teammates better. That includes being the most vocal on the bench when we score and ensuring the guys I play with are feeling positive the whole time. I bring out the best in others and I see this as a strength of mine. Sometimes I can be too unselfish and focus more on other people’s success than my own. It’s a balancing act I’m always working on.
Dallas told me they wanted me to be aggressive, to defend and to lead. They required energy for the whole game, whether I was on the court or not, and what really helped my psyche was when the coaching staff said they wanted me to play the way that I know I can play the best.
Shoot the ball when open, attack and be an absolute pain in the arse on defence.
That’s me. They wanted me to be me. I loved that.
Should Creek be signed to an NBA two-way deal, he would be the second Australian on a two-way, alongside Mangok Mathiang. The signing would also make him the third Australian to join the NBA this offseason, together with Jonah Bolden (Philadelphia 76ers) and Ryan Broekhoff (Dallas Mavericks).
https://pickandroll.com.au/australia-international-nba-player-rankings/
More importantly, this signing would make Creek the 11th Australian in the NBA contingent, in this upcoming 2018/19 season.