Free Agency Analysis: Scott Machado back to Cairns

NBL Media’s Liam Santamaria continues his look at each and every signing, breaking down what it all means ahead of #NBL21. 

Re-signed by: Cairns Taipans

The deal: Two years

Age: 30

2019-20 team: Cairns Taipans

2019-20 stats (per game): 16.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 45.4 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 87.0 FT%

Projected role: Starting point guard.

Quote: “Scott was big for us on every level last year. He was just so important off the court, on the court, in training and just everywhere with the club. It’s really special to have him back.” – Mike Kelly (Cairns Taipans head coach)

My take: It’s finally official, the best point guard in the league is back!

Machado was a savvy signing by Mike Kelly last year and it paid off big-time, with the pass-first PG playing major role in lifting the Snakes off the bottom and back to the postseason.

With his leadership, basketball IQ and brilliant playmaking, Machado makes everyone around him better. That’s the hallmark of a truly great point guard and with him pulling the strings, the Taipans became much-watch TV as they stormed their way to within a game of a Grand Final appearance.

Now he’s back! Locked in with Cairns for the next two years.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEVER ? IN ? DOUBT ?<br><br>The Taipans and Machado have finally made it official, with the phenomenal point guard signing up for at least two more seasons: <a href="https://t.co/7qkmQanBqT">https://t.co/7qkmQanBqT</a> <a href="https://t.co/spwRHJyiJl">pic.twitter.com/spwRHJyiJl</a></p>&mdash; Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans/status/1330435774630735874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Okay, so here are a few obvious observations right off the bat.

Firstly, the Taipans have the best import duo in the league. Hands down. Fact. That may change, we’ll see, but for now they certainly hold that title.

Secondly, bringing back both Machado and Oliver – while retaining their local supporting cast – instantly vaults Cairns back into championship contention. They’re talented, harmonious and will benefit from having already played together.

They will, of course, greatly miss DJ Newbill. There’s no team in the league that will feel the effect of this year’s import reductions more than Cairns, as their trio of stud Americans blended beautifully last season. Newbill was the team’s leading scorer, the league’s Best Defensive Player and rightfully earned All-NBL Second Team honours. The ability of Kouat Noi and Mirko Djeric, in particular, to raise their production in Newbill’s absence will be crucial for the Snakes in NBL21.

Back on Machado, what truly unlocked his brilliance last season was his impressive long range shooting. I mean, we knew he would lead the league in dimes. We also knew he’d be a great leader and a really solid defender. What was totally unexpected though, was his knock-down shooting from beyond the arc. Why? Well, because he previously hadn’t been that guy across his pro career. The American-born Brazilian shot 33 percent from three-point territory in the G League and spent most of his time in Europe shooting somewhere in the low or sub-30s. All that changed in the NBL when he connected on 40 percent of five three-point attempts per game!

I mean, c’mon… life becomes very difficult for defenders when a play-maker of Machado’s level is doing this…

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Logo Machado.<a href="https://twitter.com/_ScottMachado?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ScottMachado</a> pulling up from the <a href="https://twitter.com/RACArena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RACArena</a> ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBLFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBLFinals</a> <a href="https://t.co/aMHZAhO60S">pic.twitter.com/aMHZAhO60S</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1233347842078466048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Let alone this…

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&#39;s do or die and <a href="https://twitter.com/_ScottMachado?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ScottMachado</a> isn&#39;t going to die wondering...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBLFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBLFinals</a> live on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/SBSVICELAND?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SBSVICELAND</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL20</a> <a href="https://t.co/gHeTaOFilX">pic.twitter.com/gHeTaOFilX</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1235519726966566912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Machado’s a nightmare in the open floor and, in the half court, you just could not slip under ball-screens against him last season. He kept every defender honest and, as a result, was able to snake his way off picks and slice into the paint, where he’d either score at the cup or punish the help with the pass.

Double him off those actions and he’ll quickly survey the scene and find the open man. He’s just so fun to watch and, for Mike Kelly, must be an absolute joy to coach.

In the end, Machado will lead the league in assists again next season (and probably the season after that). He’s a world class table-setter, that’s just what he does.

What will be the ultimate difference-maker is if he continues to shoot the heck out of the ball. If he can do that, he’ll be all-league again and the Taipans will be right in the thick of things at the pointy end of the season.