'Negotiations ongoing' between Breakers and coaching legend

Over the past few weeks, it has been reported that the New Zealand Breakers are edging closer to signing their new Head Coach.

The man that they are reportedly in negotiations with is Gordon Herbert.

During the latest episode of The Marketplace, presented by Paywise, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc explained the talks are still ongoing between the two parties.

“The word that we've gotten is, and that we've heard for a few weeks, is that Gordie Herbert and the New Zealand Breakers have been talking,” Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

“From what I understand, nothing has changed. Nothing has come to fruition. Nothing has been on the table and then taken off the table. This has just been a continuation of a negotiation that's been happening.”

2019 NBL champion Pete Hooley explained why he believed the negotiations are progressing slowly.

“We're talking about one of the legends of the coaching game, [so full credit to] the New Zealand Breakers for being on the front foot and trying to lure one of the biggest coaching signings in NBL history to their club,” Hooley said.

“For what I understand, it's not a money thing and these conversations are still ongoing.

“It seems like it's a logistical thing to the point of he is the head coach of the Canadian national team. There is a FIBA World Cup and there is an Olympics.

“There are these things that have to work out if you take a job on the other side of the world.

“We're not just talking about a Head Coach of a national team that's just making up the numbers in these tournaments, we're talking about someone who can go and win these tournaments.

“He’s won world tournaments before, so he has to work around the logistics, to ensure he doesn’t disrupt your medal chances with Canada or any championship ambitions either.”

Uluc also explained how this hasn’t been any different to the process of hiring other coaches.

“Now, I appreciate there are reports out there and some of those reports get aggregated and then those reports often guide public opinion,” Uluc said.

“Then, I think, unfairly, Gordie Herbert gets maligned for reneging on a contract or the New Zealand Breakers get maligned for fumbling the bag. Neither of those things are true.”

Before taking over the Canadian men's national team, Herbert has spent time in Germany, with both the national team (winning the 2023 FIBA World Cup gold medal) and clubs such as Bayern Munich, Skyliners Frankfurt, Alba Berlin and s.Oliver Würzburg.

The 67-year-old has also plied his trade in the NBA (as an assistant coach with Toronto), France (Paris Basket Racing and Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez), Finland (Korihait and Espoon Honka), Austria (Oberwart Gunners), Greece (Aris) and Russia (Avtodor)

As such, this highlights why a signing of this magnitude would be big for the League.

“All I'll say is that what we're hearing is that those negotiations are still ongoing. Will it happen? Maybe? Could a negotiation, like lots of negotiations, just not come to fruition? Potentially. But as of right now, this has just been a negotiation that's ongoing and remains ongoing," Uluc said.

“Hopefully they get it done, because the more high-level qualified people we have in the NBL, the better.”

If Herbert does come to terms with the Breakers, he would coach a roster that features Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Sam Mennenga, Dejan Vasiljevic, Reuben Te Rangi, Carlin Davison, Izayah Le’Afa and Preston Le Gassick.