Phoenix weigh options as Bleijenbergh exits

Despite their season-opener being just three days away, South East Melbourne coach Josh King says his club in no rush to find a third import.

Reports broke on Tuesday that the Heartland club is planning to release Vrenz Bleijenbergh from his one-year deal, leaving King with just John Brown III and Hunter Maldonado at his disposal in Round 1.

In an interview with basketball.com.au, King explained that the Belgium forward was 'not the right fit for his team' and it was best for all parties to 'go in another direction'.

The second year NBL coach went on to say his side, who will host Cairns on Saturday at John Cain Arena, will do their due diligence in replacing Bleijenbergh.

"We're not in a rush," he said.

"We've got two games coming up here and then we have a week break for the NBA game. We have a whole week and then we don't play for a whole another week, so I think I think we're going to take a look and see what we have on these first two games and then make a decision after that.

"To be quite honest, we could go a bunch of different ways with it, so let's see kind of what we think we need after we play a couple live regular season games."

Saturday's Hungry Jack's NBL26 round one fixture tips off at 5.30pm and will be broadcast on ESPN.

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