Al Harrington is warming up nicely to his stint in the NBL, with the former long-time NBA player showing he can be a dominant force. The only problem is that Josh Childress is about to return for the Sydney Kings to replace him.
Now that works out fine for the Kings because a fully fit Childress has already proven over the past season and a half that he can be the best player in the NBL once he stays on the court.
It’s a shame, though, that it means Harrington will be lost to the NBL because after a lacklustre start his most recent performances have been outstanding – especially considering his well-used 35-year-old legs arrived having not played since leaving China late in 2014 hoping to return to the NBA.
There is a perfect solution to the conundrum that would be beneficial for the NBL, the club involved and likely even Harrington. Harrington has enjoyed his time in Australia over the past month and reportedly would be happy to stay here until February.
The perfect solution would be to have Harrington join the Townsville Crocodiles for the rest of the season. It would be great for the NBL to have Harrington remain and the Crocs need some star power both on and off the court.
Harrington came to the NBL three weeks ago as an injury replacement with the Kings after Childress broke his hand and arrived on the back of an outstanding NBA career that saw him play 1036 games with seven different clubs.
His most notable run was with the Indiana Pacers where he began his career and spent seven seasons in total, including being a key player in the team that made the Eastern Conference finals in 2004.
Statistically his best season was at the New York Knicks averaging 20.7 points in the 2008-09 campaign and as recently as 2014 he was playing well with the Washington Wizards.
Having announced his retirement at the end of the 2014-15 NBA season when he wasn’t picked up, his arrival at the Kings saw him a little short of peak condition but over the past two weeks he has got rolling.
Harrington was a dominant force with 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in last Thursday’s 22-point win for the Kings over the Adelaide 36ers. But with Childress to return by next week at the latest, it’s a shame Harrington will be lost to the NBL just as he’s starting to deliver.
The Crocs have amassed a team full of players that compete hard. But what they could desperately use is somebody who can put up big points when their offence isn’t working.
That can only help them on the court. But perhaps even more importantly, the people of Townsville haven’t got behind the team now for several seasons. Their on-going future remains in jeopardy because of the disappointing crowd numbers.
Townsville fans have a team of competitors on the Crocs they should be coming to support. If they had that team, with the star power of Harrington, hopefully it would make them a hot ticket and The Swamp could be rocking again.
To accommodate the arrival of Harrington, the Crocs would need to release an import and that unfortunately would be guard Jordair Jett. He has had a solid start to his pro career at Townsville, but if the chance to sign Harrington presented then tough decisions need to be made.
Reigning MVP Brian Conklin has to stay and the good news for the Crocodiles is that Mitch Norton, Corey Maynard and Mirko Djeric are capable of handling the ball-carrying duties. Add the duo of Harrington and Conklin going to work, and they could be unstoppable.
It would also give the Townsville public a star to get behind for the first time since the departure of former league MVP Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams.
As good as it sounds and as perfect a fit it would be, unfortunately it doesn’t appear capable of happening due to the financial restraints the Crocs are under.
That’s unfortunate because it would be a great thing to happen for the NBL, the Crocs and Harrington. And it could just be the thing to give the club the boost it needs to ensure it has a future.
Round 7 NBL Fixtures
Wednesday
Adelaide 36ers v Perth Wildcats (Titanium Security Arena) – Fox Sports 3, 7.30pm
Thursday
Sydney Kings v New Zealand Breakers (Qantas Credit Union Arena) – Fox Sports 3, 7.30pm
Friday
Melbourne United v Townsville Crocodiles (Hisense Arena) – Fox Sports 3, 7.30pm
Saturday
Adelaide 36ers v Illawarra Hawks (Titanium Security Arena) – Fox Sports 3, 7.30pm
Sunday
New Zealand Breakers v Melbourne United (Vector Arena) – Fox Sports 3, 3pm
Perth Wildcats v Cairns Taipans (Perth Arena) – Fox Sports 3, 7pm
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