One of the NBL's most coveted free agents has announced he will not be coming home, with Jo Lual-Acuil set to depart Melbourne United.
Lual-Acuil has not announced where he will be playing next season, but it is unlikely to be in Australia, with the 28-year-old saying in May that if he was to play in the NBL it would be for United.
"I’ve loved every minute of my time at Melbourne United. Hopefully I get the opportunity to run it back here later in my career,” Lual-Acuil said.
The NBA Summer League is expected to be JLA's first port of call, but he will also field significant offers from China and Japan, according to NBL analyst Liam Santamaria, who noted that Japan in particular is becoming increasingly interested in the Australian.
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The 2022 NBL season was a career year for Lual-Acuil, averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, good enough numbers to be named to the All-NBL First Team, as well as an MVP and Most Improved Player finalist.
Melbourne head coach Dean Vickerman was also highly complimentary of the big man, noting his stunning rise to the top of the NBL.
“For a guy who initially came in as our last signing heading into NBL20 to have grown into an award winner in this league and being one of the best players in this league, it’s amazing," Vickerman said.
“He is the perfect example of an athlete who is totally self-driven and someone who is doing everything he can to make himself and his teammates better.”
For Melbourne, this once again leaves them with a hole at the five, after 2021's Finals MVP Jock Landale left United to join the San Antonio Spurs.
Lual-Acuil, who won 2021's Best Sixth Man award playing behind Landale, was able to step right into his shoes and produce a stunningly similar season.
But his decision to follow Landale's off-season approach has now left United searching for a centre.
One name that could be primed to inherit big minutes from this decision is Ariel Hukporti, the 20-year-old German Next Star who earlier this year announced he would be staying on with United for at least one more season.
Considering the stunning way that United were eliminated in the semi-finals last season, despite posting the best record in the league, means that the pressure will be on to fill Lual-Acuil's shoes as quickly and competently as possible.
