With NBL free agency well underway, one of the hottest topics of conversation was the eventual landing spot of Luke Travers, the former-Perth Wildcat wunderkind who left the team this off-season in search of a greater role.
After some time, it seems that Travers' next move has been revealed by an unexpected source: Josh Giddey.
Can confirm👇🏼 https://t.co/1mahgvp8Sy
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) April 17, 2023
Giddey, the former NBL Next Star and current Oklahoma City Thunder guard, took to Twitter Monday to announce that Travers will be signing a three-year deal with Melbourne United.
Minutes later, ESPN's Olgun Uluc retweeted Giddey's initial report, confirming that he had heard the same thing from sources, which all but confirms that Travers will be headed East for the 2023-24 NBL season.
At 21 years old, Travers is considered one of Australia's most promising young prospects, even being drafted in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He averaged 9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, but found that he had a limited offensive role, sharing the court with players like Bryce Cotton, Brady Manek, and the Webster brothers Corey and Tai.
MORE: Why 2024 NBA Draft prospect A.J. Johnson decommited from Texas for Australia's NBL
Speaking to ESPN, Travers said that the move to Melbourne was the best opportunity for his career, especially in an effort to realise his NBA dreams.
"It's the track record they have of developing guys to the NBA," Travers said.
"That was appetising for me. That's where I want to get to. It's the culture that's been built there; you see it when you play them.
"Dean [Vickerman has] been a focal point of that and, speaking to him through it all, what he wanted to do with me and his plans for my development, but to also win games at the same time, that was the big deciding factor for it all.
"Getting out of home was something that I needed to do, just to become a better person at the same time, and take that next leap to get to the NBA so I can prepare myself for that sort of stuff. It was definitely a good time for it."
As for Giddey, his move to NBL reporting comes just days after his second NBA season came to a close, as he and the Thunder lost in the second of two play-in games, capping off an extremely impressive season for the young Aussie.
