Southern Huskies are set to enter formal negotiations with Launceston-raised NBL veteran Adam Gibson to join the fledgling club next winter.
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Coach Anthony Stewart had been texting the 32-year-old in the hope Gibson could return to Tasmania for the club's final Silverdome game.
The plan was for Gibson to replace injured guard Tre Nichols until the Huskies found the ex-Prospect High student counts as an import.
But Stewart said the former Brisbane Bullets and South Dragons NBL champion remained on the radar.
"Certainly, we'll be having conversations with Gibbo," Stewart told The Examiner.
"Not just for that, but if that NBL vision of Larry Kestelman's comes to fruition, getting Gibbo is a no-brainer to be able to finish up his career back in Tasmania.
"It would be awesome for us to get him home. That is certainly high on the cards for everyone, I would say."
Stewart felt that interest from Gibson and marquee signing, Harry Froling, has ensured the Huskies will become a "destination club".
"I've never had high-level players, import or Australian, say they don't want to ever come back," Stewart said.
"I'm in conversations with several players next year for the Southern Huskies and they're high-profile NBL athletes.
"They're all expressing interest that they want to play here. That's a credit to the people who turn to the Silverdome and the DEC.
Froling, the star 211cm Adelaide 36ers centre, approached Stewart late in the NBL season to join before the club gave its blessing and released the 21-year-old to pursue his NBA draft dream.
He was overlooked for last week's draft - a year earlier than he was expected to be considered a player - and decided he wanted to repay the faith to the Huskies.
"Just to have someone of that calibre and if you talk to Harry, here's there with NBA clubs," Stewart said.
"To have a young guy come in of that stature and using us as a bit of a platform for his NBL season and obviously will be knocking on the door with the NBA draft next year.
"It gives Tasmanians a great chance to have a look at a great young kid play."
Froling is set to debut on Saturday night in Launceston against Taranaki Mountaineers.
"We definitely want to finish off strong," Stewart said.
"We'll probably only miss the playoffs by one game or two if we do. Mathematically, we're actually a chance."