Taipans sign Tait

The Skytrans Cairns Taipans are celebrating the Christmas season with a new arrival to the club for the remainder of the 2010-11 National Basketball League season.

The club is pleased to announce Lindsay Tait has joined the team and will suit up for his first clash in Taipans orange against the Sydney Kings on New Year’s Eve.

 

Tait, 28, has played in the NBL for the New Zealand Breakers and Wollongong Hawks and will be a welcome addition to the Skytrans Taipansbackcourt in the absence of back-up point guard Kerry Williams, out injured for the remainder of the season.

 

Skytrans Taipans general manager Mark Beecroft said the club had been unsuccessful in its appeal against a ruling allowing it to sign anunrestricted player to replace Williams, the team’s required Australian under-24 player.

 

As a result, Gareth Dawkins will be elevated into the starting 10, meaning there will be competition for the last roster spot.

 

“We have room in our salary cap and points to sign an 11th player, so we’ve done that with Lindsay and Gareth will now be our under-24 player,” Beecroft said.

“As we move into the second half of the season, we felt we needed some extra punch in the backcourt and we believe Lindsay can providethat.

 

“He’s an experienced player, having represented New Zealand, is his ability to back-up Ayinde Ubaka in the point guard position is going to be crucial for us as we continue our push to the playoffs.”

 

Skytrans Taipans coach Aaron Fearne said Tait would be invaluable coming off the bench, providing scoring punch and defence.

 

“Lindsay is a guy who can create a shot for himself, but more importantly find the open man on a drive,” Fearne said. “And defensively, we want him to be up-and-in, creating headaches for opposing point guards as they try and run their offences.”

 

Tait has arrived in Cairns and started training with his new teammates.

 

Fearne said Dawson would also now get an opportunity at the top level, having been one of the club’s designated development players.

 

“He has to keep working hard, like he has, and take every chance that might come his way,” the coach said.