Australia's National Basketball League will delay its free agent signing period until April 30 "in a sign it is confident at least one of its battling franchises will remain on court next season," according to Roy Ward of THE AGE. NBL Chair Graeme Wade said last week Townsville Crocodiles, Wollongong Hawks and a "possible expansion Brisbane Bullets franchise would have a 'soft' deadline of the end of this month to confirm whether they would be entering teams" in the '15-16 season. The Crocodiles and Hawks are in voluntary administration while they "gather financial support for next season, while the league is in talks with two groups about running a re-entered Bullets team." The NBL and the NBL players' association were concerned players would "take lesser offers with the six clubs who are confirmed for next season and the best players at the Crocodiles and Hawks would be signed up before either club could offer them contracts." Both the league and its players have "agreed to a moratorium on player signings until April 30 to allow all clubs to put offers to players for next season." NBLPA President Jacob Holmes said last week he was concerned players would take "panic offers" or more stable clubs would "poach stars from the embattled teams" (THE AGE, 3/17).
