Bye bye Wortho & not happy as Larry
TweetMARK Worthington is bound for Europe and United owner Larry Kestelman's offer to "help out" the NBL is not as good a deal as we first mooted here in March.
Wortho took MVP honours in Melbourne's first season as "United" but is heading overseas.
Yes. Originally I had him pegged for Orange County but my (e)mail is the somewhat parlous state of the NBL has made Europe look all the more attractive.
Melbourne already has lost Daryl Corletto to Europe.
Meanwhile co-owner Larry Kestelman might have to step away from some of his involvement with United if his bid to "help" the NBL is accepted, as looks most likely.
Check out the link following for the offer Kestelman originally made to the NBL last year around the time of the Blitz in Brisbane. http://www.botinagy.com/blog/the-7million-solution-the-nbl-rejected/
That $7million deal was rejected and here we are, some 8-9 months later and we have endured one of the worst off-seasons in league history.
But my (e)mail is the goal posts have shifted now it is the NBL in need of assistance.
Put it this way - last year Kestelman offered the NBL a Cinderella deal. This time I believe he's offering an ugly sister.
But beggars can't be choosers, right?
Meanwhile United just rushed out a release re Worthington, who averaged averaged 12.6 ppg and 7.2 rebounds in 27 games last season.
It says the door is open for him to return to the club. Wortho previously has played with Brose Baskets in Germany and Radnicki Kragujevac in Serbia.
“Mark has decided at this time to kindly decline the offer on the table from Melbourne United as he looks to pursue opportunities in Europe, where he feels he has unfinished business after a sour end to his stint in Serbia,” Worthington’s agent, Daniel Moldovan said.
Worthington's good friend and former United coach Chris Anstey tweeted today: "Wow! Amazed at the reason so many great people leave @MelbUnitedHQ. Gutted to see @Wortho33 join list of people not wanted by front office"
Draw your own conclusions.