QBL Transactions: Nick Wiggins to Mackay, Justin Baker to Logan

Nick Wiggins signs with Mackay Canadian swingman Nick Wiggins has signed with the QBL defending champions, Mackay Meteors. The older brother of NBA rising star Andrew Wiggins, played his college basketball at Wake Forest while in his sophomore year at Wabash Valley Junior College he earned second-team All-American honours. Wiggins has spent the last two years in the NBA D-League, while he has played in Germany. Wiggins was originally signed to play for NZ NBL outfit Canterbury Rams in 2016 but was cut only days before the start of the season

BE Take: Not particular sold on Wiggins in my opinion. While he has played two seasons in the NBA D-League, stats wise he has struggled. Apart from the one season at Idaho Stampede (2015) where he averaged 9.8 points and 2.0 rebounds, he has been ordinary. Wiggins averaged 4.0 points and 1.7 rebounds for the Raptors 905. Wiggins has struggled in his professional career in Germany and New Zealand. It’s a reasonable concern whether he can dominate in QBL given his failings in the D-League. Though if he can put everything together he has the skill level to dominate this league. Together with Chris Cedar and a second restricted player (sources have told me it’s a NBL guard), I could see them defending their championship. I’m just not betting the house on it. Justin Baker signs with Logan Justin Baker follows his Gladstone coach to Logan as Rucker start to develop his squad. Baker had a standout season on his return to Gladstone in 2015 averaging 21.6 points, 10.3 rebounds in 35.3 minutes (19 games). Baker is currently playing for Eco Orebro in the Swedish first division averaging 16.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 30.6 minutes (17 games).

BE Take: Baker was rumoured to signed with Logan since last year. Rucker is starting to put his stamp on the Thunder with the addition of Baker, Michael Cedar and Daniel Sepokas. Baker played a big part in Gladstone re-surgence. Baker’s can shoot and rebound and is a definite upgrade over the retiring Steve Broom, who struggled in his last final years in the league. Baker can shoot and should form a potent frontcourt combination with Thomas Ammar and NBL player Mitch Young who is rumoured to be returning.