Report: Galloway wants Taipans move

Jaylin Galloway remains contracted to the Sydney Kings, but ESPN’s Olgun Uluc believes a move to the Cairns Taipans is becoming increasingly likely.

Uluc is reporting the three-time NBL champion is eager to explore a fresh opportunity, with Far North Queensland and the chance to play alongside his brother Kyrin emerging as his preferred destination.

“There’s a reason why this entire time there has been smoke around Galloway potentially getting out of that Sydney Kings contract,” Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

“It’s because he’s had a desire to maybe spread his wings somewhere else, and that place the entire time has always been Cairns.

“It’s the opportunity for minutes and usage. It’s the opportunity to play alongside his brother Kyrin.”

However, completing a move is far from straightforward. Galloway remains under contract in Sydney, while talented local players of his calibre are highly valuable.

“If you’re the Sydney Kings, obviously ideally you want to retain a high-level player, especially a high-level local who is on the last year of a lower-paying contract,” Uluc said.

“On the flip side, if there is a player who has sort of flagged to you that he might want to go somewhere else, do you want to keep a player who might be dispirited in your program, or do you let him spread his wings and see it as an opportunity to go and get an import wing?

“That’s the way the Kings see it. So there is still a lot of water to go under that bridge. The contractual things still have to happen, but these are talks that are actively happening.

“If I was a betting man, I would bet on the Cairns Taipans having Jaylin Galloway for next season.

“I would bet on the Sydney Kings having an import wing to go alongside Kendric Davis and their other import wing in Torrey Craig.”

Uluc suggested the Kings would seek a buyout should Galloway depart.

“I don’t think the Kings would be so flippant to not ask for a buyout or anything like that,” he added.

“That seems to be where the holdup is. It’s negotiating that part of it, but it still does feel like a foregone conclusion.

“All sides are talking. The talks are largely in good faith as well. There are Sydney Kings players who are telling Jaylin Galloway, ‘Hey, let’s run it back,’ and it feels like his mind is made up.”

Galloway played 39 games across the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season, averaging 9.7 points, three rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.