Ex-United Import Gaining Free Agency Traction

A new but recognisable name has popped up in recent NBL Free Agency talks, with discussions around acquiring former Melbourne United injury replacement import Dillon Stith ramping up.

Stith, who played 15 games across two seasons for Melbourne United, recently received his Australian citizenship – therefore making him eligible to be rostered as a local player for the upcoming NBL24 campaign.

The 31-year-old dominated for the Frankston Blues in NBL1 South last season and averaged over 22 points on 52 per cent shooting, and eight rebounds per game.

“He’s an interesting one,” ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc said on The Marketplace. “He’s a new entrant into NBL Free Agency because he just got his Australian citizenship in February.

“He’s twice been an injury replacement player at Melbourne United and he’s been playing NBL1. He’s a forward that can plug and play and there is some interest in him.

“Teams are intrigued as to what he could bring.

“We talk about there being a lack of really quality local bigs - there just aren’t that many of them. Dillon Stith is the sort of guy that can full that four spot for a lot of teams and there is interest in him from around the league.”

Across his two stints with United, Stith averaged 1.7 points per game. He also won the Big V MVP award twice while playing for the Mackinnon Cougars and was the scoring champion of the Irish Super League in 2017.

NBL Free Agency kicks off on March 30, with all player, team and mutual options needing to be confirmed by March 27.