The NZ Breakers may have found a silver lining among the chaos of Coronavirus.
Two high profile Tall Blacks could be lured to the club with overseas options unlikely for the foreseeable future.
Newshub understands a handful of players are in talks with the club, with centre Jack Salt and Isaac Fotu among the names showing particularly strong interest.
Both players have spent time at the Breakers as non-contracted development players, but have played the majority of their professional careers overseas.
Amidst uncertain times, Breakers owner Matt Walsh thinks his side could be very Kiwi-orientated for next season.
"Maybe there is a scenario where we have to be a very kiwi-ccentric team with a lot of New Zealanders on the team, and fortunately there are a lot of good players out there," Walsh told Newshub.
Salt, who last year became the first kiwi to win a college title in the US, had signed on to play for the Canterbury Rams in the NZ NBL but the season is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 24-year-old told Newshub he is in talks with the Breakers while other ANBL sides have been in contact.
"I'm in talks with the Breakers and ANBL teams. That's definitely something that's been on my mind, because I'm a local it makes me more attractive for the teams," he explained.
Playing locally also attracts Fotu, who confirmed he has talked with Breakers Coach Dan Shamir this week.
Lacing up alongside the already four contracted Tall Blacks players in the side, as Olympic qualifying tournaments loom, is a big plus for the power forward.
"I would love it honestly with how well we get on in the Tall Blacks, all of us are very close," he told Newshub.
The 26-year old's getting plenty of interest from teams in Italy, where he last played before the season was cancelled.
With border restrictions firmly in place, the stars may be aligning for him to suit up for the Breakers sooner in his career than he expected.
"My whole career I've just gone with the flow, and this would be another instance where it would happen. If we weren't allowed to leave I'd be more than happy to play here," Fotu added.
Right now playing basketball in New Zealand has never looked so appealing.
