Finally. Daryl Corletto has re-signed with the Melbourne Tigers, putting pen to paper on a new deal that will keep the life-time Tiger at The Cage.

‘Corletto-Gate’ is over.

It took over eight weeks, since the NBL released the list of available free-agents, for Corletto and the Tigers to at long last reach an agreement.

Day 33: It has now been just over one month since the NBL released the list of free-agents, players not under-contract for the 2010-11 season, and the Melbourne Tigers have still failed to re-sign Daryl Corletto, leaving the high-quality guard in an embarrassing situation with his Tigers future clouded and now in doubt.

As Corletto-Gate drags on, unlikely to be resolved until June at the earliest, the Melbourne Tigers are very likely going to split with Corletto and allow the 28-year old to ply his trade in Europe or switch allegiance to the Sydney Kings or possibly the Cairns Taipans.

Tigers CEO, Seamus McPeake, is in the USA scouting potential recruits for the upcoming season and is not expected back until May 17^th, and will be unable to speak with Corletto, who will be away on a holiday, until May 25^th.

The Melbourne Tigers have added another new big man to their roster for 2010/11, Matt Burston signing with the 4-time NBL Champions yesterday. The addition of Burston will give the Tigers their second giant recruit after inking a 3-year deal with Cameron Tragardh last week.

Burston, who won an NBL championship with the now defunct South Dragons in 2009, played last season with the Adelaide 36ers and has previously played with the Perth Wildcats where he started his career.

The injury-prone Burston, who stands 6'10", played in only 22 games last season (from a possible 28), averaging 9.9ppg and 6.5rpg.

The Melbourne Tigers are after Adam Ballinger, head coach Al Westover confirming on Easter Sunday that the Tigers are actively seeking the power forward, “There’s some interest there,” said Westover, “A few teams are after him but I’m not sure what direction he’s headed.”

Ballinger, a naturalised Australian, averaged 17.6ppg and 5.3rpg last season with the Adelaide 36ers. It was Ballinger’s seventh season in the NBL and the 6’7” big man was runner up to Corey Williams in MVP voting.

After a disappointing 2009/10 season, the Tigers have vowed to make some big additions this off-season, already targeting Australian youngster Luke Nevill, who is currently playing in the D-League, and with their eyes set on either Corey Williams or Tywain McKee to run the point, Melbourne are set to pluck a few huge signings in the not to distant future.

Surely this miracle season from the Milwaukee Bucks is going to end sooner rather than later, and that is including an appearance in the 2010 playoffs, but surely this surprise packet will be one-and-done when the first round is over with. Surely?

As the top-four teams in the Eastern Conference look down below, standing there is a Milwaukee team that has now put together 17 wins from their last 21 tip-offs, as the Bucks fight off a desperate bid from the Miami Heat to snatch the fifth seed.

 The Melbourne Tigers are believed to have Corey Williams in their plans for 2010/11 and beyond, the flashy point-guard set to be un-signed by the start of April and become a free-agent. According to sources, the Tigers are ready to pounce at the opportunity to add Williams as soon as league rules permit, despite the Townsville Crocodiles’ eagerness to lock-up the 2010 MVP favourite before the start date of the free-agency period.

Williams, who averaged 18.2ppg during the 2009/10 season, has returned home to the USA after the Crocodiles were bundled out of the semi-finals for the second season in a row, likely delaying any contract negotiations with the North Queensland franchise where he has played all three of his years in the NBL.

"He (Williams) will be in much demand around the country and it’s great to hear that he wants to come back here,” said Crocs CEO Ian Smythe in an interview with the Townsville Bulletin earlier this month.

Williams has indicated an interest to return to Townsville, but Melbourne will have the upper hand with the ability to offer Williams a salary extremely greater than anything he has received before from Townsville.

At 32-years of age, Williams is the most obvious choice for 2010 MVP, after his closest rival, Wollongong Hawks import Tywain McKee, was injured mid-way through the season and unable to play the second-half of the season.

His MVP-tag in waiting, set to boost Williams’ asking price in his next contract.

The Melbourne Tigers are wasting no time in their attempt to build a championship calibre team for 2011, with confirmation from Tigers head coach Al Westover that the team have been in contact with big man Luke Nevill through his agent.

When asked about the Tigers pursuit of Nevill, Westover was cautious not to give too much away, “Possibly. His name has come up. I’m sure his agent has contacted other (NBL) teams as well.”

Westover noted the Tigers did express a desire to add the 7’2” centre, “We said there would be interest if he was available.”

With a game bigger than his mouth, Corey Williams from the Townsville Crocodiles is the 2010 GAZE.COM.AU - MVP. The committee of one (me) never flinched when it was time to anoint the winner. (Now just to make it clear, these are not the official NBL awards.)

MVP - Corey Williams (Townsville Crocodiles)

Within a breath of having the top seed for his Townsville Crocodiles in the playoffs, Corey Williams packed his ‘A’ game all throughout the season on the way to a remarkable year from the man dubbed, “Homicide”. Appears to be a unanimous selection around the league, (well so far I’ve heard Shane Heal, John Rillie, Kevin Brooks and Brett Maher, so that’s 5-0 to Williams over the league) and as one of the most marketable players in the game, Williams is set for bigger things in the future. Averaged 18.2ppg and 4apg.

The chances that the Melbourne Tigers qualify for the upcoming playoffs aren’t impossible, but with the Tigers needing 7-8 results to fall their way, the chances are unlikely.

Melbourne slipped up big time on the road last Saturday night, losing a four point lead late in the game that turned into a three-point deficit before Mark Worthington landed a miraculous triple to send the game into overtime, where the Tigers just didn’t have the goods to go with the Gold Coast Blaze and lost 91-99, in the process falling to 11-14 on the season.

It stings more than most losses, with the Blaze being one of two teams (the other being the Wollongong Hawks) whom the Tigers had a chance of replacing in the top 4 if the winning continued.

His debut performance was short, but very impressive.

Suiting up for the first time last Saturday night, the Melbourne Tigers latest addition, Mike Rose, did enough to win over the fans as he teased the Tigers faithful with just how much he has to offer.

As Melbourne (9-12) extended their season long winning streak to four games, with an 89-87 victory over the Adelaide 36ers, Rose contributed 3 points and a rebound in less than two minutes on court.