Sydney Kings have secured more rebounding back up for Andrew Bogut, signing American Ray Turner as a third import as the NBA finals loom.
Andrew Gaze's team lead the ladder with eight regular-season matches remaining, but two recent losses to the sixth-placed Illawarra Hawks in the space of four days may have prompted a rethink about their finals line up.
While superstar centre Bogut has dominated the boards, they should get better rebounding when he is rested after signing power forward Turner for the rest of the season.
"He (Turner) brings an inside presence and has shown at the SEABL level to be an outstanding rebounder which an area we need help in," Gaze said.
"He's a big body and the priorities for Ray with us are what he can do on defensive end and how he can rebound."
The 204cm Turner is coming off an excellent SEABL season with the Bendigo Braves, averaging 22.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists over 22 games.
He played at Texas A&M University then had stints in Cyprus, Japan and Hungary before coming to Australia.
"He's been in Australia for a while and is married to an Australian woman so he knows the culture and the league," added Gaze.
"It's going to take him a little bit of time to get him up to speed with what we're doing, but for us it was a great fit to get us a little bit of help inside".
Turner will make his Kings debut on Saturday at home against the Adelaide 36ers.
Deng Acuoth, a developing young talent, makes way for Turner's inclusion in the team's 12-man active NBL roster.