Cairns guard Scott Machado has announced his departure from the club after three seasons in the NBL.
The American/Brazilian joined the Taipans in 2019 and took the league by storm finishing runner-up in the 2020 MVP race whilst being named to the All-NBL first team.
Machado, 31, experienced a bout of injuries in his final year with the Taipans in a season where they finished ninth on the ladder, but thanked the fans for their support during his time in Australia.
"Through the ups and downs, I'm forever grateful," he posted on Instagram.
"You have allowed me to set foot in the land down under (Australia) and I had a chance to call the north-east Queensland (Cairns) home.
"I appreciate you all, especially the fans. Leaving the same way I walked in."
But it's not all bad news for the Taipans with American guard Tahjere McCall re-signing with the club on a two-year deal through 2024.
The 27-year-old led the team in scoring, assists and steals per game while also finishing the season as the only player in the league to finish in the top three for both assists and steals.
McCall also registered the highest points total of the 2021/22 season with 42 in their final-game win over Brisbane to go with 10 assists.
"He's agreed to a two-year deal which demonstrates that he's just as invested in this as we are invested in him, which I think is really significant," Taipans coach Adam Forde said.
Elsewhere, Illawarra have signed Deng Deng to a one-year deal bringing the former Hawk back to his old club.
Deng joins Wani Swaka Lo Buluk from the championship-winning Sydney Kings as new recruits to the Hawks' roster for 2022/23.
