THE Cairns Taipans have confirmed reigning team MVP Dusty Rychart, Ian Crosswhite and veteran Aaron Grabau will return to the snake pit next NBL season and expect to announce more signings in the coming days.

NBL teams have until the close of business today to re-sign their existing contracted players.

Pictures: Cairns Taipans 2009-10

After that deadline, all unsigned players will be declared free agents and can be signed by rival clubs.

Coach Aaron Fearne said the three players the Taipans had secured were critical to the club’s future success.

"Dusty is the reigning MVP of the club and has been very consistent during his career in Australia," he said.

"We battled a bit offensively last season but he was very consistent for us and he’s just a professional with the way he conducts himself on and off the court.

"Crosswhite had a slow start to last season but had a really nice middle and end of the season and played some really good basketball until he got that wrist injury.

"Getting quality big guys is difficult. Crosswhite’s basketball IQ is very high and he’s very good at both ends of the court.

"Aaron has been here since day one and is very professional.

"He wants to be successful and that’s the type of player we need in the program."

With the Sydney Kings entering the competition next season, Fearne expects plenty of player movement during winter.

"Last year the competition was very even because the teams were so deep with talent you could consistently play at a high level," he said.

"I think there will be guys who were six, seven and eight on the bench who might have been past starters in teams who will be looking for opportunities.

"Sydney’s got 10 spots to fill and there were a lot of good players who couldn’t get clubs last season, so there’s no shortage of players.

"I think there will be a lot of moving and shaking in the off-season."

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