NBA beckons for Brisbane Bullets big man Will Magnay

Will Magnay is set to agree terms on a new NBL deal but unlike the Brisbane big man does to his opponents, the Bullets won’t block a dream move which looms large.

Will Magnay is destined for big things. Picture: Getty Images

Bullets owner Kevin Martin jokes that young gun Will Magnay may only serve “five minutes’’ of a new deal with the club as the NBA beckons for the booming Brisbane big man.

The 208cm Magnay continued his breakout NBL season in the 106-77 victory over Illawarra at Nissan Arena on Saturday night to underline why he has attracted interest from US scouts ahead of the NBA Summer League.

The 21-year-old won the MVP gong for his 11 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and two assists as Brisbane blew the Hawks off the court in the second half.

Magnay’s six blocks were the most in a single game in the NBL this season and he is the first Bullets player to have that many rejections in a match since David Cooper against Perth in October 2001.

Bullets big man Will Magnay is destined for bigger things. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane’s 29-point winning margin was also the biggest in NBL history after the teams were level at halftime.

The Bullets (11-11) moved to fifth on the NBL ladder with their third-straight win and their fourth victory in five outings to be right in the hunt for a playoff berth.

Martin — a veteran of 12 years and 736 games in the NBA – was in the 4747-strong crowd at “The Armoury”, and said a bright future beckoned for Magnay, who is set to agree to new terms with the Bullets.

“We’ll probably have him for about another five minutes,’’ he laughed.

“Will is turning into a special young player in this league and I think we are all in agreeance that the best thing for him is to let him develop into what his ultimate dream is and that is playing in the NBA.

The Bullets won’t stand in the way of Will Magnay’s NBA dream. Picture: Getty Images

“We would love to have Will around for the next 10 years but we want to encourage people to do what’s best for them and their families and we want to help Will achieve those goals.

“I’m not going to be a selfish owner, and all those things (get-out clauses) are in there (the new contract). I know what’s best for Will and I want his family to know that we are looking out for him.’’

The athletic, aggressive and skilful Magnay was selected in his first Australian Boomers squad last week for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers but will not be available if Brisbane make the top four.

Martin believes Brisbane are in with a good shot of playing finals basketball.

“This (the win over Illawarra) was a good start. We can’t have any more bad losses to teams we are capable of beating. We are going to have to go on the road and get a couple of teams that are going to be tough match-ups,’’ he said.

Four of Brisbane’s final six regular-season matches are at home. They host South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday at Nissan Arena.