Crosscourt special: Hypothetical trades that could shake up the NBL title race

With the NZNBL exploring the possibility of in-season player movement, Crosscourt spitballs some hypothetical trades that could shift the season for NBL clubs — and some players.

Could a change of scenery revitalise some of these NBL guns?

As each round of NBL24 rolls by, a Melbourne-Sydney grand final feels more and more like a fait accompli.

Would a mid-season trade period inject new life into the race for the title?

With the NZNBL exploring the possibility of in-season player movement, Crosscourt spitballs some hypothetical trades that could shift the season for NBL clubs and allow players to spread their wings in a change of scenery (without salary cap considerations).

Could a change of scenery revitalise some of these NBL guns?

BANGER FOR MACCA?

Adelaide gets: Aron Baynes

Brisbane gets: Mitch McCarron

Three-time Olympian Baynes has been moved to the bench at Brisbane following the emergence of Tyrell Harrison and Josh Bannan. The veteran big man still has plenty left in his 36-year-old legs — and could benefit from a change of scenery. Undersized Adelaide is on the lookout for another genuine centre to help Isaac Humphries, so the City of Churches could be the perfect landing spot for Baynes. Import Jacob Wiley has length, effort and athleticism, but lacks the physical imposition of Baynes. He would be an ideal front-court partner to Humphries bringing with him NBA and Boomers experience. Baynes hasn’t played more than 17 minutes since returning from his suspension but has still been effective for the Bullets, scoring in double figures in two of his past four games. McCarron’s form has been inconsistent in Adelaide but he could excel in a Brisbane back-court combination alongside the NBL’s leading scorer Nathan Sobey and import point guard Shannon Scott. McCarron adds championship experience, is known to Schueller through their time at Melbourne United and with Mitch Norton in the back court adds another junkyard dog for the rookie coach to unleash. The biggest kicker for this one, though, is it unleashes the Bullets’ 7’3” teen Next Star Rocco Zikarsky on the league.

Would a new home suit Illawarra star Tyler Harvey? Picture: Getty Images

THREE-TEAM MEGA TRADE?

SEM gets: Tyler Harvey, Fabijan Krslovic

Illawarra gets: Will Cummings, Owen Foxwell

Tasmania gets: Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Mason Peatling

A three-team blockbuster that changes the face of the league’s worst club, re-aligns an underperforming championship hopeful and fortifies a Tassie team with a couple of little chinks in its armour. There’s a yin and yang about Tyler Harvey teams will always have to live with but he’s proven before he can fit in on a team with superior players. Taking the pressure off being ‘the man’ in a struggling team and put the American flamethrower off the ball alongside Gary Browne and big weapons Alan Williams and Mitch Creek could prove a recipe for success. He’d give the Phoenix the clutch finisher they’ve desperately needed since their inception. Highly-credentialed Cummings arrived with big raps, but has struggled to adjust to the NBL so far and could flourish in an expanded role in Illawarra — similar to ‘Nix import Trey Kell, who has emerged in Adelaide after an underwhelming debut season at SEM. Rhys Vague at the five hasn’t inspired but Krslovic gives a genuine reliable third big behind Williams and Gorjok Gak who can step up in instances of illness, injury or foul trouble. Young Foxy has been buried in Mike Kelly’s rotation, but has potential on both ends and adds a higher standard ball handler and elite defender to a Hawks side crying out for help in those areas. Wani Swaka Lo Buluk was a Jacob Jackomas man but a fresh start in Tassie as a long, wiry defender who can get after the opposition’s best wing scorer could be beneficial for both player and club. You’d be hard pressed a player in the league who doesn’t play for the JackJumpers, but suits Scott Roth and the Tassie organisation more than the hardworking and highly respected Mason Peatling.

Injury has sidelined New Zealand’s Will McDowell-White, but in a different world, it might’ve triggered a blockbuster trade. Picture: Getty Images

WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A … WEBSTER?

New Zealand gets: Corey and Tai Webster, David Okwera, Ben Henshall

Perth gets: Will McDowell-White, Cam Gliddon, Izayah Le’afa

It’s the great unknown. What if Will McDowell-White chose Perth instead of sticking with NZ after last year’s grand final? Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, with the Breakers entering the FIBA break second-to-last on the ladder, gutted by injury — WMDW now out for six weeks with a fractured fibula. It might sound a long time but, with the break and the Wildcats’ thinner schedule, they’d only need to stay afloat for five or so games and this could be the seismic player swap that puts Perth in the same conversation as United and the Kings. The prospect of McDowell-White alongside Bryce Cotton and running bulk pick n rolls with Keanu Pinder is tantalising. Both Websters have, shall we say, an interesting history with the Breakers, but they’ve played their best basketball in their home country and could work in a back court rotation with elite import Parker Jackson-Cartwright. The Breakers are last in the league in rebounding and, while Okwera has his detractors, he’s still just 21 and has shown flashes of being a talented boardsman who could grow under Mody Maor. Le’Afa would add a three-and-D type to the Wildcats’ back court, while veteran Gliddon could expect plenty of open looks from deep, playing alongside Cotton. Teen Ben Henshall can’t get a gig for the Wildcats, with Crosscourt understanding he is still working on getting his defence up to NBL standard, but his skillset and potential could make him the biggest long-term jewel in this hypothetical trade.

Would Sydney be an enticing prospect to rising young guard Taran Armstrong? Picture: Brendan Radke

THE KING FOR THE KID?

Cairns gets: Angus Glover

Sydney gets: Taran Armstrong

Armstrong is rated among the most promising young guards in Australian hoops — and Sydney could help him add polish. The boy from Burnie, Tasmania, is a walking stat-sheet stuffer who has attracted comparisons to fellow Aussie Josh Giddey with his vision, smarts and pinpoint passing. Armstrong would have to give up a starting role if he joined Sydney, given the Kings have already got Jaylen Adams and Denzel Valentine starting in the back-court. But, looking at the bigger picture, though, the 21-year-old would receive the chance to hone his skills in a proven system that’s helped the likes of Xavier Cooks and Jae’Sean Tate take the next step in their careers, without the pressure of being the key initiator. Glover has proven himself as a back-to-back championship-winner in Sydney — and is ready to take the next step as a starting guard. Enter Cairns. The Taipans could offer him more responsibility to be one of the main guys and the tough-as-nails guard would be a fantastic cultural fit under Adam Forde. The boy from Wollongong is an uncompromising force, as he proved in last year’s decisive grand final game when he defied rib cartilage damage to play the entire second half in pain. Glover later revealed his ab was spasming, while he struggled to breathe, but just “grit his teeth” to drop 11 decisive points in the second half to help the Kings claim consecutive championships.

SURPRISE PACKET AND THE RECLAMATION PROJECT?

Adelaide gets: Flynn Cameron

Melbourne United gets: Sunday Dech

He’s Dean Vickerman’s point guard of the future, brought in on a long-term deal with no expectation to play in his rookie season. But United’s injury issues have forced the 23-year-old into action early and often. The son of Tall Blacks legend Pero Cameron has replied with a composure, effort and team-first attitude that would be any coach’s dream. He’s been pretty darn effective, too. Dech has been a shadow of his former self since returning from the World Cup with South Sudan but his defensive ability would make him a prime candidate to play a positive role in United’s watertight rotation if Vickerman can help him rediscover his best.

Originally published as Crosscourt special: Hypothetical trades that could shake up the NBL title race