NBL SuperCoach tips 2023: Round nine trade advice, looking back on the studs and duds of the first eight rounds and a look ahead at strategic moves
NBL SuperCoach returns with a bang and a host of great trade options playing twice in round 9. MICHAEL RANDALL and TIM MICHELL assess the best trades, point-of-difference options and money makers to target.
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After nearly two weeks between NBL games thanks to the FIBA break, SuperCoach NBL returns with a bang in round 9.
Michael Randall and Tim Michell recap the first third of the NBL season below and cast their eyes to the best trade options to launch into the next period of the season.
There are a host of great targets for the next round including a bunch of cash cows to boost your all-important budget.
TOP TARGETS
Anthony Lamb, F, $361,700, 31.8
Somehow still only at 15 per cent ownership, despite the best run in SuperCoach. Coming off 91 points last round – the highest round score of any player this season – the former Golden State Warrior has overcome a slow start to become a SuperCoach monster for the Breakers with a three-round average of 66.7. A top captaincy pick every time he has a double. Just get him.
Patrick Miller, G, $349,100, 33
Only player in the NBL with a better three-round average than Lamb (67), albeit spread across several weeks, given he’s been out with a back injury. Returned with 68 points across his two games before the break and is a must-have because of the Taipans’ stretch of five straight doubles.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright, G, $357,100, 34.9
As mentioned, he’s been the MVP of SuperCoach to this point and, with the Breakers’ litany of injuries – including to William McDowell-White – he’s going to get as much burn as he can handle. Proven producer and another captaincy candidate on the double.
Tahjere McCall, G-F, $330,100, 22.4 + Bul Kuol, G-F, $241,200, 20
Each averages a tick more than 35 over their past three but rostering both might be a stretch. The strategy might be to pick one of the two rangy Taipans and hope you nail it. McCall perhaps has a broader skill set that can be a path to bigger scores but Kuol might be a bit more consistent because he can hit the three ball and he is nearly $100k cheaper. Gut feel is Kuol but both could be good choices, especially given their dual-position versatility.
Nathan Sobey, G, $294,700, 28.4
Stick with me, Sobes Zero has been ice cold ever since his running mate Shannon Scott went down. Scott made Sobey look like an early MVP candidate before his injury. He’s scheduled to return and that might mean Sobey owners who have suffered, or those yet to get on, could benefit from a bounce back – starting with a double this round.
ROUND 9 PODS
Shannon Scott, G, $336,300, 28.5
Left field but Scott had been sneakily productive for the Bullets before he shredded his hamstring. Slated to return after the FIBA break, his 48.3 average over the past three, combined with a double this round and an ownership of just 1.2 per cent, make Scott a tantalising prospect for SuperCoaches if they think he can hit the ground running.
Trey Kell, G, $273,500, 25
Another injured player with a high ceiling, if he’s cleared to play, Kell must be considered because the Sixers have a double and he has a three-round average of 32.3. Owned by just 1.1 per cent of SuperCoaches, it will be intriguing to see how he adapts to life with late-arriving scoring machine Dejan Vasiljevic.
Chris Smith, F-G, $215,900, 18.5
With 30-plus in three of his past four rounds, the sweet-shooting import relies heavily on his scoring to produce roster-worthy scores. So he’s high risk but high reward on a double with a break-even of 16 and 2.6 per cent ownership at a discounted import price.
MONEY MAKERS
Will Magnay, C-F, $203,000, 24.7
If you need to make quick cash on someone who cranked out 69 last round, Magnay is a guaranteed riser with a break-even of -18 – the lowest of any player this round. Two-way Magnay spent months out with injury but he’s back in the game and looking like he can be highly productive for the Jackies. Has two singles, then two doubles but if you want to make cash now, pull the trigger.
Flynn Cameron, G, $136,000, 10.7
Will make money the next time he steps on the floor and has made a case to do so, even with Matthew Dellavedova a guaranteed starter and Ian Clark’s return looming. Break even of -11 but if United is at full health, the talent ahead of the 23-year-old rookie caps his ceiling significantly.
Trentyn Flowers, G, $109,200, 10.2
Still has clear deficiencies but there are so many good things about him that CJ Bruton might not be able to resist. Several times this season, Flowers has played a key role in the Sixers’ best basketball, including a 28-point explosion last round. The negative break-even makes him a potential sleeper cheapie – if you are willing to take the risk on a player with a high ceiling and a rock-bottom floor.
Hyrum Harris, F, $139,300, 11.7
If Hyrum Harris being one of Perth Wildcats’ most important players was on your bingo card, you are a clairvoyant. Harris has held the Cats together through a five-game winning streak and his uptick in minutes has meant increased production – at a discount price – with a three-round average of 25.
Chris Goulding, G-F, $292,300, 24.2
Never a home run in SuperCoach because his game is based on volume shooting but the -4 break-even guarantees a price rise and if you saw his last outing against Sydney – 35 points and eight threes that delivered 51 for SuperCoaches – you will find the veteran star hard to resist.
LOOKING AHEAD
MOST FAVOURABLE REMAINING SCHEDULES
18 GAMES, 6 DOUBLES — Cairns, NZ, Illawarra
17 GAMES, 5 DOUBLES — Sydney, Adelaide
16 GAMES, 4 DOUBLES — Melbourne, SEM, Tasmania, Perth, Brisbane
Cairns players are the now with five straight doubles but they can be hit or miss.
New Zealand has three doubles in its last four, while Illawarra has the best home stretch with five doubles in its last six rounds. It will be interesting to see how the Hawks’ rotation shakes out under new coach Justin Tatum.
Speaking of the Hawks, there’s a watch on Next Star AJ Johnson. He might never be relevant but if he can get a decent allocation of minutes, that could change quickly.
Ditto Rocco Zikarsky in Brisbane, especially if the side’s playoff hopes begin to fade.
Back to the Hawks again. Let’s all beg that Tatum gives Lachlan Olbrich some decent burn. And when is John Rillie going to free teen Aussie gun Ben Henshall? We need his cash generation in the second half of the season.
Apart from the usual “when in doubt, pick Bryce”, here are a few things we will be looking at in the run home.
Milton Doyle + Jordon Crawford round 11
Back-to-back doubles for Tassie’s two best SuperCoach scorers. Milt is one of the best players in the league but Crawford has been a little more consistent.
Alan Williams round 11 + Jo Lual-Acuil round 11 or 14
It’s unlikely another centre-eligible player will come close to these two for production by season’s end, unless something changes with Keanu Pinder in Perth. Get Sauce in round 11, ride his doubles and after round 17 he closes the season with three singles, so you could make the jump. You can wait until round 14 on JLA if you want – you will get three doubles, including the last round.
Sam Froling + Gary Clark Round 15
A double-double threat every night, Froling is right now really the only Hawk you would consider adding. The difference between floor and ceiling has been concerning for Clark but if he can hit his straps under the Hawks’ new coach, some consistent play ahead of five doubles in the last six rounds could make him a tantalising add.
Bryce Cotton + Keanu Pinder R16
If you don’t know what Cotton can do, you are probably playing the wrong game. As mentioned, if Pinder begins to hit his straps, he’s not only a trade-in but a captaincy candidate.
THE STUDS
Parker Jackson-Cartwright, G, $357,100, 34.9
Has been a must-have from his opening appearance of NBL24 when he stuffed the stat sheet and scored 57 SuperCoach points in 30 minutes against Cairns. That set a very high bar and, while he hasn’t been as prolific in the past three rounds, he’s had some help on the floor from fellow stud Anthony Lamb, who has taken on a greater share of the offensive load. Regardless, a combination of huge minutes with William McDowell-White out injured – he played 75 out of 80 in round 8 – and six games in the next four rounds makes PJC one of the most sought-after players in SuperCoach. Seventh-most popular player in the game at 25 per cent ownership.
Bryce Cotton, G, $419,500, 33.8
King Cotton is back in a big way. The Perth Wildcats’ barometer bottomed out at $374k after round 5 and has been the league’s dominant player since. Cotton underlined why SuperCoaches must have him every time Perth has a double with 82 points in round 6 and 75 in round 8. The Wildcats don’t play twice again until round 12 but Cotton’s form is so red-hot he must be considered in every round because he can put up scores equal to most others on a double. In five games throughout this month, Cotton has not played fewer than 36 minutes, which gives him ample opportunity to rack them up for SuperCoaches. He also hasn’t scored fewer than 25 points in his past five games and has averaged 1.2 steals, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists during that stretch. Supposedly having a “down year”, Cotton has scored the most points in SuperCoach (406) and has the third-highest average. Hide behind the couch during Perth games if you don’t have him.
Alan Williams, C, $410,200, 37.6
Big Sauce is the points-per-minute king of SuperCoach NBL and has the best average in the game by 2.7 points from Jackson-Cartwright. In three of the five rounds he has played, Williams’ PPM has been at least 1.7 and he is yet to dip below 1.1 in any other. Those are sky-high numbers and highlight his influence. The only factor which has capped his scoring has been foul trouble. Williams was given an early rest in three consecutive games this month and often had to sit for large periods after getting into first-half foul trouble. You can only imagine what his average would be if he could avoid the attention of the referees. That is easier said than done when you are 203cm, 120kg and better at basketball than just about everyone on the floor every time you step on it. The Phoenix play four games across rounds 11 and 12, when he will be a popular captain.
Jordon Crawford, G, $338,200, 30.5
Remember after a few rounds when it looked certain Milton Doyle would be the must-have JackJumpers star? Going into each double left for Tassie, Crawford should be your priority. The JackJumpers love the ball in Crawford’s hands, he can penetrate and score, shoot the lights out from deep and use the lightning speed in his tiny frame to create scoring avenues for his teammates. Only played fewer than 30 minutes three times this season and is regularly around the 35-minute mark. Perhaps the best thing about his SuperCoach scoring is he doesn’t rely as heavily on points as some other guards. He has produced a steal in all but one match of NBL24 and has relatively low turnover numbers for a player who commands the ball as often as he does.
Anthony Lamb, F, $361,700, 31.8
It only took a few games for Lamb to find his feet in the NBL after he was a late call-up for the injury-ravaged Breakers. He’s since rivalled Cotton as the league’s most-dominant player. The former Golden State Warrior has averaged 6.6 boards, 2 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.6 steals and 23.4 points in his past five games. That is one seriously elite package and it’s translated to the second-best three-round average in SuperCoach (66.7), including 91 across his last-round double, the highest individual score of the season. His price is still heading north and he will be a top captaincy pick with games against Adelaide and South East Melbourne in round 9.
Jaylen Adams, G, $374,300, 31.9
If you are planning ahead, mark round 10 as the perfect time to trade in the NBL21 MVP. Adams was restricted to 13 points by Melbourne United in his last outing – not the first or last to feel the full force of a Shea Ili defensive special – and as a result could be under $360k for the Kings’ next double. Other than that game, during which Sydney capitulated in the second half, Adams has scored no less than 30 SuperCoach points on singles and churned out 68, 69 and 70 in the Kings’ three doubles. An incredibly reliable premo in a team which still hasn’t truly hit its peak.
THE DUDS
Jordan Usher, F, $206,200, 18.5
Arrived promising to win the Defensive Player of the Year award and launched into his NBL career with a 35-point explosion against Tasmania for 49 SuperCoach points. The import wing sucked plenty of SuperCoaches in on that performance but it’s been all downhill from there. Take the 49 out and he’s averaging just 15.7 on the season. Yikes.
Tyler Harvey, G, $205,000, 18
Has always been a bit feast or famine but has averaged 25 or more in the past two seasons. In NBL24, though, it’s been more famine than feast, much like his Illawarra Hawks. Capable of regular explosions, Harvey is shooting just 36 per cent from the field, 31 per cent from deep, isn’t rebounding, isn’t setting up his teammates and isn’t adding defensive stats. Could be a cheap option if he can turn it around under interim coach Justin Tatum.
Aron Baynes, C, $177,00, 15.1
Big Banger knocked out a monster 20-20 during the NBL Blitz and looked like a new man. It gave rise to hopes the NBA champion could dominate for the Bullets – and SuperCoaches. Middling play, foul trouble and a brain snap that cost him a five-game suspension – and his starting role – quickly put paid to that.
Marcus Lee, C, 17.7
Averaged 25 per outing after a mid-season arrival at Melbourne United last season, with several big games, but hasn’t quite reached those heights in Tassie. The giant import has a high SuperCoach ceiling but foul trouble has played a role and Will Magnay’s stunning return to form might stop him from ever getting there.
THE CHEAPIE KINGS
Josh Bannan, F, $257,100, 24.6
It’s no coincidence Brisbane looked a much more fluent team as soon as Bannan came into the line-up. The 22-year-old is a smooth mover for a 208cm power forward and coach Justin Scheuller runs plenty of offence through his versatile star. As a result, he has spent big minutes on the floor, playing at least 25 in his past six outings. After a score of six points in 20 minutes against South East Melbourne put some SuperCoaches off, he dropped 58 in round 5 and jumped by $44k. The big rise came the next week when he surged by $79k and if he can score 55 or more in round 9, Bannan’s cash generation will crack the $200k mark. Cash cow of the season.
Bobi Klintman, F, $216,900, 21.8 + Alex Toohey, F, $212,200, 19.2 + Alex Sarr, F/C, $180,900, 17.6
These NBL Next Star players have had their moments and produced at least two to three big games to be solid cash generators. Klintman’s came in round 2 when he went ballistic against South East Melbourne to score 42 points thanks to a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. His progress has been stalled in recent weeks by a hip issue. Sarr continues to be touted as a No.1 NBA draft pick and has shown off his rebounding prowess and ability from the perimeter. His minutes have been inconsistent, though. Wildcats coach John Rillie has been reluctant to have the French teen on the floor with star big man Keanu Pinder at the same time. Regardless, two of his three best scores have come in the past three rounds and, with a break-even of nine he might crack $200k. Toohey has been the most consistent of the three with six scores between 20 to 46. If you still have him, he should stay in your team until at least Sydney’s round-12 double, after which he could be shuffled to a pure premo.
Flynn Cameron, G, $136,000, 10.7 + Kyle Bowen, F, $144,400, 9.3
The significant injury list at title favourite Melbourne United has opened the door for the rookies to shine. Feisty guard Cameron, in particular, has benefited from the absences of guards Ian Clark and Matthew Dellavedova. The son of New Zealand basketball legend Pero Cameron is set to surge in price in the coming rounds thanks to a break-even of -11 after scores of 26 and 19 in his past two games. His three-point shooting has been a particular feature. Bowen doesn’t do the flashy stuff but rarely makes mistakes and gives 100 per cent every time he’s on the floor. He produced a run of scores of 18, 12, 26 and 28 from rounds 3 to 6 that has helped him generate more than $75k from his starting price. His break-even is up to 22 so Cameron is the pick of the United pair if you are chasing an immediate cash injection.
Mitch Norton, G, $200,100, 15.3
SuperCoach is all about trading at the right time. Norton has rewarded those who sensed an opportunity when starting point guard Shannon Scott went down with a hamstring injury by adding more than $80k to his starting price. He might not have the pizzazz of some other guards but the veteran can play big minutes and is averaging almost three rebounds and four assists. His break-even is 35 so, with Shannon Scott slated to return, he could be a trade-out, even though the Bullets have a double in round 9. Or you could take the punt and hope he has one more rise in him.
Lat Mayen, F, $167,900, 15.2 + Taran Armstrong, G, $126,700, 16
The Taipans haven’t completely delivered the gold SuperCoaches were hoping for from their packed schedule after returning from the US. However, those who got on this pair at their basement prices will be happy campers. Despite issues with protecting the ball, Armstrong has scored at least 16 points in his past three games to get the money train rolling. It was pleasing for owners that his minutes remained strong in round 8, despite Pat Miller’s return from injury. Mayen’s PPM is yet to eclipse 0.8 in any round but that hasn’t stopped him adding almost $100k. His break-even is up to 35, so owners will need to consider jumping off this round or next to get full value on their investment. However, he has been getting close to that across his past three, averaging more than 28 per game.
TRADES AHEAD OF ROUND 9
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Originally published as NBL SuperCoach tips 2023: Round nine trade advice, looking back on the studs and duds of the first eight rounds and a look ahead at strategic moves
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