Crosscourt free agency special: Sydney Kings close in on former NBL MVP as Boomer chases Australia return

CROSSCOURT FREE AGENCY SPECIAL: The NBL’s official free agency period doesn’t begin for weeks but clubs are already zeroing in on their No.1 targets.

The NBL’s official free agency period doesn’t begin for weeks but clubs are already zeroing in on their No.1 targets.

All the latest in a free agency special edition of Crosscourt.

Kings cooking up x-MVP’s return

Sydney is closing in on the signature of former NBL MVP Xavier Cooks in a move which could help the star forward punch his ticket to this year’s Paris Olympics.

Crosscourt can reveal the two-time championship-winner is odds on to return to the Kings in NBL25.

The Kings own the athletic forward’s rights and he wants to come home and play under new coach Brian Goorjian.

Goorjian travelled to the Philippines last week to watch the ex-Sydney star help Japan’s Chiba Jets win the East Asia Super League championship and sell him on a return to the Harbour City.

Cooks excelled for the Jets throughout the tournament, highlighted by a near-triple double in a semi-final win. Goorjian had a front-row seat to the dominant 24-point, 23-rebound, 8-block, 2-steal performance. He also spent one-on-one time with Cooks to talk about the prospect of rejoining the Kings — and it’s understood those conversations were productive and positive.

A Kings’ homecoming would add another layer to Paris Olympic selection, given Goorjian is the national team coach.

Australia is blessed at the forward position, with the likes of Nick Kay, Joe Ingles, Jack White and a number of NBL talents in contention with Cooks.

Xavier Cooks is nearing an NBL return. Photo: Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP.

Sydney officials have been told to expect a formal decision from the 28-year-old this week.

It comes as the Kings prepare for another roster overhaul, following a substandard season that finished with a play-in loss to New Zealand. 

Imports Jaylen Adams and Denzel Valentine are unlikely to return next season, while uncertainty surrounds guard Angus Glover. Glover is contracted for NBL25, but it’s understood he is weighing up his future and may look to leave the club. The dogged guard had a reduced role under sacked coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah, leaving him frustrated.

Big man Jordan Hunter remains a priority signing, although it’s understood he was disappointed to learn about the club’s pursuit of Adelaide star Isaac Humphries. The Kings floated a big money offer to Humphries, before he rejected the approach to ultimately re-sign with the 36ers on a three-year deal.

Fellow big man Jonah Bolden is also in an intriguing situation. It’s understood the asking price is high for the former NBA big man and there are some in NBL circles who believe he could become a franchise player, given his unique combination of size, rebounding, defensive ability and lights out shooting. But, with that promise, also comes risk, after the big man spent three years out of the game before his arrival in Sydney, and he is also attracting overseas interest. 

Motum ready to Brock NBL?

Boomers Rio Olympian Brock Motum has emerged on the NBL’s radar for next season. 

Crosscourt can reveal Motum’s agency has made it known to NBL clubs he has an interest in a return home next season.

The Brisbane-born power forward has spent the majority of his career abroad in Italy, Lithuania, Turkey and France.

Motum, who played for the Adelaide 36ers in 2014-15, is currently in Japan’s B League for Shiga Lakes.

It’s understood the 33-year-old is interested in a potential homecoming to cap off a stellar career that has included consecutive championships in Lithuania in 2016 and 2017.

Brock Motum could be returning home. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.

The NBL’s official free agency period doesn’t begin until two weeks after the grand final series, but New Zealand Breakers star William McDowell-White has emerged as the No.1 target.

McDowell-White has a player option for the 2024-25 season, opening the door for a potential poaching raid, with a number of clubs already preparing large offers for the gifted guard.

A similar scenario emerged prior to this season, before he fended off rival interest, chiefly from Perth, to re-sign with the Breakers on a two-year deal.

It’s understood Perth will go hard again, as will South East Melbourne.

It remains to be seen whether McDowell-White is tempted by those big-dollar offers to leave NZ.

Another name that emerged on NBL radars last year was Alex Ducas. The 23-year-old opted to utilise the NCAA’s Covid waiver to return to St Mary’s for a fifth season and, with that done, it’s understood Cairns Taipans have emerged as a destination for the gun wing.

On the Taipans, following Sam Menenga’s unusual buyout scenario that paved the way for a return home to New Zealand, it’s understood several clubs will attempt to lure feisty wing Bul Kuol away and teammate Lat Mayen is also open to a change of scenario.

Gratitude: Why Magnay shunned NBL free agency

Will Magnay would have been one of the NBL’s most coveted free agents this off-season – had Tasmania not locked their grand final monster away on a two-year deal.

And Jackies chief operating officer Darren Smith says the Brisbane-born beast, who is generating Boomers and NBA buzz, initiated talks to stay with the club.

The JackJumpers persisted as the former New Orleans Pelican battled through debilitating knee and foot injuries over the past two seasons and are now reaping the rewards in a career year that has produced 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks — and a shot at the title.

“Really, It started with him,” Smith told Crosscourt.

“He’d been indicating to us that he wanted to stay, he’s really enjoyed his time in Tassie and, just talking with him, he shows a lot of gratitude for the approach from the club the last few years.

“The club’s commitment to him shows he’s a quality guy and he’s just demonstrating that gratitude.”

Will Magnay celebrates during the NBL Seeding Qualifier match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Illawarra Hawks at MyState Bank Arena. Photo: Steve Bell/Getty Images.

Smith said club and player had a shared goal of seeing the 25-year-old back in the big league and it’s understood his contract contains NBA outs.

“Whether the NBA comes calling for him, that’s the next step, and, if it does, then we’ve catered to that,” Smith said.

“It’s a reality that might come, so we’ve got to make sure that we’re all aware of that.

“We’d be rapt for him, That’s the pinnacle for guys and we understand that. If we can help him get there, it’d be a great outcome.”

What’s next for AJ?

Next Star AJ Johnson has the makings of an NBA player but he needs to spend another year in the Illawarra.

That’s the view of one high-level NBA scout who “loves” the bouncy 19-year-old American’s “tools”.

Johnson, after a bright start when Justin Tatum took over the 2-7 Hawks, had been projected as high as a mid-late second-round draft pick.

AJ Johnson needs another season in the NBL, according to one scout. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images.

But, as the fairytale finals appearance played out, Tatum tightened his rotation, his faith in the youngster cooled, and the draft buzz followed suit. Johnson did not play a single minute in Illawarra’s 2-1 semi final series loss to Melbourne United, was not called upon in the Play-in game win over New Zealand and only played the last three minutes of a blowout Seeding qualifier loss to Tasmania, finishing the season averaging 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds across 26 appearances.

“He needs another year,” the scout, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

“I don’t think he’s ready (for the NBA).

“He has to show more but I like his tools, especially once he gets stronger.”

The scout did say an NBA team might take a punt on the gifted Johnson, with jaw-dropping moments like the 198cm Californian’s poster on fellow Next Star Rocco Zikarsky a tantalising taste of what he might become.

He will take part in the pre-draft process, which will go a long way to determining his next move. Still, Johnson’s best path to the lottery might end up being a big pre-season, followed by another year in the NBL, where he will hopefully secure an opportunity to show off his talent.

Originally published as Crosscourt free agency special: Sydney Kings close in on former NBL MVP as Boomer chases Australia return