Crosscourt: Every NBL player’s contract status revealed, plus off-season rumblings

Who’s locked in? Who could be on the move? MICHAEL RANDALL and MATT LOGUE analyse every NBL team’s player roster in CROSSCOURT.

We’re about to head into the very pointy end of the NBL season, with the title race down to four ahead of the semi finals.

But, for many clubs, the season after the season has been underway for months as they look ahead to NBL26 and what their rosters might look like.

Crosscourt can exclusively reveal every player’s contract status — and how clubs and players might approach key off-season signing decisions.

There might be some new-old blood back in NBL26, with a number of former players interested in a return Down Under.

Former South East Melbourne big man and new dad Alan Williams was a popular figure in his two seasons at the Phoenix and told Crosscourt he’s healthy and keen for a return to the NBL.

Who will find a new home next season?

“I’m healthy, dad life is great so far, minus the lack of sleep, and my wife and I are keen for a return (to Australia),” Williams said.

“If my phone rings (from an NBL club) I’ll answer it, for sure.”

It’s been six years since two-time Perth NBL champion Angus Brandt left our shores but Crosscourt has been told the 35-year-old big man would entertain a return to the NBL.

Kiwi gun Finn Delany is in the same boat.

MICHAEL RANDALL and MATT LOGUE reveal every player’s contract status and some of the rumblings around each club’s off-season outlook.

INTEL: A fascinating season leads into an equally fascinating off-season where the Sixers will again build around local staples Vasiljevic and Humphries. Davis is understood to be priority one but you don’t put up 25-8 and finish as runner-up MVP without getting noticed by cashed up overseas clubs — or other NBL teams. Davis has expressed an interest in a return to Adelaide but Crosscourt has been told the 25-year-old guard’s camp has quietly let it be known he could be available. What he does is expected to have a big impact on the Sixers’ roster situation, with the club also in talks with Montrezl Harrell on a return. Crosscourt understands he will take up a lucrative overseas offer once the NBL season finishes but is more than open to return to Adelaide. It hasn’t quite worked off the court, with the big clash of personalities from both he and Davis, so it could end up being a ‘one-or-the-other situation. Nick Marshall is an interesting watch. Ever since the crisis meeting prior to the Sixers’ Round 14 clash with Sydney, the 25-year-old has fallen out of the rotation and it’s become clear that, while the club holds an option for next season, he’s not in the Sixers’ long-term plans. One source told Crosscourt they believed Marshall needed a fresh start at another club and is viewed as a classic “buy-low” moneyball target, who could follow a similar path to Jack McVeigh — out of Adelaide and into stardom.

INTEL: In the midst of a review of their basketball and high performance operation, the building blocks are locked in for the Bullets with Prather recommitting to a return alongside Harrison and Batemon. But Brisbane is bracing for the potential loss of Aussie big forward Josh Bannan, who has multiple clubs clamouring for his services. It’s understood Bannan is leaning toward opting out of his player option and testing the free agency market. In pre-season, Deng Adel looked like he was going to fulfill the promise that once took him to the NBA, but he never really got going, Keandre Cook looked elite at times, and not so at others, so the Bullets might look elsewhere for their third import. Sam McDaniel will be like a new recruit and he’ll help the worst defence in the NBL. They’ll inevitably be linked to William McDowell-White again but the Queensland local hasn’t quite set Europe on fire since he chose Alba Berlin in Germany over about seven NBL clubs who clamoured for his services, last off-season.

INTEL: Coach Adam Forde is gone but certainly not forgotten, with the Taipans to lean on him to help them put together next season’s roster and select his successor. As with most years in Cairns, the Taipans are looking at another overhaul, with just one spot filled so far, so the new coach — assistant Kerry Williams is a candidate — has pretty much a blank slate to rebuild with. Taran Armstrong will try his luck in the NBA but the good news is Gun kiwi big man Sam Waardenburg is keen to return and the club would love to have him back. That’s a start, with decisions to be made on options for plucky guard Kyle Adnam, whose leadership has been a calming influence — other clubs are sniffing around but the Victorian is open to a second season in the far north. Versatile two-way stretch four Kyrin Galloway is said to be “working through” his mutual option with the club, while the Taipans have a club option on Alex Higgins-Titscha, which you’d expect them to activate, given the long, athletic 201cm forward was one of the finds of the season. On the import front, don’t expect to see Rob Edwards back, but both Tanner Groves and Pedro Bradshaw gave great service as first-year overseas arrivals. If the Taipans can nail their No.1 import, then that pair would make more than adequate running mates.

INTEL: Despite a low-ball initial offer, Illawarra will do everything in its power to retain in-demand big man Sam Froling. The club’s marquee big has attracted significant interest in the NBL and abroad, meaning the Hawks will have to come up with the dollars if they want to retain him. It’s understood the Hawks see young prodigy Lachlan Olbrich as their big of the future, with a confidence if Froling did depart, the 21-year-old can fill that void. Crosscourt understands the Hawks will look to re-sign key import guard Trey Kell, who has been enormous all season. Kell has helped to take pressure off fellow All-NBL first-team guard Tyler Harvey as one of the league’s best backcourt combinations. Harvey’s impending Australian citizenship could open the door for an extra import, making the Hawks an even more dangerous proposition in NBL26.

INTEL: They’re not quite dad’s army but United has the second-oldest list in the NBL and has been left with some big decisions to make in the off-season. Matthew Dellavedova has parked contract talks amid reports the 34-year-old is seeking a long-term deal up to the 2028 LA Olympics. United has harboured a long-term interest in Bryce Cotton since it emerged at last year’s NBA Summer League that the Perth Wildcat was gettable. Tasmania’s talented import guard Milton Doyle is another player on the club’s radar. Expect recently-crowned back-to-back NBL Defensive Player of the Year Shea Ili to re-sign with the club. There is an intrigue around the Flynn Cameron-Dash Daniels situation. Next Star Daniels arrives with an expectation to play — his defensive chops should provide that opportunity — and that could leave Cameron out in the cold. Crosscourt has been told by at least one club they would have interest in the 24-year-old, should his mutual option with United be declined. Jack White has a player option, while Jo Lual-Acuil Jr is a name to monitor. Sources said it’s unlikely he will be back next season — but the chances aren’t zero.

INTEL: New Zealand’s status ahead of NBL26 is largely unknown, especially with coach Petteri Koponen uncertain to return. If the Breakers hire a new coach it could force a new outlook for the squad moving forward. It’s unknown if import guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright will return in NBL26, while fellow import guard Matt Mooney’s final game explosion was probably the nail in his coffin. Owner Matt Walsh’s obsession with giant Tacko Fall backfired spectacularly, but the 7’6” centre is contracted for next season, so will require a pay out if the Breakers do decide to go in another direction. Neither Jonah Bolden, nor Mojave King really got going, so it will be interesting to see whether their future remains in NZ or elsewhere.

INTEL: Everything hinges on Bryce, here. Speculation has been swirling about the now five-time NBL MVP’s future and he has done nothing to quieten it, putting off a decision until the end of the season. The Wildcats say they have the biggest offer in club — and likely league — history in front of the legendary American but Crosscourt has been told there is a real possibility he ends up in Japan, where he could clear around $2 million Australian — tax free. Uncertainty hangs over the future of big man Keanu Pinder — who has been a late-season monster for the Cats and will have no shortage of rival suitors in free agency. Import Kristian Doolittle has publically expressed he wants to be back — and the club feels the same. Veteran forward Jesse Wagstaff has shown no signs of retiring just yet, so he could be part of Perth’s plans again in NBL26. Ben Henshall is a massive watch. Ultra-talented, does he try his luck in the NBA? Do the Wildcats hand him the keys if Cotton departs? Does he look elsewhere?

INTEL: Gun big man Matt Hurt has told Crosscourt he’s more than open to a return but those discussions will ramp up after the season: “The goal is obviously to try to get back to the NBA but not everything’s fair in life and I would love it here. They welcomed me with open arms and I’m just very appreciative of the city and the culture and the program for allowing me to be myself every single day. So I would love to be back just because of how they treated me since day one.” Veteran star Nathan Sobey, who has a mutual option, is putting together one of his best NBL seasons and Crosscourt has been told there is interest from both club and player for a second season in the Heartland in NBL26. It will be coach Josh King’s first off-season, so it will be an interesting watch in the Heartland around who stays, who goes and who the Phoenix look to bring in.

INTEL: With neither Adams, nor Oliver expected to return, Crosscourt has learned the Kings have already expressed interest in attracting Adelaide’s firebrand guard Kendric Davis to the Harbour City. They’d be keen on out-of-contract Hawks centre Sam Froling, too. The Kings also need to make a call on backup guard Izayah Le’Afa following an underwhelming offensive season in NBL25. Le’Afa has a mutual option in his contract and will face pressure to retain his position. The Kings need a starting import centre, an import point guard and an import small forward or shooting guard to compete with the NBL’s top teams. Sydney’s lack of depth in the guard position showed up big time this season, which could also put veteran Shaun Bruce under the microscope, despite being contracted until 2026.

If Alex Toohey is NBA bound, as expected, it’s understood the Kings have expressed interest in bringing in another Next Star in NBL26. Captain Xavier Cooks is contracted until 2027, but his future is uncertain after he was provisionally suspended for a positive test to a banned substance. It’s shaping as a franchise-defining off-season in Sydney after the club was bounced out in elimination play-in game for a second straight season.

INTEL: Putting together a huge play for Brisbane’s Boomer forward Josh Bannan in what would be a huge signature to slot in alongside elite two-way centre Will Magnay. Bannan feels like a JackJumpers kind of guy who might benefit from the no-nonsense regime in Tassie. Crosscourt understands the JackJumpers are keeping a close eye on proud Tasmanian Taran Armstrong. The Burnie-raised guard is expected to receive NBA interest, but if it doesn’t work out watch for the Jackies to make a play for the Cairns free agent. Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford have become club legends but do the Jackies blow it up and move in a different direction there? Anthony Drmic is in discussions about a return.

Originally published as Crosscourt: Every NBL player’s contract status revealed, plus off-season rumblings