NBL free agency 2023: Latest player and coaching moves and whispers
The Sydney Kings are yet to pull the trigger in free agency, but the back-to-back champions are cashed up and ready to pounce. Could DJ Hogg be in their sights?
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The Cairns Taipans fear star forward DJ Hogg won’t re-sign with the club, opening the door for back-to-back champions the Sydney Kings to pounce.
Hogg has been linked to the Kings as a replacement for Xavier Cooks, who has signed a multi-year NBA deal with the Washington Wizards.
Sydney has money to spend following Cooks’ departure and are keen to lure a big scalp to the club.
The Kings view Hogg as an up-tempo and physical player that would suit their fast-paced style of play.
Cairns haven’t given up hope of retaining their gun forward, who averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season, but concede it won’t be easy to compete with the bigger dollars available on the open market.
It comes as Hogg has signed with pre-eminent Australian player manager Daniel Moldovan, who possesses a close relationship with the Kings dating back years.
The Moldovan connection could prove decisive for Sydney to secure Hogg’s signature.
The Kings have been quiet in the free agency space this off-season, especially compared to rivals Melbourne United and the Perth Wildcats.
United and the Wildcats are both building towards strong seasons after securing stars like Luke Travers and Keanu Pinder respectively.
Sydney is yet to make a major signing, but they always find a way to attract quality talent on the back of CEO Chris Pongrass.
Pongrass, who spent six seasons in the NBA at the Memphis Grizzlies in various roles, has strong connections across this basketball world and the club will back him to reload the Kings again.
It’s understood Sydney could retain defensive guard Justin Simon, but the status of Derrick Walton Jr and Tim Soares remains unknown.
The Kings currently have one position in the starting five officially locked in for next season in shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic.
PHOENIX HAND LEGEND NBL LIFELINE AFTER BULLETS BREAK UP
NBL legend Sam Mackinnon has been given a fresh start after a tumultuous season in Brisbane joining former teammate Mike Kelly’s coaching staff at South East Melbourne.
After a five-year run with the Bullets ended in an acrimonious split, Mackinnon has been handed a basketball lifeline by the Phoenix, signing on for two years as an assistant.
It’s a full-circle moment for one of the NBL’s greatest players, bringing him back to the south east, where he was the 1994 Rookie of the Year with the Magic.
“When Mike went for the Phoenix job he asked me if he was to get it would I consider coming on as assistant coach,” Mackinnon, who earned the nickname Slammin’ Sam for his high-flying exploits, said.
“The opportunity with Mike is really good for me, he’s someone I’ve known for 30 years and what they’re doing here at the Phoenix was really enticing, so it was a pretty easy decision in the end.”
Mackinnon, who won the league and grand final MVP’s in Brisbane’s 2007 championship season, parted ways with the Bullets after five years of off-court involvement at the club.
As general manager of basketball at the Bullets, he was involved in a power struggle with then-chief executive Peter McClennan and momentarily took over as interim head coach when James Duncan was fired.
After initially questioning if he wanted to stay in basketball, the 46-year-old said he’s looking forward to a new beginning in Melbourne.
“That is part of my journey, what happened at the Bullets, but I’m excited to move forward and grateful for this opportunity to stay in basketball with someone I trust wholeheartedly and who I know we’re going to do great things together,” he said.
It’s been three decades since Mackinnon first met Kelly. The promising hooper was still in Year 11 when he signed with the North East Melbourne Arrows in the old CBA, where Kelly was an import.
“Mike used to pick me up across the road from the family home, I’d wait for him at the BP,” Mackinnon said.
“I probably didn’t say too much back then but I took it all on board and I was pretty lucky — everyone who knows Mike knows how good a human being he is.”
The pair would play key roles in the Magic’s 1996 NBL title and reunite in a bid to help the Phoenix win their first championship.
Kelly headhunted his former protege and believes his ability to connect with players will be an asset to the Phoenix.
‘Wild thoughts’ swirl for united coach as nightmares loom
—Michael Randall
Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman admits to “wild thoughts” about what his unique new frontline pairing could achieve on the court in NBL24.
Monstrous returning MVP candidate Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and newly-arrived young power forward Luke Travers loom is a match up nightmare on both ends of the floor as the key acquisitions in Vickerman’s revamped roster.
“It’s fun thinking about how those two can play together,” Vickerman said of the long and lean frontline playmaking duo.
“Wild thoughts go through your mind about what those two can do together.
“Whether Luke’s setting a screen for Jo or Jo’s setting a screen for Luke and how they roll and pop and play together and create and be able to take advantage of Luke’s ability to see the whole floor and make the correct pass.”
Travers, who made the high-profile move to United this off-season after four years in Perth, touched down in Melbourne on Thursday and immediately got to work at Hoop City, running through tape, answering Vickerman’s inquisitions about his game and hitting the floor in United blue for the first time.
Still just 21, Travers is destined for the NBA after the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped him up in the second round of last year’s draft. Watching Jack White make the leap from United to the NBA was key in his decision to join the club.
“When he was here he was the ultimate energy guy and that’s something that I like to do as well — crash the boards, push it in transition,” Travers said.
“He did an unbelievable job of that and it’s got him to the next level.”
Vickerman and the United brains trust still has two local and an import slot to fill, with all eyes overseas in the hunt for a sharpshooter to join the incomparable Chris Goulding.
“We’ve researched the import market and in previous years we’ve had Caleb Agada and Scotty Hopson being guards who can do multiple different things,” Vickerman said.
“We’re prioritising a little bit more shooting in that area … a guy who can come in and have a significant impact, whether that be starting or coming off the bench.”
NBL FREE AGENCY: NEXT STARS PROGRAM SET FOR BIG BOOST
—Matt Logue
The NBL’s Next Stars program is set to reach new heights next season, with multiple players in the mix to join a program which has helped the likes of Josh Giddey and LaMelo Ball reach the NBA.
News Corp understands up to five international draft prospects are in contention to link with the Next Stars program next season alongside Ariel Hukporti (United) and AJ Johnson (Hawks).
The Perth Wildcats are reportedly in contention to sign 7-foot 1 French power forward Alex Sarr, who is a projected top 20 pick on mock draft boards.
Sarr, 17, has a 7’4.5 wingspan and played in the Atlanta based Overtime Elite competition for ages 16 to 20 last season.
South East Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane are all looking to secure Next Stars signings.
The potential boost in Next Stars is a major positive after the program only attracted one player last season in Breakers French guard Rayan Rupert.
Next Stars General Manager of Recruitment Liam Santamaria confirmed the league is closing in on a host of signatures.
“We’re hoping that is going to be the case and we’re confident that it will be,” Santamaria said.
“There are more announcements in the Next Stars space to come in the near future.
“How many we see here, we’ll have to wait and see, but we’re confident it is going to be a really exciting class of draft prospects in the league next season.
“We’re talking to guys from the States and Europe and hopefully we will be able to make some announcements from different parts of the world.”
The NBL’s Next Stars program also recently received positive news out of America.
According to ESPN, the NBA’s new CBA will do away with “automatic eligibility for high school or collegiate players who sign professional contracts with entities such as G League Ignite, Overtime Elite (OTE) or the Australian NBL”.
In the past, players who signed with such entities would be automatically eligible for the subsequent NBA draft, regardless of whether they were interested in doing so or not, provided they were turning 19 in that calendar year.
NBL-bound AJ Johnson is easily one of the most talented prospects at the Iverson Classic and possibly this entire high school class. Clearly putting in work on his frame lately, has big time shot-making prowess, changes speeds fluidly and has excellent footwork and body control. pic.twitter.com/kPfQHAO25g
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 27, 2023
The new rule will provide American Next Stars the option of spending multiple seasons developing in the NBL system before declaring for the NBA Draft. Santamaria doesn’t expect the rule change to result in more Next Stars in the immediate, but says it’s a big win for the program in the long-term.
“The rule now puts American players in line with their international counterparts is a real positive development for the NBL and the Next Stars program,” he said.
“It takes the pressure off as it allows players to sign overseas with more confidence knowing that the player will head to the draft when they are ready.
“It also increases the flexibility that the player has moving forward because previously if they were an American player playing overseas you were essentially thrust into the next draft.”
The NBL’s latest Next Stars graduate – Rupert – recently declared for this year’s NBA draft on June 24 from 10am (AEST).
The French wing, who excelled for the Breakers on their charge to the NBL grand final series this season, is a potential lottery pick.
Rupert’s rise comes as an NBL Next Star has featured in the NBA draft for the past three consecutive seasons in LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Ousmane Dieng.
NEWS: French wing Rayan Rupert, a potential lottery pick, has declared for the 2023 NBA draft, he told ESPN. Rupert has elite dimensions at 6'7 with a 7'3 wingspan, showing significant two-way potential with his strong feel for the game.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 19, 2023
STORY: https://t.co/yirn8gA5BKpic.twitter.com/eA7yIVj0Iv
Santamaria says this success has helped to firmly place the NBL Next Stars program on the international basketball map.
“Rayan is going to be in the NBA draft this season, which is really exciting, so there is big interest in the program,” he said.
“The last three NBA drafts have featured NBL Next Stars in the lottery and there is a recognition of that across the global basketball landscape.
“You throw Rupert into that mix – and the fact he is going to be a high draft pick this season – there is a lot of people keen on the program.
“We’re looking to take that to the next level, in terms of the calibre of the player and the number of them as well.”
PHOENIX SOAR INTO SOME AYRE TIME
—Michael Randall
South East Melbourne has won the race to snap up late-blooming point guard Ben Ayre.
After Cairns and Ayre severed ties at the end of a season where the 27-year-old emerged as a quality NBL back up, several clubs hoped to scoop up his services.
But conversations with new Phoenix coach Mike Kelly about his vision for the club and the potential role available sold Melbourne-born Ayre on the Phoenix.
“They’ve built a really good core here that’s coming back, but also adding something new and it’s a great opportunity for me to add to that and grow my game,” Ayre, who has signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix, said.
“Mike, he wants me to come in and … add some leadership and just be an energy guy for this ball club.
“I think we’ve got a real chance (at a championship).”
Ayre’s story is one of dogged perseverance. He’s a young veteran who has had to work his guts out to establish himself, having spent time as a development player with Adelaide out of college, before a stint in Lithuania, Cairns and now back home in Melbourne.
“It’s definitely been a journey but it still feels like it’s just getting started and coming home is a really cool thing, to have a fresh start in the NBL and keep growing my game and continue to move forward,” Ayre said.
“My game, it’s been growing year-after-year, day-after-day, and however that looks, I think I’ll find my role in the team as the season gets going and I’ll take all the opportunities I can.”
Ayre’s signing leaves South East Melbourne with three main roster spots left to fill.
A high-level import point guard and wing will be crucial, with both Gary Browne and Trey Kell a chance to return. The Phoenix have kept a local roster spot open for Ryan Broekhoff, who is still weighing up his next move and the club is also exploring a Next Star for NBL24.
Ayre’s arrival comes as second-year Phoenix guard Junior Madut joins Tasmania. The 26-year-old inked a one-year deal with a mutual option for the NBL25 season.
Adelaide has also added to its roster with former California Baptist guard Keanu Rasmussen signing on as a development player for NBL24. Rasmussen played alongside Australians Tre and Taran Armstrong for the Lancers and is an Adelaide local
BULLETS LOCK IN IMPORT GUARD
—Michael Randall
Gun American point guard Shannon Scott has added to the vote of confidence in rookie head coach Justin Schueller’s plan to turn the struggling Brisbane Bullets around, inking a two-year deal to cross from Cairns.
Schueller began his time in Brisbane with just two contracted players — Olympians Aron Baynes and Nate Sobey — but Scott’s arrival becomes his seventh signing, leaving the Bullets with just two main roster spots to fill, still more than 150 days out from their season-opener in late September.
Scott, who finished fourth in assists in NBL23 among players who appeared in more than 11 games averaged 10.3 points, 5.4 dimes 4.4 rebounds and shot it at 36 per cent from deep, became a priority target for the Bullets as soon as Queensland native William McDowell-White re-signed with New Zealand.
“I chose to sign with the Bullets because I saw an opportunity to play with a group of guys that were hungry to make noise in the NBL and shock the league,” Scott said.
“Playing in the NBL last year allows me to come back and have a better understanding of the teams styles, the speed and physicality of the league and how tough each and every game will be with so much talent.
“I’m most looking forward to getting Brisbane back into the hunt and getting a chance to continue to learn in this league.”
Schueller agrees Scott’s familiarity with the league will allow him to take another step in Brisbane and his team-first playmaking ability will amplify Sobey and Baynes’ strengths’.
“We always felt we needed a really high-IQ point guard who would set the table first but then still be able to create his own as the shot clock went on,” Schueller said.
“With him next to Sobey and his ability to play out of the ball screen, there’s a lot of ways we’ll be able to use his skillset to our advantage.”
Even Schueller is pleasantly surprised at how quickly it has come together for him in the Sunshine state but is acutely aware he needs to nail an import small forward to round out his roster.
“We’ve got one local spot still available, so we’ll take our time and work through that one, but then our other wing is going to be an import,” he said.
“In all honesty, we never thought we would have this many spots filled by this time but a lot of things have just fallen our way, so now it’s for us to go out and find that really high-impact scoring wing to complete this roster.”
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