Big off-season looms for United

Heading into the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 off-season, Melbourne United has plenty of questions surrounding its roster makeup.

Going into next season, United has Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Kyle Bowen, Fabijan Krslovic, Dash Daniels, and Finn Delany (mutual option) under contract, but the first two names on that list missed a combined 28 matches during the 2025-26 campaign.

NBL champion Pete Hooley suggested on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise, that both Goulding and Ili “play reduced minutes next season”, while still being impactful, which ESPN’s Olgun Uluc agreed with.

“Chris Goulding can still play at a high level, but at 37, he must be managed carefully,” Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

“He can play into his late 30s, but not at heavy minutes.

“The issue [with Goulding and Ili] is availability. It’s difficult to win when starters, you pegged for high minutes aren’t playing.

“Melbourne needs to prepare for Shea Ili as a backup and for stretches without Chris Goulding.”

Another one of the key question marks surrounding United is the future of head coach Dean Vickerman.

While he still has one year to go on his current contract at Melbourne, the three-time champion is reportedly weighing up his overseas options.

“Dean Vickerman went Championship Series, Championship Series, fifth place finish [the past few seasons],” Uluc said.

“This was an unfortunate down year, and there are a lot of different reasons for that, but he is one of the best coaches in the league and one of the most demonstrated coaches of all time in the NBL.

“If he wants to go somewhere else, after gauging his interest elsewhere, that's his prerogative. If he doesn't want to do it [and stay], it's his prerogative too

“It's important for them, though, to make sure that whatever the decision is, get it done quickly, because Dean Vickerman is also their primary decision maker there, so they need to make sure that their processes are set up.

“If Dean chooses to leave, they need to make sure their processes are there because he's a really important part of how they make basketball decisions.”

Echoing Uluc was Hooley, who played for Vickerman during United’s 2018 title.

“From the perspective of a coach who's had the success that Dean has had for a long time now in the NBL, it's like, what's my next challenge?,” Hooley said.

“Is my next challenge getting us back to a Championship Series and winning in Melbourne? Is that what I really want to do? Is that the fight I want? Or is my challenge somewhere else right now? You weigh all that up in the off-season.

“You just weigh up what's best for the personal decision, and from the Melbourne United organisation perspective.

“They’ll be fine with whatever Dean Vickerman wants to do. He is contracted. They have helped build it all together, and there'll be no bad blood, no matter what happens.”

>> Championship Series schedule, tickets & how to watch

In terms of re-signings, Derek Rucker encouraged United to bring back point guard Tyson Walker for a second season, while Hooley hinted at a move north for Milton Doyle.

“Milton Doyle is talented but inconsistent, and that may not suit Melbourne long term,” Hooley said.

“For some reason, next season, I just see Milton Doyle in orange. We know Jack McVeigh, his former teammate, is out there trying to recruit players.

“Milton Doyle, being the quiet personality he is, you get the best out of him when he’s super comfortable with other guys on the floor, like Jack McVeigh.

“Whereas Cairns have lacked that veteran leader who’s played at the highest level for a whole lot of years, not to mention he’s a game-breaker.

“I’d love to see him in Cairns.”

Finally, on United, Uluc said, “I’d keep on the local marquees, including Sam Mennenga and Sam Waardenburg, because if they can get a bookend like that, then the rest of United’s roster fills out a little cleaner.”

The NBL26 Championship Series, between Sydney and Adelaide, continues on Friday from 7.30pm AEDT on Friday, live on ESPN and 10 Drama.