Big watch: Harrison and Magnay in NBA frame

Two of the NBL’s most impactful big men are firmly in the NBA conversation, according to Derek Rucker and Pete Hooley.

Tyrell Harrison and Will Magnay are both out to impress at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, leaving Brisbane and Tasmania facing roster headaches as they prepare for the possibility of life without their centers.

The JackJumpers, in particular, have acknowledged the real chance of losing Magnay, who is firmly in the mix for a roster spot in Memphis.

Harrison, meanwhile, is building momentum and hoping to land a deal with the Denver Nuggets.

“I thought after a somewhat tentative and apprehensive start, he looked really good,” Rucker said of Harrison’s first Summer League appearance.

“Thirteen points, eight rebounds and you really saw the impact that his length has on a basketball game, even at this level.

“I think Tyrell could feel very good about what he did last night. Good signs for the Denver Nuggets … not so much, possibly, for the Brisbane Bullets.

“They're (the Bullets) starting to get a little concerned, and probably rightly so. He got the start and he played, did exactly what he had to do. Now the opportunity to get a two-way, not just for Denver, for anywhere, would be open, and you can understand why they'd be concerned."

“They're (the Grizzlies) expecting him to play Tuesday,” Hooley said of Magnay, who is recovering from a wrist injury.

“The concern for the JackJumpers, it is real. The Grizzlies really do like him, and if he can get on the court and show what we know he is capable of, he might stay over here."

Magnay had a previous stint with the New Orleans Pelicans on a two-way deal in 2021, and was a key member of the Australian Boomers’ Olympic squad last year, showing he could mix it with the best in the world.

"We know he's an elite shot blocker, one of the greatest shot blockers in NBL history, and that transfers worldwide,” Rucker continued.

“We saw what he was capable of doing at the Olympic Games. Will Magnay is an elite rim protector.

“Now when you look at the Grizzlies' makeup and their roster, they're allegedly looking at two two-way contracts for big men. And that lines up very well for where Will is trying to get to.

“I thought that last season he should have gotten an opportunity coming off the back of the Olympic campaign. It didn’t come to fruition, but you just have to stay at it. He could really benefit from his persistence."

The 2025 NBA Summer League starts from July 11, Australian time, with exclusive interviews and insights available on the NBL App and NBL.com.au.