NBL22 Free Agency Primer

By Liam Santamaria

As Melbourne United continue to celebrate the NBL21 championship, preparations are already underway across the league for the 2021-22 season.

Free Agency opens tomorrow (!!) so, if you’re an NBL GM, now is not the time to be caught napping. And with the Tasmania JackJumpers entering the league this year, the marketplace has suddenly become a whole lot more competitive.

As always, there are some big names in play as we enter free agency. This year’s class includes All-NBL Second Team guard Mitch McCarron, star big man Isaac Humphries and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Mitch Norton.

It’s also worth noting that teams will return to having three imports next season, with 11 fully-contracted players per roster.

So… what does each team need? Who will be going where? Let’s get ready for the free agency frenzy that lies ahead.

 

* denotes restricted player (import)

(NS) denotes ‘Next Stars’ player        

(DP) denotes development player

(SRP) denotes special restricted player 

 

ADELAIDE 36ERS

Current 2021-22 roster:

• Daniel Johnson – two years remaining on current deal
• Sunday Dech – two years remaining on current deal
• Kai Sotto (SRP) – signed a two-year ‘SRP’ deal

Free Agents:

• Isaac Humphries
• Jack McVeigh
• Brandon Paul*
• Tony Crocker*
• Keanu Pinder
• Brendan Teys  
• Daniel Dillon
• Alex Mudronja
• Jack Purchase
• Owen Hulland

Departing:

• Josh Giddey (NBA Draft)

Head Coach: Connor Henry – two years remaining on current deal

Notes: The big piece here is, of course, Isaac Humphries who was a dominant force early last season before getting hurt.

When the 36ers originally signed Humphries, they inked him to a two-year deal but with a mutual option attached to the second year. As it turns out, that option hasn’t been exercised with the club instead looking to renegotiate a new contract. As of right now, the two parties have not been able to reach a new agreement which means Humphries is becoming available to the open market.

The other really interesting free agent on this list, for me, is Jack McVeigh. There’s plenty of interest in the talented forward (who turns 25 today) from around the league so the 36ers (whom ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reports have an offer on the table) will have significant competition for his signature.

 

BRISBANE BULLETS

Current 2021-22 Roster:

• Nathan Sobey – one year remaining on current deal
• Tyrell Harrison – re-signed on a new two-year deal
• Tanner Krebs – one year remaining on current deal
• Tamuri Wigness – one year remaining on current deal
• Anthony Drmic – two years remaining on current deal (mutual option final year)

Free Agents:

• Harry Froling
• Jason Cadee
• Matt Hodgson
• Lamar Patterson*
• BJ Johnson*
• Vic Law*
• Callum Dalton
• Blake Jones

Departing:

• Andrej Lemanis (Japan)

Head Coach: James Duncan – signed a two-year deal

Notes: Harry Froling is an interesting name on this list as the Bullets had a club option on his contract for the upcoming season. After an underwhelming NBL21 campaign, it’s not surprising to see Brisbane decline that option and allow the 23-year-old to test his value in the open market.

The other two that stand out are Jason Cadee and Matt Hodgson – two experienced guys with plenty to offer as potential free agent targets. Cadee exercised his player option last off-season which has allowed him to enter free agency this year, amidst the competition created by the entrance of an expansion club. As for Hodgson, he feels like precisely the kind of Aussie big man that the JackJumpers should be going after.

 

CAIRNS TAIPANS

Current 2021-22 Roster:

• Scott Machado* – one year remaining on current deal
• Cam Oliver* – one year remaining on current deal
• Mojave King (NS) – one year remaining on current ‘Next Stars’ deal
• Kouat Noi – re-signed on a two-year deal (mutual option final year)
• Majok Deng – one year remaining on current deal
• Nate Jawai – one year remaining on current deal
• Jordan Ngatai – one year remaining on current deal
• Mirko Djeric – re-signed on a new three-year deal

Free Agents:

• Fabijan Krslovic
• Jarrod Kenny
• Tad Dufelmeier Jr
• Venky Jois
• George Blagojevic
• Hyrum Harris
• Jordan Hunt

Head Coach: 

Notes: The Taipans are operating in a tricky environment right now as they enter free agency without a head coach. The quicker that gets sorted out the better.

As for their roster, CEO Mark Beecroft has moved swiftly to retain some key local pieces to avoid losing them in free agency. Majok Deng, Nate Jawai, and Jordan Ngatai will all be back for the final years of their contracts while Kouat Noi and Mirko Djeric have both re-signed on multi-year deals.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">??? ???? ??<br><br>Ahead of free agency, the Taipans have signed Mirko Djeric to a new three-year contract? <a href="https://t.co/ZfN1r7TRKx">pic.twitter.com/ZfN1r7TRKx</a></p>&mdash; Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans/status/1408893681126440963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tad Dufelmeier Jr showed last season that he can hold it down as a back-up point guard however he also makes sense as a target for the JackJumpers.

                                               

ILLAWARRA HAWKS

Current 2021-22 roster:

• Emmett Naar – one year remaining on current deal
• Sam Froling – one year remaining on current deal
• Dan Grida – one year remaining on current deal
• Max Darling – two years remaining on current deal
• Justinian Jessup (NS) – one year remaining on ‘Next Stars’ deal
• Akoldah Gak – two years remaining on current deal

Free Agents:

• Tyler Harvey*
• Justin Simon*
• Deng Deng
• Isaac White
• Cam Bairstow
• AJ Ogilvy

• Tim Coenraad
• Lachlan Dent

Departing:

• Deng Adel (released)

Head Coach: Brian Goorjian – one year remaining on current deal

Notes: The Hawks have an intriguing core of young talent under contract as we begin the free agency period, with the league’s Most Improved Player, Sam Froling, headlining that group.

Tyler Harvey and Justin Simon were both outstanding imports last season and there’ll be plenty of work going on behind the scenes to try to bring those guys back.

As for their local free agents, Deng Deng took great strides under Brian Goorjian, as did Isaac White, while AJ Ogilvy was completely re-energised in that system and deserves another deal.

 

MELBOURNE UNITED

Current 2020-21 Roster:

• Chris Goulding – two years remaining on current deal
• Jack White – two years remaining on current deal
• Mason Peatling – two years remaining on current deal
• Shea Ili – re-signed on a new two-year deal
• Zac Triplett (DP) - signed a three-year deal (club option final year)

Free Agents:

• Mitch McCarron 
• Jock Landale
• Scotty Hopson*
• Jo Lual-Acuil
• Yudai Baba (SRP)
• Dave Barlow
• Sam McDaniel
• Sam Short
• David Andersen

Head Coach: Dean Vickerman – one year remaining on current deal

Notes: With Jock Landale expected to push for an NBA contract, Mitch McCarron is the headline name of this year’s free agent class and, unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of interest in the championship-winning point guard. There’s been a fair bit of buzz around Adelaide as a potential suitor for a while now but, in recent weeks, Sydney and Brisbane have also emerged as interested parties.

Meanwhile the NBL’s Best Sixth Man, Jo Lual-Acuil, is also entering free agency and is sure to receive some good offers following a standout season.

The other intriguing free agent on this list is, of course, Yudai Baba. The Japanese star was a key contributor for the champs this season – at both ends of the floor – and is particularly valuable considering his status as a ‘special restricted player’. Hopefully we see him back in the league next season.

 

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS

Current 2021-22 Roster:

• Corey Webster – two years remaining on current deal
• Tom Abercombie – one year remaining on current deal
• Finn Delany – one year remaining on current deal
• Rob Loe – two years remaining on current deal
• Kyrin Galloway – two years remaining on current deal
• Ousmane Dieng (NS) – signed a two-year ‘Next Stars’ deal
• Rasmus Bach – one year remaining on current deal
• William McDowell-White – re-signed on a new one-year deal
• Isaac Davidson (DP) – two years remaining on current deal (club option final year)

Free Agents:

• Tai Webster
• Levi Randolph*
• Colton Iverson*
• Dan Trist

Head Coach: Dan Shamir – one year remaining on current deal

Notes: After a challenging season on the road, the Breakers are hoping for a more normal campaign in NBL22 and are entering free agency with most of their roster in place.

They do, however, have a couple of interesting situations in play. The biggest involves Tai Webster, who finished last season ranked inside the top ten for both scoring and assists. The Breakers are keen to re-sign the talented point guard and it’s my understanding that those negotiations are progressing positively.

In terms of their imports, Colton Iverson has signed with a team in Japan and the Breakers will be looking to replace him with a big who possesses more mobility at the defensive end.

As for Levi Randolph, his name appearing as a free agent on the list published earlier today by the league is intriguing. The Breakers smartly included a club option for next year when they signed Randolph mid-season so we await word from across the ditch on his status moving forward.

 

PERTH WILDCATS

Current 2021-22 Roster:

• Bryce Cotton* – two years remaining on current deal
• Todd Blanchfield – one year remaining on current deal
• Luke Travers – two years remaining on current deal

Free Agents:

• John Mooney*
• Mitch Norton
• Will Magnay
• Clint Steindl
• Jesse Wagstaff
• Wani Swaka Lo Buluk
• Corey Shervill
• Kevin White
• Jarred Bairstow
• Tom Jervis
• Majok Majok
• Taylor Britt
• Andrew Ferguson

Head Coach: Trevor Gleeson – one year remaining on current deal

Notes: That is a big, long list of free agents.

The names towards the top of that list are particularly intriguing, with Mitch Norton, Clint Steindl and Will Magnay all coming out of contract.

Star import John Mooney has expressed an interest in potentially returning while six-time champion Jesse Wagstaff has yet to make any official statement on his immediate future.

In terms of their burgeoning talent, the Wildcats have Luke Travers under contract for two more years, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk’s mutual option has not been exercised while local talent Corey Shervill makes sense as a guy to bring back.

 

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX

Current 2021-22 Roster:

• Mitch Creek – one year remaining on current deal
• Dane Pineau – two years remaining on current deal
• Cam Gliddon – one year remaining on current deal
• Reuben Te Rangi – one year remaining on current deal
• Ryan Broekhoff – re-signed on a new deal (terms unannounced)
• Kyle Adnam – re-signed on a new two-year deal
• Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa – re-signed on a new two-year deal (player option final year)

Free Agents:

• Yanni Wetzell
• Keifer Sykes*
• Ben Moore*
• Adam Gibson 
• Kendall Stephens
• Mike Karena
• Tristan Forsyth

Head Coach: Simon Mitchell – one year remaining on current deal

Notes: The Phoenix are smartly focusing on continuity among their local contingent after a successful season that saw them come within a game of a Grand Final appearance.

That approach has seen them re-sign back-up guards Kyle Adnam and Izayah Le’Afa as well as mid-season recruit Ryan Broekhoff. Adnam and Le’Afa were both inked to multi-year deals while the terms of Broekhoff’s new contract are yet to be announced.

The big name at the top of SEM’s free agents list is Yanni Wetzell, who started every game for the Phoenix in his rookie campaign. Wetzell was originally signed to a two-year deal but the big Kiwi has declined his player option for the upcoming season in order to test his value in free agency. What makes those negotiations interesting for the Phoenix is the expected return of Dane Pineau, who excelled in NBL20 but played just one game last season due to various injury concerns.

It’s also going to be fascinating to see what direction the Phoenix go in terms of their imports. Ben Moore was terrific off the bench last season but I think the Phoenix may need more size and length from their import big – someone who can be a legitimate lob threat at the offensive end and bring some genuine rim protection to the back line of their D.

Keifer Sykes, meanwhile, brought a lot of what the Phoenix needed at point guard last season so you’d have to think there’d be some level of interest in bringing him back. That being said, he’ll definitely receive interest from other clubs around the league, as well as overseas, so there’s a bit to play out there I suspect. It’s worth noting also that, over the last couple of years, Tommy Greer and Simon Mitchell have demonstrated an ability to find outstanding talent at that position from amongst the import market.

 

SYDNEY KINGS

Current 2021-22 Roster:

• Shaun Bruce – one year remaining on current deal
• Dejan Vasiljevic – two years remaining on current deal (player option final year)
• Angus Glover – two years remaining on current deal
• Biwali Bayles – signed a three-year deal (club option final year)
• Jordan Hunter – re-signed on a new three-year deal
• Jarell Martin* – one year remaining on current deal
• Tom Vodanovich – re-signed on a new one-year deal

Free Agents:

• Xavier Cooks
• Casper Ware*
• Jarrad Weeks
• Jaylin Galloway
• Lochlon Hutchison
• Dexter Kernich-Drew
• Archie Woodhill

Departing:

• Adam Forde  
• Brad Newley
• Craig Moller (Wurzburg, Germany)
• Didi Louzada (New Orleans Pelicans, NBA)
• Daniel Kickert (retired)

Head Coach: Chase Buford – signed a three-year deal

Notes: The Kings have been hustling recently as they signed new head coach Chase Burford and locked in extensions with Jordan Hunter and Tom Vodanovich.

They also paired with star import Jarell Martin to exercise the mutual option on the second year of his contract, which is huge for their prospects next season. With a full pre-season and, hopefully, an injury-free campaign, Martin will be one of the best bigs in the league in NBL22.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He’s backkkkk! ????<br> <br>The Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings are excited to announce that former NBA first rounder and Kings big-man <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinJarell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MartinJarell</a> has recommitted for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a><br> <br>Details: <a href="https://t.co/zQurmkn7vm">https://t.co/zQurmkn7vm</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheKings</a> <a href="https://t.co/T8pxZY6lrt">pic.twitter.com/T8pxZY6lrt</a></p>&mdash; Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings/status/1408665747769856000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In terms of their free agents, versatile forward Xavier Cooks and import guard Casper Ware are the big names at the top of their list.

Cooks is a priority re-signing for the Kings and, as has been reported by ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, the wheels are turning on a deal to bring him back.

As for Ware, well that’s an interesting one. The star point guard received All-NBL Second Team honours again last season but I suspect it might be time for the Kings to move in a different direction. Their interest in McCarron suggests that they probably do too.

 

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS     

Current 2021-22 Roster:

• Sejr Deans (DP) – signed a one-year deal

Head Coach: Scott Roth – signed a three-year deal (club option final year)

Notes: It’s officially go time for the league’s newest club as they enter the free agency period without a single fully-contracted player on the roster.

Things have also become a little more difficult for the JackJumpers in recent days with teams around the league re-signing a whole bunch of talent in order to keep them off the market.

That said, there are still some big names on the board. Guys like McCarron, Norton, Humphries, Hodgson, Wetzell, Lual-Acuil and McVeigh all pose as potential targets for a Tassie team looking to make a splash.

Then, of course, there are others like Dufelmeier Jr and Jack Purchase – both currently playing for Hobart in the NBL1 – who are ready for opportunities to play regular minutes in the league.

Finally, there would be something kind of nice about two-time championship-winning veteran Adam Gibson signing with the JackJumpers for their inaugural season. The Tassie product is coming out of his two-year contract with South East Melbourne and would bring much-needed experience – and local flavour – to the expansion club.