Where Your Team's at for NBL23

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It’s been a shorter offseason than normal, but teams right across the league wasted no time in loading up with talent ahead of the NBL23 season. 

With most sides losing many key pieces during the last few months, it’s no surprise that we are seeing the majority of the league electing to use all their available import spots. Once again there is an extremely high level of international and NBA experience ready to hit the court. 

With the season tip-off on Saturday evening, let’s take a look at how each team fared in the offseason.

RELATED: Stat Chat - Analysing the Blitz

What they needed
A bit of everything to fix the inconsistencies of last season. 

They finished seventh in scoring (81.5 points per game) and eighth in three-point percentage (31.8 percent). 

Most importantly, they needed some big signings to get the fans excited about what’s to come. 

What they got
Their already strong defensive backcourt became even stronger with the addition of the 2022 Damian Martin Trophy winner, Antonius Cleveland. Alongside (Mitch) McCarron and (Sunday) Dech, that defensive combo will be relied upon heavily.

Offensively, they got everything they needed and more. Robert Franks will not only help 'DJ' (Daniel Johnson) and co on the glass, but he showed last season his ability to step out and knock it down from deep at a good clip (39.1 per cent). Adding to that, Craig Randall is a walking bucket. He averaged 26.7ppg in the G league, which historically may not always translate to the NBL style of play, but with the pieces around him, expect some big, big nights from Randall.

Keep an eye on
The entire puzzle coming together and clicking. History has taught us that not every talented roster can put it all together. Can Adelaide?

What they needed
To recreate the Bullets identity, especially on the defensive end.

In NBL22 they were the worst defensive team, allowing 89.3ppg, which often began with their poor first quarters where they allowed a league-high 23.9 points. They also led the league in turnovers per game, at 15.1, which led to them finishing eighth on the ladder with just 10 wins. James Duncan has been very vocal in changing this, and their pre-season games have shown a major shift.

What they got
The Bullets had one of the best offseason’s in the league and arguably the best story for some time. The return of Aron Baynes created a splash across the entire basketball world and gave all Brisbane fans a big reason to get on board for NBL23. Baynes' impact in the league is going to be massive (no pun intended), but it’s his presence on both ends of the floor James Duncan will be looking for to fix some of last season’s problems.

Another positive note is the re-signing of Nathan Sobey. It just had to be done. Sobey had a horribly interrupted NBL22, playing just 12 games which never allowed him to get into the groove that saw him finish as one of the MVP finalists the year prior. He may be nursed through at times, but if that keeps him playing in most games, that’s good news. When Sobey is at full flight, however limited that may be, the Bullets will be a major contender. Sprinkle in Tyler Johnson, and it’s been a very pleasant offseason if you’re a Bullets fan.

Keep an eye on
Their health. The Bullets have been playing a beautiful style of basketball in the preseason, which is contrastingly different than last season. Can they stay healthy long enough to win a title? 

What they needed
Retain the exciting young core. Add some offensive firepower. Buy into Adam Forde’s system.

The Taipans struggled to score the ball last season, finishing ninth overall with just 79.6ppg. With that came a snowball effect of poor games in succession, that led to frustrations boiling over at a couple different points in the season. Led by Bul Kuol, the Taipans were trying to build a fun brand of basketball that was playing fast and largely built upon immense defensive pressure. That was highlighted by them finishing second in the league in turnovers forced (13.1) but ultimately unable to capitalise enough on that, finishing second overall in turnovers themselves (14.8). 

What they got
“I’m willing to take a pay cut to keep Pinder and Kuol,” Forde said during last season.

Well, he got both deals done and rewards each player for their outstanding individual seasons. Adding Tahjere McCall to that key returning group will be huge in transitioning the new pieces to buy into what they’re building in FNQ. One big positive for Cairns is that they’ve added some nice shooting pieces around their playmaking guard, such as DJ Hogg, who could be set for a massive season himself.

With the departures of some veterans, the Taipans severely lack experience for the upcoming season. Whilst that may prove to be an issue at different times, Forde has proven that he will continue to reward those who play hard and play smart. 

Keep an eye on
The all-time threes made and attempted records. They’re going to play fast and shoot a lot of threes. If they’re having one of those nights where it all comes together, they’ll beat anyone.

What they needed
Big replacements. Build around Harvey and Froling to get one step further.

After making the semis in back-to-back seasons, everything looked as though it was trending in the right direction for the Hawks. 

The Hawks prided themselves on looking after the ball in NBL22, and that was reflected by them having a league low 9.7 turnovers per game, while second in both blocks and steals.

After a sluggish start to last season, once they started figuring things out, the Hawks looked like they had all the pieces to make it to the big dance. Unfortunately for them, they ran into the hottest team in the league at the wrong time. With that came some big departures that would be hard for anyone to replace.

What they got
The Hawks had a pretty rough offseason to begin with, when you look at the pieces they’ve lost. Of the five players who averaged double figures for them last season, the only one who remains is Tyler Harvey. Put simply, the Hawks lost 53.4ppg of their average 88.8ppg from NBL22. Ouch!

There is a silver lining however, to approach the upcoming season for the Hawks. Under Jacob Jackomas, there will be plenty of opportunity for a lot of different players to grab their chance.

Whilst a lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Harvey and Froling, we get our first chance to see Mangok Mathiang lace them up after coming back from injury. He could prove to be a dominant force across the league.

The signing of Justin Robinson looks to be the biggest piece they needed. Robinson looks like an absolute stud and could very well be one of the best PG’s in the league.  

Keep an eye on
The Harvey and Robinson show. The lefty backcourt combo will be called upon heavily for the Hawks on the offensive end.  

What they needed
More offensive options. Replace three key pieces. Keep the defensive identity. 

What a rollercoaster of emotions this offseason has been for United. After their surprising exit from the finals last season, with the majority of their roster contracted to return, they looked primed to add one or two more pieces and be right back in the hunt. Then the NBA came knocking. 

The best defensive team in NBL22 came up short in the semis when they ran into the second best defensive unit and without Chris Goulding in game three, just couldn’t find enough ways to score. Across the three games, United scored just 73ppg, well below their season average of 86.3ppg. More alarmingly, they shot just 19.3 per cent from deep in that series.

What they got
United wasted no time in finding replacements to launch another attack at a championship. Rayjon Tucker is primed to be one of the most exciting players across the league, after his recent G league stints. If history has taught us anything, a strong season for the 25-year-old, could put him right back on the NBA radar. 

United also took the chance on big man Isaac Humphries, who when healthy, showed how dominate he could be in the NBL. Before getting injured in the 2021 season, he averaged 17.5ppg, 8.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks in his first 11 games. The achilles injury to Ariel Hukporti is one of those pieces that United just couldn’t afford to lose, and I’d expect some more shuffling to the roster going forward. 

Keep an eye on
Their depth. Losing Hukporti is a huge hurdle to work around. Don’t be surprised if a move is made at some point to strengthen the depth. United is said to have had a last-minute attempt to lure Zhou Qi, but were beaten to the punch by the Phoenix. 

What they needed
To be home. 

489. That’s the only number that matters for the Breakers. Come October 7, it will have been 489 days since their last home game. Their last appearance in front of their loyal fans was way back in the 20/21 season, with a small set of home games.

Two years away from home, from your family, your fans, your normal routine. Just brutal. Kudos to every single person who endured those moments and thank you once again for lacing them up every single night, so that the season could live on.

What they got
It’s been a quality offseason for the Breakers on the floor. As the days inch closer to their first home game back, things seem to be tracking nicely for a new look squad to give the fans an added reason to be excited. 

With Will McDowell-White primed for a breakout season, this well-rounded roster will help everyone elevate their games to a new level. Yes, they also lost a couple of key pieces, but the local flavour is still there with the likes of Izayah Le'Afa and Tom Vodanovich returning home.

The Tom Abercrombie injury is both untimely and tough to swallow. He is the heart and soul of the Breakers and his absence is already noticeable with the new pieces on the floor.

Keep an eye on
Will McDowell-White. He’s wanted this opportunity and Mody Maor believes he can lead the Breakers back to the business end of the season.

What they needed
A neuralyzer (a top-secret device used by the Men in Black to erase memories with a blinding flash) ... and to bulk up their big man department. 

Oasis said it best, “Don’t Look Back In Anger.” After the surprising end to last season, everyone is looking ahead out in the west. I hope you are too, Red Army. The Wildcats led the league in scoring in NBL22 with 89.1ppg, which becomes even more impressive when you consider they were the worst first quarter performing team all year at -3.4. 

What hurt the Wildcats a lot in big and important games was their lack of front court size, both defensively and on the boards. It doesn’t show up necessarily on the stats, but if you go back to crucial games that they simply could not have afforded to lose, it was glaringly obvious that they needed to address that department in the offseason.

What they got
The biggest move the Wildcats made in recent months wasn’t on the court, but rather the appointment of the legend John Rillie. Rillie has already spoke about the entertaining style he is implementing for NBL23, and the buzz is already high around what he could build at Perth.

The Wildcats bolstered their front court with TaShawn Thomas and Brady Manek. They haven’t played a whole lot together in pre-season, but it will be an interesting concept to watch on the defensive end. Manek can light it up from the three, so can Bryce Cotton, who looks to somehow have got even better. 

Keep an eye on
Bryce Cotton’s citizenship. Sooner or later, it’s coming. 

What they needed
Defensive consistency. Role clarity. 

It was another mixed mag of performances across NBL22 for Simon Mitchell’s men. When they were good, they could beat anyone. Yet when they were poor, well, you know what happened. They lost seven of eight games during a key stretch last season, where alarmingly they averaged 88 points, and still lost. 

Defensive consistency has been a key issue that Mitchell has addressed in the past few seasons for the Phoenix, and it’s something that will be heavily addressed once again for NBL23. At one point they were touted to have the most talented roster on paper, which at times led to roles consistently changing and players never being settled. They finished last in the league for assists last season, at 15.1 per game.

What they got
When their rostered was finalised, it seemed as though Tommy Greer and co had built a solid and well-rounded unit. Then the injury bug hit.

We saw limited moments in pre season of the all import backcourt with Gary Browne and Trey Kell, and unfortunately it seems like we will be waiting a little longer to get that back. With Ryan Broekhoff and Mitch Creek out as well, the Phoenix will be hoping their supporting cast can still get the job done.

The signing of Zhou Qi was a welcome piece of good news for the Phoenix though, and the talent on their roster is undeniable. Will it be enough to give NBL23 a shake once everyone is fit? 

Keep an eye on
The first few rounds. Can the Phoenix keep the ship afloat before their key guys return?

What they needed
Avoid the hangover. Add key pieces to a proven successful core.
The Kings got the job done last season in incredible fashion. After a bumpy first few rounds, once they got hot, there was no turning back. They just had too many weapons and were playing an exciting style of basketball under Chase Buford, capping off their championship run as the league’s most efficient scoring team.

With the news that the reigning MVP was departing, it would seem appropriate to panic if you’re a Kings fan. However, for the most potent offensive unit in NBL22, they were actually the third best team in points against (82.8) and number in FG percentage against, holding teams to just 39.2 percent.

What they got
That defence I highlighted above, well it only got stronger in the offseason. With the addition of Justin Simon teaming up with Xavier Cooks. Now that’s a tasty recipe to build a strong defensive unit.

It’s nearly impossible to identically replace the likes of what Jaylen Adams did last season, but the Kings did the best they could. Acquiring Derrick Walton Jr to spearhead the attack will be a great fit for them in Buford’s system. Look out for the former Pistons guard as a potential assist leader in NBL23. Going back-to-back is an almighty task for any team to accomplish, but the Kings have began their quest the right way.

Keep an eye on
The MVP race. Xavier Cooks is playing career best basketball, and is one of the best defenders in the league. Grand Final MVP, NZNBL MVP and maybe NBL23 MVP? I don’t see why not.

What they needed
One or two key upgrades. Offensive weapons. Spark the flame.

What a story it was. It will go down in history as one of the greatest inaugural seasons we have ever witnessed. Not only were the JJ’s on the march, but when it came to the business end of the season, 75 per cent of Australia was marching along with them. 

It will be mightily hard to replicate what transpired last season, especially riding the emotional wave like they did. They hung their hat on being a defensive juggernaut and it carried them to much more success than anyone envisioned. They needed to do that due to their overall struggles to score the ball, finishing last in scoring at just 79.4ppg. The JJ’s proved how powerful a strong culture can be, and how pretty it was. 

What they got
There wasn’t a whole lot of change that was coming for Scott Roth’s men on the local front. The core had been locked in for NBL23 for some time. They knew they had to upgrade one or two import spots, and they went out and found some exciting pieces to join the march in Milton Doyle and Rashard Kelly. 

I’m expecting them to have a bit more offensive firepower than they had overall last season, and that will allow Josh Magette to play his normal unselfish game and set up others. 

However, what they got in the offseason is a big question with their defensive focal point, Will Magnay. Roth hasn’t hid his concerns on the big fella’s knee injury and it’s frankly one piece they can’t afford to be without in NBL23. 

Keep an eye on
The Ant Army. My State Bank Arena is flares away from a Euroleague game. Can they hold down that fortress?