Which key locals could be on the move in NBL27?

As the NBL26 free-agency period nears, there has been plenty of talk about which overseas players might return to the competition next season.

From the NBA players, including Luke Travers and Duop Reath, to European stars in Wil McDowell-White and Taran Armstrong, numerous clubs are keeping tabs on players of this ilk.

Just as intriguing is which current NBL stars are off contract and have big decisions ahead of them, regarding their next landing spot.

Jack McVeigh and the Cairns Taipans recently picked up the second-year option on his contract recently, while off-contract big man Will Magnay has expressed his desire to return to Tasmania.

Three big men to keep an eye on are Kiwi trio Finn Delany (Melbourne), Sam Mennenga (New Zealand) and Sam Waardenburg (Cairns), with only the former being on an option going into next year.

While Mennenga has said publicly he “loves the direction the club is going”, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc explained all three loom as key figures in the coming off-season.

“[Firstly] there's a mutual option there for Finn, and he was one of the few NBL teams he was willing to play for,” Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.

“From all reports, he's really loved this time in Melbourne, and has been playing some fantastic basketball.

“But Finn has been really selective about which NBL teams he's wanted to play for, as he’s really enjoyed his time in Europe, meaning there are other opportunities out there for him [outside the NBL].

“A big factor in if he returns will be what Dean Vickerman does.

“The other key bigs I’ll be watching are major free agent centres, Sam Waarenburg and Sam Mennenga, who can both play power forward on the right team too.

“[With all three] I’ll be watching and trying to understand the path New Zealand goes down, [as they expressed desires to bring the top Kiwi talent back to the club].”

Another one to keep an eye on from United is sharpshooter Tanner Krebs, who is posting career-best figures in field goal percentage (44.9), three-point percentage (38.1), rebounds (3.2), assists (1.1) and steals (0.4).

NBL commentator Pete Hooley said “while Chris Goulding has been unbelievable this season, United need to start thinking about life after him”, which is where Krebs comes in.

“There was a sense that they [United] thought Tanner Krebs could prove he's that guy,” Uluc said.

“He's a free agent after this season, so we'll see what they do with that contract, but there are others out there.

“You look at Angus Glover, for example. Is he someone he likes being in Melbourne? The Phoenix do want to bring him back, and they should. He likes it in South East Melbourne, but Melbourne United is hovering like they're the big brother.

“Until proven otherwise, is that someone they look for. He's someone who has a bit more ball-handling chops than some of the other shooters out there.

“He's shown this season that he can defend in a pinch too, so that's someone worth looking at as far as both Melbourne teams [are concerned].

“Someone else I’m looking at is Makuach Maluach, who’s really helped himself with his play towards the back end of the season.

“I can see the Sydney Kings falling over themselves to make sure he stays, as Brian Goorjian loves him.”

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Those are just a host of wings that are off contract at the end of this season, with another being Brisbane’s Alex Ducas, who has had a solid rookie campaign.

“There is a big of uncertainty there [around Ducas],” Uluc said.

“The injuries he sustained throughout the season that made it really tough for him to really find a rhythm.

“He came in as a reputational shooter, and through histime at St. Mary's, he was an elite shooter, but he was never able to find it here.

“There will be an interest in Alex Ducas [around the NBL]. I don't know if there's a substantial NBA market for him again after his first season in the NBA, but he's someone around the league, who you think has the the ability to shoot the ball.

“He can obviously can still do that, and the positional size is helpful there. There is a role in the NBL for Alex Ducas.

“It was maybe less than 12 months ago, where I thought he would do a good job for himself and find a place that was ready to maximise his game. I believe iof he can get past the injuries, he will be able to rebuild himself as a player.”

While he doesn’t count as a local player just yet, Illawarra’s Tyler Harvey is an interesting watch, with the American guard having a club option in NBL27.

“Tyler Harvey currently has permanent residency in Australia but that doesn't permit him to be a local player. In order to be a non-restricted player, you have to be an Australian citizen,” Uluc said.

“The expectation is that Harvey will get his Australian citizenship probably in the next 12 to 15 months, which would mean he's a local player from the beginning of the 2027-28 season.

“That timeline can shift and you never really know when it’s all going to go through but to be able to lock him in long-term [would be massive], as you can change marquee designations on the fly.”

Finally, an interesting name that two-time MVP Chris Anstey recently brought up with Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Patty Mills, who has is currently a free agent.

“I would rather him [Patty Mills] say no than not call,” Anstey said on a recent episode of NBL Now.

“It's always been my strategy to recruitment. Go for someone that may seem so far out of reach, but you never know until you ask.

“I'd be calling Patty Mills, saying ‘you haven't played in a year’, come back and play.”

Other key local targets heading into the of-season include Sydney's Kouat Noi (club option) and Bul Kuol (mutual option), Cairns’ Reyne Smith (club option) and Mojave King, Illawarra’s Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (club option) and Perth’s Elijah Pepper. 

Round 22 of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 continues on Friday night with a double-header on ESPN.

Firstly at 7.30pm AEDT, Brisbane hosts Sydney before Perth battles Adelaide from 9.30pm AEDT.