It is the first week post the NBL Blitz and only two weeks until the new season begins. Two of the remaining roster spots have been filled: the Illawarra Hawks’ final import and the South East Melbourne Phoenix’s final local. This leaves the Perth Wildcats and Illawarra Hawks as the final two teams that officially require completion; one team has enough liberty to sign a local player in any position of any quality while the other needs an import guard to cover the most seismic omission in recent memory.

Elsewhere, Keli Leaupepe of the Sydney Kings was ruled out for the season due to an ACL injury attained during the NBL Blitz. The loss means that the Kings should be able to sign someone as an injury replacement player; a sensible decision would have been to return centre Jason Spurgin to the main roster but he is expected to miss six months due to having foot surgery. A big man of a similar vein would be most urgent for the Kings who only have one player above 6’8″ on their active roster. They do only have two imports on their roster so they could find a third (like how the Tasmania JackJumpers secured a third import despite having a full roster by getting Tyger Campbell as an injury replacement) as there are no prominent local big men available in the free agency pool.

1. Daniel Foster elevated to South East Melbourne Phoenix
2. JaQuori McLaughlin to Illawarra Hawks
3. Team overviews
4. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Daniel Foster elevated to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Guard
From: Nevada Wolf Pack (College basketball – NCAA Division I)
2024–25 statistics: 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, .1 blocks, .6 steals, 51.1% field goal, 26.3% three-point, 50.0% free throw

The South East Melbourne Phoenix make an in-house elevation for their final roster spot by bringing their incoming development player Daniel Foster to the main roster. I had highlighted the eccentricity of Foster’s playing abilities when he was first signed in April after his collegiate career at Nevada; a 6’6″ guard who grabbed more rebounds than scored points with subpar three-point and free throw splits yet made up for offensive deficiencies with skilled defence and passing. Sure enough, the reasons stated by the team for his elevation are the improvements that he has made during the offseason and him being a good teammate. The deal is for two years so the Phoenix have seen enough to believe in making the investment. The Phoenix kept Foster relatively under wraps for the Blitz where he appeared for only 3 minutes in the team’s game against the New Zealand Breakers and recorded 1 rebound and 1 assist. He did appear in the Phoenix’s two earlier preseason games with 6 points each against the Cairns Taipans and Melbourne United. His mere skillset as is makes him a complete anomaly that will be fascinating if it is developed.

JaQuori McLaughlin to Illawarra Hawks

Position: Guard
From: Pelita Jaya (Indonesia – Indonesian Basketball League)
2024–25 statistics: 16.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.4 steals

It was a trial for a job position that proved successful for JaQuori McLaughlin who signed with the Illawarra Hawks after a trial phase at the NBL Blitz. He is their third and final import; I had expected the Hawks to go after a power forward (in the vein of Gary Clark Jr. and Darius Days) and give William Hickey the starting guard spot alongside Tyler Harvey. This means that McLaughlin will take over the role held so well by Trey Kell III. It is very much a like-for-like replacement attempt as McLaughlin is also a tall guard who possesses both rebounding and playmaking abilities and their stat lines from last season are remarkably similar. Head coach Justin Tatum would have been the strong advocate for McLaughlin after they were partnered together when Tatum joined Pelita Jaya as head coach at the end of last season. Not many imports make their way to the NBL after last playing in Indonesia; however, McLaughlin started his professional career as a two-way with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2021–22 season, spent time in the NBA G League and then played in New Zealand in 2023. The Hawks have one final local spot to fill before their roster is complete and they have the luxury of being adequately covered across all positions so they can sign anyone they desire. It could be that they do what the Phoenix did with Foster and elevate one of their four development players to the main roster.

Team overviews

G: Guard / F: Forward / C: Center / I: Import / NS: Next Star / IRP: Injury Replacement Player / NRP: Nominated Replacement Player / DP: Development Player

Adelaide 36ers
G: Flynn Cameron, Bryce Cotton (I), Michael Harris, Matt Kenyon, Keanu Rasmussen, Dejan Vasiljevic, Isaac White
F: Zylan Cheatham (I), Montrezl Harrell (I)
C: Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries
NRP: F Blake Jones
DP: G Che Brogan, F Deng Manyang, F Magok Manyang
Needs: General stability

Brisbane Bullets
G: Jaylen Adams (I), Alex Ducas, Javon Freeman-Liberty (I), Sam McDaniel, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton
F: Jacob Holt, Casey Prather (I), Jack Purchase, Tohi Smith-Milner
C: Tyrell Harrison
NRP: Callum Dalton
DP: F Jensen Bradtke, G Tristan Devers

Cairns Taipans
G: Kyle Adnam, Ashton Hagans (I), Reyne Smith, Kody Stattman
F: Kyrin Galloway, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Mawot Mag, Jack McVeigh, Admiral Schofield (I), Sam Waardenburg
C: Marcus Lee (I)
DP: G Lloyd McVeigh, C Jed Richardson

Illawarra Hawks
G: Tyler Harvey (I), William Hickey, JaQuori McLaughlin (I)
F: Todd Blanchfield, Jonah Bolden, Daniel Grida, Mason Peatling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk
C: Sam Froling, JaVale McGee (I)
IRP: C Harry Froling
DP: G Jackson Ball, G Kobe McDowell-White, G Johny Narkle, G Luca Yates
Needs: Local guard

Melbourne United
G: Dash Daniels (NS), Milton Doyle (I), Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Tanner Krebs, Tyson Walker (I), Tom Wilson
F: Kyle Bowen, Finn Delany, Fabijan Krslovic, Malith Machar
C: Jesse Edwards (I)
NRP: C Nicolas Tata
DP: G Campbell Blogg, F Tom Koppens

New Zealand Breakers
G: Taylor Britt, Izaiah Brockington (I), Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I), Izayah Le’afa
F: Sean Bairstow, Robert Baker (I), Max Darling, Carlin Davison, Karim López (NS), Reuben Te Rangi
C: Robert Loe, Sam Mennenga
DP: G Kaia Isaac, F Liam Judd, G Alex McNaught

Perth Wildcats
G: Sunday Dech, Elijah Pepper, Dontae Russo-Nance
F: Kristian Doolittle (I), Ben Henshall, Noa Kouakou-Heugue (NS), Lat Mayen, David Okwera, Jesse Wagstaff, Dylan Windler (I)
C: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
DP: F Thomas Gerovich, F Cameron Huefner, G Jaron Rillie
Needs: Bryce Cotton clone / import point guard

South East Melbourne Phoenix
G: Daniel Foster, Owen Foxwell, Angus Glover, Hunter Maldonado (I), Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Vrenz Bleijenbergh (I), John Brown (I), Malique Lewis (NS), DJ Mitchell
C: Gorjok Gak, Jordan Hunter
DP: C Ellis Biggar
Needs: Local any position

Sydney Kings
G: Shaun Bruce, Kendric Davis (I), Matthew Dellavedova, Tyler Robertson
F: Xavier Cooks, Jaylin Galloway, Bul Kuol, Keli Leaupepe, Makuach Maluach, Kouat Noi
C: Tim Soares (I)
DP: G Lueth Awan, F Goc Malual, C Jason Spurgin
Needs: A return to 48-minute games so the quality of players receive enough minutes

Tasmania JackJumpers
G: Ben Ayre, Bryce Hamilton (I), David Johnson (I), Nicholas Stoddart, Sean Macdonald
F: Josh Bannan, Majok Deng, Anthony Drmic, Nick Marshall, Kobe Williamson
C: Will Magnay
IRP: Tyger Campbell (I)
DP: G Brody Nunn, F Archie Woodhill
Needs: Injury-free Sean Macdonald

Remaining free agents

Players who were contracted during the 2024–25 season. Statistics are from last season. Strikedthrough names mean that player has signed elsewhere for the 2025–26 season.

Locals

• Jack White (F, Melbourne United) – 35 games, 13.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Alex Toohey (F, Sydney Kings) – 30 games, 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Thomas Vodanovich (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 30 games, 2.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, .7 assists
• Keanu Pinder (F, Perth Wildcats) – 29 games, 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Lachlan Olbrich (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 29 games, 8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists
• Hyrum Harris (F, Perth Wildcats) – 28 games, 2.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Grant Anticevich (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 26 games, 4.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, .7 assists
• Jonah Antonio (G, Cairns Taipans) – 26 games, 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, .8 assists
• Akoldah Gak (F, Cairns Taipans) – 21 games, 6.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, .9 assists
• Tai Webster (G, Perth Wildcats) – 20 games, 7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
• Taran Armstrong (G, Cairns Taipans) – 19 games, 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists
• Rocco Zikarsky (C, Brisbane Bullets) – 18 games, 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, .3 assists
• Mojave King (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 17 games, 8.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Dillon Stith (F, Cairns Taipans) – 14 games, 1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .1 assists
• Emmett Naar (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 14 games, 1.1 points, .6 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Jackson Makoi (G, Cairns Taipans) – 11 games, 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists
• Deng Adel (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 10 games, 4.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, .8 assists
• Lachlan Barker (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 10 games, 2.0 points, .3 rebounds, .2 assists
• Jacob Rigoni (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 10 games, 1.6 points, 1.0 rebounds, .1 assists
• Luke Rosendale (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 10 games, 1.2 points, .3 rebounds, .2 assists
• Kaia Isaac (G, New Zealand Breakers – 8 games, 2.6 points, .5 rebounds, .8 assists
• Jarred Bairstow (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 8 games, 2.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, .1 assists
• Kye Savage (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 8 games, 1.3 points, .0 rebounds, .3 assists
• Joel Foxwell (G, Melbourne United) – 8 games, 1.1 points, .3 rebounds, .8 assists
• Walter Brown (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 8 games, .8 points, .5 rebounds, .1 assists
• Zac Triplett (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 8 games, .6 points, .4 rebounds, .3 assists
• Josh Kunen (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 7 games, 1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .7 assists
• Majok Majok (C, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 5 games, .8 points, .6 rebounds, .0 assists
• Kuany Kuany (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 5 games, .8 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tad Dufelmeier (G, Cairns Taipans) – 4 games, 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Tai Wynyard (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 4 games, 1.0 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Alex Starling (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 4 games, .5 points, 2.3 rebounds, .3 assists
• Patrick D’Arcy (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 3 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .3 assists
• Luke Fennell (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 2 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Brad Ballinger (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 1 game, .0 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Klairus Amir (F, Sydney Kings) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Fiston Ipassou (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tom Kubank (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Henry Lau (F, Sydney Kings) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Ngor Nai (C, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists

Imports

• Ian Clark (G, Melbourne United) – 36 games, 14.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Matt Hurt (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 34 games, 19.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists
• Joe Wieskamp (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 33 games, 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, .7 assists
• Darius Days (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 33 games, 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, .6 assists
• Trey Kell III (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 32 games, 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists
• Cameron Oliver (F, Sydney Kings) – 30 games, 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists
• Matthew Mooney (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 29 games, 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists
• Keandre Cook (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists
• Jordon Crawford (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 28 games, 16.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists
• Rob Edwards (G, Cairns Taipans) – 26 games, 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists
• Pedro Bradshaw (F, Cairns Taipans) – 24 games, 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Tanner Groves (F, Cairns Taipans) – 22 games, 13.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Jarell Martin (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 22 games, 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, .5 assists
• Tacko Fall (C, New Zealand Breakers) – 18 games, 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, .5 assists
• Derrick Walton Jr. (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 18 games, 11.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists
• James Batemon (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 16 games, 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists
• Craig Sword (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 15 games, 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, .9 assists
• Todd Withers (F, Perth Wildcats) – 14 games, 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, .4 assists
• Ian Hummer (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 12 games, 4.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, .4 assists
• Josh Adams (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 9 games, 10.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists
• Freddie Gillespie (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 9 games, 6.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, .6 assists
• Deshon Taylor (G, Cairns Taipans) – 3 games, 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, .3 assists