The passing of this week means that it is now less than two months until the season begins – and, perhaps subsequently, there was much action going on with signings across three teams. Melbourne United bring home an NBA aspirant, sign an injury-laden local talent and pick up a development player with a historic connection. A new import joins the league by signing with the South East Melbourne Phoenix. The Perth Wildcats also add a development player. Good times ahead!

There was also the exodus of talent, again to the American collegiate system. Tristan Devers of the Brisbane Bullets finally had his release confirmed by the team despite being with the Washington Huskies since May. He had spent three seasons with the Bullets as a development player and had his career-best output last season through a major role increase and a subsequent 4.9 points per game.

1. Jensen Bradtke to Melbourne United
2. Tana Kopa to Perth Wildcats
3. Sean Macdonald to Melbourne United
4. D’Shawn Schwartz to South East Melbourne Phoenix
5. Luke Travers to Melbourne United
6. Team overviews
7. Remaining free agents
   1. Locals
   2. Imports

Jensen Bradtke to Melbourne United

Position: Forward
From: Brisbane Bullets
2025–26 statistics: .7 points, .8 rebounds, .1 assists, .0 blocks, .0 steals, 23.1% field goal, 50.0% free throw
Announcement link

Jensen Bradtke joins Melbourne United on a two-year deal as a development player. He debuted for the Brisbane Bullets last season where he made limited appearances amongst a shambolic environment. Jensen still managed to put up a career-high 6 points against none other than … Melbourne United, who must have been impressed and considered him worth the investment. It could obviously be the family connection as well: Bradtke’s father, Mark, spent 12 years with the Melbourne Tigers and was the league’s MVP with them in 2002. His debut with United also means that Bradtke will have played for two of the three NBL teams that his dad played for (so far in reverse chronological order); I foresee an Adelaide 36ers union sometime in the future to complete the trifecta and heal 34-year-old misgivings.

Tana Kopa to Perth Wildcats

Position: Guard
From: Keilor Thunder (NBL1 South)
2025–26 statistics: 17.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .5 blocks, .8 steals, 48.1% field goal, 91.8% free throw
Announcement link

Tana Kopa signs with his hometown Perth Wildcats on a two-year deal as a development player. He spent last season with the Wildcats as what they called a “train-on player” (never heard the term before) in between stints in the NBL1. Now, Kopa played four seasons of college basketball in the United States from 2021 to 2025 including two seasons at Division I; he had his junior year with LIU and his senior year at Canisius. During those two years, Kopa recorded an average of 12.6 points per game as well as 38.0% three-point shooting. I am amazed that he did not find any permanent home in the league last season. Kopa has been showing what he can do in the NBL1 again this off-season and it finally earns him an NBL contract. The Wildcats have always given run to their development players and Kopa could be one to emerge with his clear three-point shooting ability.

Sean Macdonald to Melbourne United

Position: Guard
From: Tasmania JackJumpers
2025–26 statistics: DNP
Announcement link

Sean Macdonald aspires to start a healthy career elsewhere by signing with Melbourne United on a three-year contract. The first season – this upcoming season – will see him as the team’s Nominated Replacement Player meaning he will appointed to be a substitute for one player on the roster; likely their import point guard they are yet to sign. After that, when he becomes fully contracted, surely the world will be his as long as injuries do not get in the way again. The last time Macdonald played in the NBL was with the Tasmania JackJumpers during the 2024–25 season when he averaged 11.2 points and 3.8 assists per game in 9 appearances. He then had an ankle injury that ruled him out for the rest of that season, suffered an ACL injury to miss the entire 2025–26 season, re-signed with the JackJumpers for the 2026–27 season and then suffered a second ACL injury that will keep him out for the first half of this season. The JackJumpers possess enough injury woes so it made sense for them to focus on their import guard contingent and let Macdonald try elsewhere. He lands with a strong United team (also his hometown) where he will get the opportunity to rehabilitate and eventually return to form.

D’Shawn Schwartz to South East Melbourne Phoenix

Position: Forward
From: Rostock Seawolves (Germany – Basketball Bundesliga)
2025–26 statistics: 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, .1 blocks, .6 steals, 45.1% field goal, 79.0% free throw
Announcement link

The South East Melbourne Phoenix veer from their usual type of import under Josh King and go for a offensively-focused forward in D’Shawn Schwartz. He has spent the four years of his professional career in Europe after a collegiate career at Colorado and George Mason. Schwartz spent last season with the Rostock Seawolves in the German Basketball Bundesliga. He adheres to King’s dedicated European-experienced philosophy yet differs by not being an outstanding defensive presence; it implies he will likely be the replacement for Wes Iwundu instead of the league’s former best defender in John Brown. Schwartz is a great three-point shooter though and will assist in improving the Phoenix’s spacing.

Luke Travers to Melbourne United

Position: Guard
From: Cleveland Cavaliers (United States – National Basketball Association)
2025–26 statistics: 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, .8 assists, .3 blocks, .6 steals, 25.0% field goal, 100.0% free throw
Announcement link

Two years after he left Melbourne United to follow his NBA dream, Luke Travers returns to United on a two-year deal after having that dream satisfied. He spent two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a two-way contract with their NBA G League affiliate Cleveland Charge; he made 24 NBA appearances with an average of 1.7 points per game but played primarily in the G League where he averaged 17 points this last season. It was an incredible achievement for someone who was developed purely in Australia through five seasons in the NBL and now comes back with the further development from the NBA system. Signing with United reunites him with coach Jacob Chance who was an assistant when Travers debuted for the Rockingham Flames in the NBL1 West in 2017; a meaningful connection there which has already proved Chance’s value in recruitment. Travers will be a standout this season and it is a great signing.

Team overviews

G: Guard / F: Forward / C: Center / I: Import / DP: Development Player / NRP: Nominated Replacement Player

Adelaide 36ers
G: Flynn Cameron, Ben Cotton, John Jenkins (I), Matt Kenyon, Bul Kuol, Keanu Rasmussen, Isaac White
F: Zylan Cheatham (I), Nick Rakocevic (I)
C: Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries
DP: G Deonte Williams
Needs: Import defensive-minded forward, veteran presence

Brisbane Bullets
G: Nate Hinton (I), Sam McDaniel, Taine Murray, Mitch Norton, Arnas Velička (I)
F: Jacob Holt, Lat Mayen, Harry Rouhliadeff
C: Tyrell Harrison
DP: G Rio Bruton
Needs: Import point guard, import forward, letting Will Weaver shape the team

Cairns Taipans
G: Shaun Bruce, Sunday Dech, Luke Paul, Reyne Smith
F: Kyrin Galloway, Jack McVeigh, Keanu Pinder
Needs: Everything… again

Illawarra Hawks
G: Tyler Harvey (I), William Hickey, Kobe McDowell-White, Johny Narkle
F: Todd Blanchfield, Daniel Grida, Mason Peatling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk
C: Sam Froling
DP: F Amarco Doyle
Needs: Return of a Gary Clark-esque power forward import, import scoring wing

Melbourne United
G: Dash Daniels, Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, Luke Travers
F: Kyle Bowen, Joe Ingles, Fabijan Krslovic, Malith Machar, Sam Waardenburg
DP: F Jensen Bradtke, G Christian D’Angelo
NRP: G Sean Macdonald
Needs: Import point guard, import center

New Zealand Breakers
G: Parker Jackson-Cartwright (I), Izayah Le’afa, Dejan Vasiljevic
F: Carlin Davison, Sam Mennenga, Kouat Noi, Reuben Te Rangi
Needs: Moving away from the exclusively New Zealand player search, return of G Izaiah Brockington (I), import center, local everything

Perth Wildcats
G: Elijah Pepper, Jaron Rillie
F: Kristian Doolittle (I), Alex Higgins-Titsha, Jesse Wagstaff, Dylan Windler (I)
C: Jo Lual-Acuil Jr.
DP: F Cameron Huefner, G Tana Kopa, F Blake Nielsen, G Marley Sam
Needs: Finding the right import combo guard, more Jaron Rillie, local back-up center

South East Melbourne Phoenix
G: Ellis Biggar, Daniel Foster, Angus Glover, Tanner Krebs, Nathan Sobey
F: Akech Aliir, Hunter Goodrick, D’Shawn Schwartz (I)
C: Jordan Hunter
DP: G Patrick Ryan
Needs: Running it back, local back-up center

Sydney Kings
G: Kendric Davis (I), Matthew Dellavedova, Makuach Maluach, Tyler Robertson, Jayden Stone
F: Xavier Cooks, Jaylin Galloway, Keli Leaupepe
C: Jason Spurgin
Needs: return of Torrey Craig

Tasmania JackJumpers
G: Taran Armstrong, Ben Ayre, Anthony Drmic, Bryce Hamilton (I), David Johnson (I), Dakota Mathias (I)
F: Josh Bannan, Majok Deng, Nick Marshall
C: Ben Gold, Will Magnay
DP: F Archie Woodhill

Remaining free agents

Players who were contracted during the 2025–26 season. Statistics are from last season. Strikethrough names mean player has signed signed elsewhere.

Locals

• David Okwera (F, Perth Wildcats) – 33 games, 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Finn Delany (F, Melbourne United) – 31 games, 10.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists
• Ben Henshall (G, Perth Wildcats) – 30 games, 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists
• Alex Ducas (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 30 games, 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Tristan Devers (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 29 games, 4.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Robert Loe (C, New Zealand Breakers) – 29 games, 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• DJ Mitchell (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 29 games, 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, .8 assists
• Owen Foxwell (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 28 games, 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists
• Tohi Smith-Milner (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Jack Purchase (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 28 games, 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, .2 assists
• Biwali Bayles (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 27 games, 2.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• Lachlan Barker (G, Cairns Taipans) – 26 games, 4.5 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Tom Wilson (G, Melbourne United) – 25 games, 2.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, .6 assists
• Dontae Russo-Nance (G, Perth Wildcats) – 24 games, 2.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• Kody Stattmann (G, Cairns Taipans) – 23 games, 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists
• Sean Bairstow (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 23 games, 1.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, .7 assists
• Mojave King (G, Cairns Taipans) – 22 games, 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists
• Tom Koppens (F, Melbourne United) – 22 games, 1.9 points, .8 rebounds, .3 assits
• Max Darling (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 21 games, 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, .4 assists
• Nicholas Stoddart (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 21 games, 2.0 points, .8 rebounds, .9 assists
• Taylor Britt (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 19 games, 1.4 points, .8 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Kyle Adnam (G, Cairns Taipans) – 18 games, 2.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists
• Tai Webster (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 16 games, 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists
• Mawot Mag (G, Cairns Taipans) – 16 games, 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, .5 assists
• Callum Dalton (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 16 games, 1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, .7 assists
• Michael Harris (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 15 games, .7 points, .5 rebounds, .2 assists
• Harry Froling (C, Illawarra Hawks) – 14 games, 3.4 points, .9 rebounds, .6 assists
• Jensen Bradtke (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 13 games, .7 points, .8 rebounds, .1 assists
• Luca Yates (C, Illawarra Hawks) – 13 games, .5 points, .5 rebounds, .1 assists
• Lueth Awan (G, Sydney Kings) – 12 games, 1.6 points, .4 rebounds, .2 assists
• Jackson Ball (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 11 games, 1.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, .5 assists
• Jacob Richards (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 11 games, .8 points, .9 rebounds, .0 assists
• Lloyd McVeigh (G, Cairns Taipans) – 10 games, 1.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, .1 assists
• Gorjok Gak (C, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 9 games, 3.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, .2 assists
• Campbell Blogg (G, Melbourne United) – 9 games, .9 points, .1 rebounds, .1 assists
• Jonah Bolden (F, Illawarra Hawks) – 8 games, 4.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, .5 assists
• Jack Andrew (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 8 games, 2.0 points, .6 rebounds, .3 assists
• Goc Malual (F, Sydney Kings) – 8 games, 1.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Brody Nunn (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 8 games, .9 points, .4 rebounds, .9 assists
• Kobe Williamson (F, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 7 games, .0 points, .7 rebounds, .0 assists
• Jonah Antonio (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 6 games, .8 points, .3 rebounds, .0 assists
• Thomas Gerovich (F, Perth Wildcats) – 4 games, .0 points, .5 rebounds, .3 assists
• Luke Rosendale (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 3 games, .3 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Jed Richardson (F, Cairns Taipans) – 3 games, .0 points, .7 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tukaha Cooper (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 2 games, 3.5 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Liam Judd (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 2 games, 1.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Blake Jones (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 2 games, 1.0 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Alex McNaught (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 2 games, 1.0 points, .5 rebounds, .0 assists
• Austin Foxwell (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 1 game, 2 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Lachlan Dent (G, Sydney Kings) – 1 game, .0 points, 3.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Ryley Haywood (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 1 game, .0 points, 1.0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Tad Dufelmeier (G, Cairns Taipans) – 1 game, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Deng Manyang (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 1 game, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Che Brogan (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Kian Dennis (G, Cairns Taipans) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Sean Macdonald (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Magok Manyang (G, Adelaide 36ers) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Henry Sewell (G, Melbourne United) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists
• Nicholas Tata (C, Melbourne United) – 0 games, .0 points, .0 rebounds, .0 assists

Imports

• Milton Doyle (G, Melbourne United) – 33 games, 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists
• Tim Soares (C, Sydney Kings) – 33 games, 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• John Brown (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 33 games, 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists
• Tyger Campbell (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 33 games, 10.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists
• Marcus Lee (C, Cairns Taipans) – 33 games, 6.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists
• Izaiah Brockington (G, New Zealand Breakers) – 32 games, 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Tyson Walker (G, Melbourne United) – 32 games, 14.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists
• Jesse Edwards (C, Melbourne United) – 32 games, 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, .8 assists
• JaVale McGee (C, Illawarra Hawks) – 31 games, 19.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists
• Andrew Andrews (G, Cairns Taipans) – 31 games, 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists
• Karim López (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 30 games, 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists
• Admiral Schofield (F, Cairns Taipans) – 30 games, 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
• Wes Iwundu (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 28 games, 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• Quentin Peterson (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 26 games, 15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists
• Rob Baker (F, New Zealand Breakers) – 25 games, 10.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, .7 assists
• Malique Lewis (F, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 25 games, 7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists
• Terry Taylor (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 17 games, 12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• David Duke Jr. (G, Perth Wildcats) – 15 games, 12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists
• Noa Kouakou-Heugue (F, Perth Wildcats) – 15 games, 1.8 points, 1.1 rebounds, .1 assists
• Ian Clark (G, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix) – 14 games, 12.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Jaylen Adams (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 13 games, 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists
• Troy Brown Jr. (F, Adelaide 36ers) – 13 games, 4.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists
• Casey Prather (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 12 games, 24.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists
• Hunter Maldonado (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 10 games, 17.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists
• Javon Freeman-Liberty (G, Brisbane Bullets) – 9 games, 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists
• Lamar Patterson (F, Brisbane Bullets) – 9 games, 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists
• Torrey Craig (F, Sydney Kings) – 8 games, 13.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
• TJ Starks (G, Tasmania JackJumpers) – 7 games, 4.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists
• Mason Jones (G, Perth Wildcats) – 5 games, 11.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists
• JaQuori McLaughlin (G, Illawarra Hawks) – 3 games, 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists