Team-By-Team: Your club's biggest priority

While Free Agency has slowed on the signing front, the rumour mill continues to build, with several major dominoes still poised to fall.

It’s still a long way from opening night for NBL27, but looking across the League’s rosters at this point, a few teams are already well ahead of the rest.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at one major focus for each team as things currently stand.

‍Another ball handler

The 36ers have wasted no time making significant changes to a roster that fell agonisingly short of a championship. With the mutual release of DJ Vasiljevic, Adelaide moved quickly to bring in Bul Kuol to bolster their defensive stocks, which was a major need.

Now, Adelaide can turn its attention to adding a complementary ball handler to their backcourt. While Bryce Cotton and Flynn Cameron shared those duties last season, it remains a position they need to get right. Whether it’s someone to start alongside Cotton or allow him to play more off the ball, what kind of player will they target?

Import PG

The Bullets are essentially a blank canvas for Will Weaver, but he has the luxury of already having one of the league’s best local big man tandems locked in. Tyrell Harrison and Jacob Holt form the foundation of this group, and now Weaver can focus on finding his floor general.

It has previously been reported that Brisbane will target an import point guard rather than pursue a marquee Australian like Taran Armstrong or Will McDowell-White.

The Bullets are in a promising spot, with much of their core returning and key spots in the starting unit still to be filled with high-end talent. However, no position is more important than point guard, as history shows that having an All-NBL First Team level leader running the show is key to a championship run.

Second marquee

Adam Forde revealed one of his key strategies late in the NBL26 season, highlighting the importance of keeping an import spot available for a mid-season addition. He pointed to the Sydney Kings’ success with this approach, bringing in Torrey Craig during their championship run.

With Jack McVeigh locked in, the next step for Cairns is securing a second marquee local to pair with him. As reported on NBL Marketplace, there are whispers of a Keanu Pinder return to the Taipans, which would create one of the most exciting frontcourts in the league.

If they can secure Pinder, or someone of his calibre, it gives them flexibility across the rest of the roster, knowing they have a dominant duo down low.

Power forward

There’s a strong case that the Hawks’ next priority should be a point guard, but with Davo Hickey returning, the power forward spot becomes the more pressing need.

Hickey has shown he can be both a starter and a sixth man who still plays starter-level minutes and closes games. That provides valuable flexibility as the Hawks search for the right fit alongside him and Tyler Harvey.

Across the league, the power forward position is stacked with talent such as Kristian Doolittle, Xavier Cooks and Jack McVeigh. The Hawks have been linked to marquee names, though an import remains an option.

With Harvey, Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk and a healthy Sam Froling, the Hawks already have a strong core heading into NBL27.

‍High-level wing

Melbourne United are still waiting on clarity around Tanner Krebs, but they’ve made a strong start to the off-season by locking in Sam Waardenburg on a multi-year deal.

Adding to that, Olgun Uluc recently reported that five-time Olympian Joe Ingles is expected to finalise a move to United following the NBA season.

With Chris Goulding and Shea Ili leading the way, United will now look to add scoring punch on the wing.

There are multiple directions they could take here, whether it’s a pure scorer or a ‘3-and-D’ option who can impact both ends of the floor.

‍Import forward

A roster with multiple gaps can be daunting, especially when one of those gaps is at head coach.

At one stage, the Breakers appeared set to reunite with Mody Maor, but that reportedly fell through after he was offered a role overseas.

Despite having only four players currently locked in, retaining star big man Sam Mennenga is a major positive and a strong show of belief from both sides.

Now, the Breakers will look to gradually build out their roster, with an import forward a key priority. That player could be a wing or power forward, which may influence how they approach filling the remaining local spots.

‍Import PG

Perth fans will be eager to see this position finally settled, as the point guard role dominated headlines last season and played a key part in the Wildcats falling short against the Kings.

Looking ahead, it’s even more crucial.

With Kristian Doolittle, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, Dylan Windler and Elijah Pepper returning, Perth already has one of the strongest starting groups in the league.

While bench depth still needs attention, finding the right point guard could be the difference between a title run and another near miss.

‍Sobey’s backcourt partner

Nathan Sobey continues to thrive in Josh King’s system, coming off one of the most impactful seasons of his career.

The MVP finalist has clearly found the right fit, and now the focus turns to building a roster that complements both player and coach.

The Phoenix have several options to pair alongside Sobey, whether it’s a scoring guard to ease his load or a versatile player who can contribute across the board.

With Tyson Walker reportedly in discussions with the club, he fits the latter profile and would integrate seamlessly into King’s system.

‍Kendric Davis

As Corey Williams famously said, “yesterday’s price is not today's price,” and that rings true for Kendric Davis.

The difference here is that it’s not just about contract value, but the level of global interest he has generated following an exceptional NBL26 Season.

For the Sydney Kings, retaining Davis would be a major boost in their bid to go back-to-back, as the formula is already proven.

Alongside Xavier Cooks and Matthew Dellavedova, Davis forms part of a leadership trio that brings a balanced mix of skill, experience and winning impact.

‍Magnay and…

If Tasmania can secure captain Will Magnay, expect the rest of their roster to fall into place.

When healthy, Magnay is arguably the best defensive big man in the league, though injuries have limited him in recent seasons. Locking him in would be a significant win for the JackJumpers, with the star centre in high demand.

If they do retain Magnay, attention will likely turn to the point guard position following Sean Macdonald’s injury.

With increasing noise around Taran Armstrong potentially returning home, it could set up a special period for Tasmanian basketball.