The NBL's Top Big Men: A Free Agency Battle Royale
The NBL's top big men are set to dominate the off-season, with three influential players hitting free agency and rival clubs ready to pounce. Former champion Pete Hooley predicts a major movement, citing overseas interest and lucrative deals as the standard moving forward.
The players in question are Sam Mennenga, Sam Waardenburg, and Will Magnay, all heading for free agency with high demand around the league. Hooley highlights a potential snowball effect, where players like Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and Xavier Cooks set a new standard for compensation.
Hooley states, "There’ll be a snowball effect with guys like this saying ‘those guys have got that contract, now I’m not asking for a million dollars, but I want to be paid like one of the best big men in the league.’"
ESPN's Olgun Uluc adds, "There’s a chance all three of these guys are on different teams next season."
Uluc explains the rising prices of Australian and Kiwi bigs, driven by global market demand for these players. Teams must find a balance between offering competitive salaries in Japan and Europe, and retaining players in Australia due to its professional league and quality of life.
Hooley predicts Waardenburg's potential move after four seasons in Cairns, while Mennenga, at just 24, is expected to secure a lucrative contract. He states, "Sam Mennenga’s going to get paid exceptionally well."
Former MVP Derek Rucker highlights Mennenga as the most attractive prospect, but expects Tasmania to go to great lengths to keep Magnay.
The article concludes with a call for fans to engage in the discussion, asking whether these players will stay or move on, and what it means for the NBL's future.
