The top five remaining NBL free agents

Jed Wells

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The top five remaining NBL free agents image

The NBL's free agency has gotten off to a rather stunted start this year, with few big names coming off the board and teams instead making deals to fortify their lineups with lower-tier players.  

The reason for this inaction is fairly simple - as the status of the NBL rises, so too does that of its top players, players who are hoping to next season get their shot at a place in the NBA, or in Europe. 

With the NBA Finals about to begin, it will be some time still before the rosters are constructed for next season, which could in turn potentially mean a long wait for NBL fans wondering if their favourite player is returning. 

NBL 2022-23 Roster Tracker: Signings, departures, and re-signings of every team

This is not to say that there have been no big moves - former league MVP Bryce Cotton and All-NBL Second Team player Mitch Creek both signing three-year extensions with Perth and South East Melbourne, respectively. 

But the fact remains that for the most part, it will be some time before we know for sure which jerseys the NBL's biggest names will be pulling on come the start of the 2022/23 season. 

Top Five NBL Free Agents

1. Jaylen Adams

As always, the best place to start is at the top and this off-season that would be Jaylen Adams, the reigning MVP and league champion. Adams averaged 20.8 points, 5.8 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game last season, playing well enough to be named to the All-NBL First team, and take the mantle of the league's most valuable player. 

While the smart money would say that if Adams' returned to the league it would be for the Kings, his prolific season would no doubt draw international interest, and Sydney would be hard-pressed to match a significant offer if one was made by a European team.

2. Xavier Cooks 

Going back-to-back Kings here, but if Sydney's regular-season MVP is the top current free agent, then their Finals MVP has to be number two, which means that the NBL champs have a big off-season ahead of them. 

Cooks averaged 19 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists during the Kings' finals series against Tasmania, and with Cooks expected to get some significant NBA interest, he is certainly one of the NBL's hottest commodities. 

3. Vic Law

While it's safe to say that the Perth Wildcats are coming off one of their worst-ever seasons, one player who was a bright spot for the team last year was Vic Law, the import making the move from Brisbane to Perth and immediately forming one of the leagues most dangerous duos with Bryce Cotton. 

Law averaged 20.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in 2022 - including a league-high 39 points in a March game against the New Zealand Breakers - and will definitely be a highly sought-after name both around the NBL and other international leagues. 

4. Duop Reath

It was a mixed bag first season in the NBL for Duop Reath, unable to find his feet for the first half of the season, before coming alive down the stretch and into the playoffs, finishing the year with averages of 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. 

Despite this, Reath will no doubt be hot property on the open market if he decides to return to the Australian league, with other teams eager to steal him away from the Hawks while Illawarra tries to lock him down long-term as a running mate for Tyler Harvey.

5. Jo Lual-Acuil

This ranking comes with the caveat that JLA has stated that if he returns to the NBL, it will be for Melbourne United. 

Despite this, the 28-year-old MVP candidate is currently off-contract, and if he isn't snapped up by an NBA or European team, all it would take is a hefty offer from another team to make Lual Acuil reconsider his options. 

JLA averaged 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for United this year, helping to propel them to the number one seed, and despite his claims it won't stop rival NBL teams testing the waters with one of the league's premier big men. 

Honourable mentions

As is the nature of the league, big talent usually sign short-term contracts, meaning that there is plenty of star power available... for the right price. 

Defensive Player of the Year Antonius Cleveland, JackJumpers stars Josh Adams and Josh Magette, Kings star big-man Jarrell Martin, and former NBA players Will Magnay, Xavier Munford, and Cam Bairstow will all be signing new contracts this year. 

The question right now, is where, and when. 

Jed Wells

Jed Wells Photo

Jed is a writer and social media producer, who has a keen interest in the intersection of sports and popular culture, especially basketball.