Movers and shakers: The best signings of NBL25

More than 50 new faces have either moved clubs or arrived in the NBL ahead of the new season, with every team looking to bolster their squad for a championship push.

There’s the proven stars, the returning college talents and the NBL1 prospects hoping to take the next step up. Every new signing is out to impress.

Then, there’s those who have re-committed to their club and put pen-to-paper on new deals, showing their faith in the club’s direction and the teammates around them.

>> NBL25 Roster Tracker: Every signing, extension and departure

But just who is the standout signing for NBL25? Pete Hooley talked to some of the experts to get their thoughts. 

Lanard Copeland (Melbourne Tigers champion)
Derrick Walton Jr to South East Melbourne

"There’s plenty of exciting moves in the off-season, but what stands out to me is South East Melbourne bringing in Derrick Walton Jr to pair with Nathan Sobey. 

"Sobey is a superstar who can score the ball and Walton Jr, who has been out here previously and is a well known talent to run the show.

"Then you have Jordan Hunter at the five spot and Angus Glover on the wing, two exciting locals and the Phoenix look in good shape.

"It’s changing a little bit with no Mitch Creek, but I look forward to seeing that team play and I think they’ll draw some big crowds with the anticipation of what they can achieve with this group."

Damian Martin (Perth Wildcats champion)
Bul Kuol to Sydney

"A fit and healthy Bul Kuol is potentially the best two-way player in the entire league. The Kings acquiring his services is absolutely massive.

"Not only is he one of the most competitive guys in the NBL, who is going to challenge himself to guard the best opposition player every game, but he is also very unselfish on the offensive end.

"Combining that with what we have of his capabilities as a scorer and it’s a huge signing.  I think he will bring out the best in his teammates and may become the most important piece in a star-studded Kings roster as they strive to get back to the top."

Casey Frank (127 NBL games, NZNBL champion)
Parker Jackson-Cartwright re-signs in New Zealand

"The move that I like is that the New Zealand Breakers managed to bring back Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

"If you can bring back a player of that calibre, with that speed and agility and he has a desire to come back, you have to make it happen.

"Now it’s about getting the right pieces around him. Last year the Breakers' point-guard position was a two-headed beast. Losing Will McDowell-White is tough, but I think they got as good a replacement as possible, in Mitch McCarron.

"I think that two-headed monster will be just as strong, especially with Petteri Koponen teaching those point guards, because you know he will put them in the right positions to excel."

Derek Rucker (former NBL MVP)
Tyler Harvey multi-year deal at Illawarra

"I love what the Hawks did by signing and locking down Tyler Harvey on a long-term deal.

"We all know there’s a high probability that he will be playing as an Australian in the near future. With that and how we saw him perform under Justin Tatum last year, especially in the play-offs, I think this is a guy who can be contending for an All-NBL team ... you could see him be an All-NBL second team performer quite easily.

"Then all of a sudden if he becomes Australian, that really adds a lot of value to your franchise with who you can put around him. I’m looking forward to seeing him play this season. Great move by the Hawks."

Brad Rosen (84 NBL games)
Xavier Cooks returns to Sydney 
+ a shout-out to Brian Goorjian

"In my opinon theres no doubt that Brian Goorjian and Xavier Cooks are the best moves of the off-season.

"The fact that 'Goorj' is able to come back to Syudney, where he has had so much success, then go and bring back a former MVP of the league, former Larry Sengstock Medallist and two-time Champion is huge.

"Cooks is coming off his NBA stint since he left Sydney and is still getting better and better each season he plays.

"I expect the Kings to be right up there towards the end of the season and I have no doubt that those two moves in particular will have a huge impact on Sydney and the league."