Will Magnay’s first foray into the NBA landscape was blighted by both Covid and injury. Now, after an exceptional finish to NBL24, could the Association be knocking on his door once again?
Magnay signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans following his NBL20 campaign with Brisbane, in which he was named the NBL’s Most Improved Player.
However, he only played once for the Pelicans, and registered three minutes in a 17-point win over the Los Angeles Lakers before he returned to the NBL with the Perth Wildcats.
The star center has since burst back onto NBA radars – and into Brian Goorjian’s Olympic calculations – but ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc told SEN Tassie he believes an NBA return for Magnay is unlikely, despite the reported interest of five different teams.
“He wouldn’t have all that interest from NBA teams if there wasn’t a realistic possibility it could happen,” Uluc said. “I would say the overwhelming likelihood is he returns to Tassie, so I wouldn’t be too scared if I was a JackJumpers fan. It’s a workout with the Atlanta Hawks and then there are four other teams I believe he’s talking to.
“There are some Boomers commitments as well so as far as trying to organise his schedule when those camps will be, he may not be able to do all of them.
“There is a decent amount of interest in Magnay and that’s understandable considering the end of the season and Championship Series he had.
“He’s playing for Gold Coast in NBL1 North now and he’ll head over shortly for those workouts.”
Magnay registered 19 points and 14 rebounds playing alongside Adelaide’s Jason Cadee for the Gold Coast Rollers in last weekend’s NBL1 North action.
Should he end up earning an NBA opportunity and departing the JackJumpers, Tasmania would be in a difficult position to replace him having already signed all three imports for the upcoming season.
Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford are returning for the NBL25 campaign, while Craig Sword has been signed as a point of attack defender to round out the team’s guard rotation.
Former Brisbane and South East Melbourne and Brisbane big Gorjok Gak has been brought in to supplement the JackJumpers’ center stocks, but Uluc believes there aren’t any realistic local targets that could provide Tasmania with a similar impact to Magnay – if needed.
“There’s no real world where they could lose Will Magnay and replace him with an import, they’ve got Milton Doyle, Jordon Crawford and Craig Sword now,” Uluc said.
“They’d have to try and find a local talent and, if not, they’d have to try and get off one of the imports they’ve just signed. I don’t think they do so they’d have to look for a local talent.
“I don’t know what local big out there is at the level of Will Magnay – ‘JLA’ (Jo Lual-Acuil Jr) is not going to Tasmania – maybe it’s a Thon Maker or you go get Angus Brandt, but I don’t know if any of these guys are at the level of Will Magnay.”