Makur Maker Joins Illawarra: What It Means for NBL27 Fantasy
Illawarra's frontcourt vacancy has an answer.
The Hawks have signed Makur Maker for NBL27, pending League approval, adding the 6'11" former Sydney Kings Next Star after the early departure of Darius Days.
This is the update fantasy managers were waiting for. Maker is not an unnamed import-centre rumour anymore: he is a real addition to an Illawarra rotation already missing Mason Peatling and Todd Blanchfield, and the Hawks have two games in Round 3.
Buckets call: Maker is immediately worth putting on fantasy draft watchlists, but do not treat him as a blind must-add before we know his clearance and role. Sam Froling remains a hold. In SuperCoach, Maker is a wait until price, eligibility and minutes are clear.
What Illawarra has added
Maker returns to the NBL after previously playing 21 games for Sydney in the 2021-22 championship season, averaging 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Since then he has spent time in the NBA G League and overseas. The profile matters: Maker brings genuine centre size, mobility and rebounding rather than simply replacing Days with another scoring forward.
Illawarra has started NBL27 0-3. The official injury list still has Mason Peatling (foot) and Todd Blanchfield (hand) TBC, so this is a frontcourt that needed another playable body.
NBL27 fantasy impact board
| Player | Format | Call | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makur Maker | Fantasy Draft | WATCH / speculative add in deep leagues | Genuine centre opportunity, but clearance and role are not confirmed |
| Sam Froling | Draft | HOLD | Maker adds competition, but Froling remains Illawarra's established centre |
| Sam Froling | SuperCoach | HOLD / WATCH | Round 3 double remains useful; Maker could eventually trim the ceiling |
| William Hickey | Both | HOLD | His ball-handling and rebounding role is largely independent of the signing |
| Mason Peatling | Draft | WATCH injury status | Maker gives Illawarra cover while Peatling remains TBC |
| Darius Days | Draft | DROP | His Illawarra role is finished |
Is Makur Maker worth adding in fantasy draft?
He is worth monitoring immediately, and the deeper the league, the more aggressive you can be.
A 25-year-old centre with previous NBL and G League experience has joined a team whose frontcourt is already short-handed. Players entering the pool after drafts can be valuable because nobody had to spend draft capital to acquire them.
The restraint comes from what we still do not know. The signing is pending League approval, Illawarra has not established Maker's NBL27 minutes, and the announcement frames him as frontcourt depth rather than promising a starting role.
In shallow leagues, watch. With a spare bench spot, a speculative add is reasonable if waivers are thin. In deep leagues or for centre-needy teams, Maker is already interesting enough to roster before the role settles.
For the broader free-agent board, use our NBL27 Fantasy Draft Waiver Wire.
What does Maker mean for Sam Froling?
Before the signing, Days' departure and Illawarra's frontcourt injuries made Froling's workload look unusually secure. Maker gives Justin Tatum another genuine centre option and reduces the chance that Froling simply absorbs every available big-man minute.
Froling gave us fresh evidence before Maker's likely debut, producing 19 points and 13 rebounds in Illawarra's 114-92 win over Adelaide on 2 October. Maker watched from the sideline after arriving that day, with coach Justin Tatum saying he had cleared his medical checks and was hopefully available against South East Melbourne on Sunday.
That makes this a ceiling adjustment, not a reason to panic. Froling remains a firm HOLD; do not drop him to chase Maker. Maker is still a speculative deep-league add until we see his actual role.
Froling is still the proven Hawk. Maker has to be cleared, enter a new system and earn his place. We also do not yet know whether Maker is primarily Froling's backup or whether the two can share the floor.
For draft managers, Froling remains a hold. For SuperCoach, the Round 3 double still matters.
Does William Hickey lose anything?
Not materially from this signing alone.
Hickey's fantasy value is built on creation, rebounding from the guard spot and a major role with the ball. Maker does not arrive to take those possessions.
The more important Hickey question remains his own production and role, not the identity of Illawarra's backup centre.
Why Maker matters more in draft than SuperCoach right now
Draft managers can react to role opportunity without waiting for a salary to become attractive. SuperCoach is different: price, position eligibility, schedule and confirmed minutes all matter.
Round 3 gives us an immediate information advantage. Illawarra plays Adelaide on Friday and South East Melbourne on Sunday. If Maker is approved and selected, we can see how Tatum uses him twice before making a stronger longer-term call.
The Hawks may not be finished
The NBL reports Illawarra is still in the market for another import.
That means Maker should not automatically be treated as the final version of this roster. Another signing could change usage and rotation depth again.
For now: Maker onto the watchlist. Froling held. Hickey unchanged. Days dropped. Keep one eye on Illawarra's next roster move.
Round 3 context
Illawarra hosts Adelaide on Friday and travels to South East Melbourne on Sunday. The Hawks then double again in Round 4 against Tasmania and Cairns.
If Maker is cleared quickly and earns a genuine rotation role, there is enough short-term fixture volume to learn a lot quickly.
See the NBL27 SuperCoach Fixture Guide and Round 3 Injury Report.
FAQs
Has Makur Maker signed with Illawarra?
Yes. Illawarra announced Maker on 1 October, pending League approval.
Is Makur Maker worth a fantasy draft waiver?
He is a watch or speculative add depending on league depth. Deep leagues and centre-needy teams can be more aggressive.
Should I drop Sam Froling because Maker signed?
No. Froling remains Illawarra's established centre. Maker creates competition but there is not enough evidence to justify dropping Froling.
Is Makur Maker a SuperCoach buy?
Not yet. Wait for his SuperCoach details, selection status and evidence of his NBL27 role.
Are Mason Peatling and Todd Blanchfield still injured?
The NBL injury list updated on 1 October still lists Peatling's foot injury and Blanchfield's hand injury as TBC.
Last updated: 2 October 2026 after Illawarra's win over Adelaide and Maker's medical clearance.
4 October update: Maker's debut gives us a real role to assess
Maker made his Illawarra debut against South East Melbourne and immediately looked capable of contributing.
He played 22 minutes, scored 14 points, grabbed four rebounds and shot 7-of-11 from the field.
That is enough to move the fantasy call. Before the debut, Maker was a speculative stash because we did not know whether he would be cleared, how quickly Justin Tatum would use him or whether he would simply back up Sam Froling for limited minutes. Twenty-two minutes in game one gives us a genuine rotation to work with.
Illawarra also plays twice in Round 4, hosting Tasmania on Friday and Cairns on Sunday. That gives fantasy managers two games of evidence before making another decision.
The flip side is Froling. He remains the established centre, but his ceiling should now be evaluated with another genuine big in the rotation.
Updated Buckets call: Maker is a strong deep-league add and a standard-league centre watch. Froling remains a HOLD.
Last updated: 4 October 2026 after Makur Maker's Illawarra debut.
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