NBL27 SuperCoach Round 3 Trade Targets: Buy, Hold & Sell
Round 2 is done, and the NBL27 SuperCoach board has changed quickly.
This is the first genuinely crowded double-game round of the season. Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Illawarra, Melbourne, New Zealand, South East Melbourne and Tasmania all play twice in Round 3. Perth and Sydney play once.
That means the simple rule is not “trade every single-game player”. Eight doubles create plenty of choice, so the priority is finding players who combine role, price, form and future fixture value.
Round 2 gave us several strong signals. Max Mackinnon exploded for 31 points and 12 rebounds. Arnas Velička backed up his record-setting debut with another double-digit assist game. Nick Rakocevic produced consecutive 20-point games while Isaac Humphries remained sidelined. Bryce Cotton continued to look like Bryce Cotton.
And some players who disappointed still have too much structural value to dump.
Buckets call: Round 3 is about upgrading into repeatable roles on doubles, not blindly chasing whichever player scored 25 on Sunday.
Round 3 trade board
| Priority | Player | Team | Round 3 | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Mackinnon | Brisbane | 2 games | BUY | Price, GRD/FWD flexibility, role and breakout rebounding |
| 2 | Nick Rakocevic | Adelaide | 2 games | BUY | 20/8 then 21/12 with Humphries sidelined |
| 3 | Arnas Velička | Brisbane | 2 games | BUY | Elite assist role has held across two games |
| 4 | Bryce Cotton | Adelaide | 2 games | BUY/HOLD | Premium role plus another Adelaide double |
| 5 | Parker Jackson-Cartwright | New Zealand | 2 games | BUY/HOLD | Proven premium creator with two games |
| 6 | Cole Anthony | Melbourne | 2 games | BUY | Ceiling remains enormous as minutes build |
| 7 | Keanu Pinder | Cairns | 2 games | HOLD | Responded with 27 points against Melbourne; reassess for Round 4 rather than frustration-sell |
| 8 | William Hickey | Illawarra | 2 games | HOLD | Round 2 disappointment, but fixture runway remains excellent |
| 9 | Kendric Davis | Sydney | 1 game | HOLD | Outstanding form, but no Round 3 double |
| 10 | Elijah Pepper | Perth | 1 game | HOLD/WATCH | Three strong scoring games; Knight arrival will change context |
BUY: Max Mackinnon
Mackinnon has already earned his own Buckets deep dive, and nothing about the broader Round 3 picture changes the conclusion.
The $200,000 GRD/FWD erupted for 31 points and 12 rebounds against Illawarra, shooting 11-of-16 from the field and 6-of-8 from three.
The shooting will regress. That is fine.
The fantasy case is the starting role, rebounding involvement, positional flexibility and a Brisbane double. Mackinnon does not need another 31-point game to justify the trade.
Verdict: BUY.
Read the full breakdown: Max Mackinnon Just Exploded: Is He a Must-Buy for Round 3?
BUY: Nick Rakocevic
Rakocevic might be the most straightforward role-based trade of the round while Isaac Humphries remains unavailable. He is now $188,400 and finished Round 2 with 79 SuperCoach points, second only to Bryce Cotton for the round.
He followed 20 points and eight rebounds against Perth with 21 points and 12 rebounds against Cairns on Sunday.
That is exactly what we want from an early-season SuperCoach target: not one freak shooting performance, but consecutive evidence that the minutes and opportunity are real.
Adelaide doubles again in Round 3 and Round 4.
The obvious caveat is Humphries. His knee remains the variable capable of changing Rakocevic's minutes quickly, so this is still a trade that needs an injury-list check before lockout.
Verdict: BUY/HOLD while Humphries remains out. Rakocevic followed the Round 2 breakout with 31 SuperCoach points against Illawarra despite scoring only six points, adding 11 rebounds and five assists. His projected price has climbed to about $229,000, and the role remains useful while Humphries is unavailable.
BUY: Arnas Velička
The debut was ridiculous: 23 points, 14 assists and five rebounds. At $277,000, Velička now leads SuperCoach NBL for average at 55 points per game.
The second game was arguably more useful for fantasy evaluation because Velička did it again as a creator, finishing with 17 points and 11 assists against Illawarra.
That tells us the assists are not an opening-night accident.
Brisbane's offence is running through him, and now the Bullets play twice.
There will be turnovers and quieter shooting nights, but an elite assist base creates an unusually strong fantasy floor.
Verdict: BUY. The role is real.
BUY/HOLD: Bryce Cotton
Cotton rewarded Round 2 buyers immediately with a monster performance against Perth before adding 25 points in Adelaide's Sunday win over Cairns. He finished Round 2 with a competition-best 94 SuperCoach points and now costs $473,900.
The one caution from Thursday was workload. Trevor Gleeson admitted he overplayed Cotton after using him for virtually the entire Perth game, so nobody should project near-40-minute nights as the new normal.
They do not need to.
Cotton remains one of the league's premier scorers and creators, and Adelaide has another two-game round.
If you paid up last week, enjoy the fixture rather than trying to manufacture another move.
Verdict: BUY if your structure permits it; easy HOLD if already owned.
BUY/HOLD: Parker Jackson-Cartwright
PJC was one of the defining players of Round 1 and remains the engine of New Zealand's offence.
New Zealand returns to a double in Round 3, immediately restoring the fixture advantage that made him such a strong opening-round captaincy play.
The Breakers still need more help around him, but from a SuperCoach perspective that can reinforce his responsibility rather than reduce it.
Verdict: BUY/HOLD. Premium role plus two games.
BUY: Cole Anthony
Anthony's NBL debut showed the ceiling with 30 points despite coming from the bench in restricted minutes.
Round 2 was less spectacular, but Melbourne now enters its first double-game round and Anthony's minutes should continue trending towards a more normal workload.
That combination makes him more attractive now than he was when coaches had to pay for a single game.
There is still some volatility here because Melbourne has considerable depth, but few players at his price have the same raw ceiling.
Verdict: BUY for coaches comfortable accepting some rotation uncertainty.
HOLD: Keanu Pinder
Sunday was ugly.
Pinder finished with only eight points and seven rebounds as Cairns lost 83–69 to Adelaide. The Taipans' offence remains a concern, and the team shot just 7-of-31 from three.
This is exactly where fixture discipline matters.
Selling a quality fantasy centre immediately before another double can turn one disappointing game into two mistakes.
Cairns has problems to solve, but Pinder remains central to the rotation and gets two more opportunities in Round 3.
Verdict: HOLD. Pinder answered the poor Adelaide game with 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting against Melbourne. The Round 3 sell case is gone; reassess with the Round 4 fixture rather than trading from frustration.
HOLD: William Hickey
Hickey's Sunday against Sydney was not what Round 2 buyers wanted. His minutes were limited as the Kings hammered Illawarra 121–100.
But this is another situation where context matters more than the latest box score.
Illawarra doubles again in Round 3 and Round 4. Darius Days has already departed, and the Hawks are still working through the shape of their roster.
Hickey's multi-category game remains valuable when the minutes are there.
Verdict: reluctant HOLD. The fixture runway earns him another chance.
HOLD: Kendric Davis
Kendric Davis is the perfect example of why “single game = sell” is too simplistic.
He torched Illawarra for 31 points, six assists and four rebounds on Sunday after already starting the season strongly.
Sydney only plays once in Round 3, which prevents him becoming one of our priority buys this week.
But if you own him, moving an in-form premium purely to chase a double can easily create another trade problem next week.
Verdict: HOLD. Not a priority BUY this round because of the single game.
HOLD/WATCH: Elijah Pepper
Pepper has now scored 19, 25 and 25 points across Perth's first three games.
Saturday's second consecutive 25-point performance was particularly encouraging because he added five assists, four rebounds and three steals.
The complication is timing.
Perth only plays once in Round 3, while Brandon Knight is expected to arrive and eventually assume a major ball-handling role. Pepper has done enough that we should no longer assume Knight simply erases his fantasy relevance, but the rotation is about to change.
Verdict: HOLD if owned. Draft managers should roster him. SuperCoach buyers can wait through Perth's single-game round and learn more about Knight.
Injury watch before Round 3 lockout
Round 3 has enough doubles that an injury can cost more than usual.
Isaac Humphries — knee
Humphries missed Adelaide's Round 2 games and remains the major variable for Nick Rakocevic.
If Humphries is ruled out again, Rakocevic's case strengthens. If he returns, reassess the expected centre split before trading.
Jo Lual-Acuil Jr — calf
Lual-Acuil left Perth's win over New Zealand with a calf problem and did not return.
Perth plays only once in Round 3, so there is no reason for SuperCoach managers to take unnecessary risk until his status is clearer.
Brandon Knight — arrival pending
Knight is expected to join Perth after missing the opening rounds. His eventual introduction matters most for Pepper, Kristian Doolittle and the Wildcats' creation hierarchy.
The good news is that Perth's single-game Round 3 gives SuperCoach coaches permission to watch rather than guess.
Who are we selling?
Round 3 is unusual because eight clubs double. That means sells should be driven by role failure, injury or an obvious upgrade, not simply fixture count.
The clearest players to move are injured non-playing assets, expensive players whose roles have materially collapsed, and fringe options blocking access to Mackinnon, Rakocevic, Velička or another genuine double-game target.
Do not sell a productive player merely because someone else scored more last weekend.
And do not burn two trades moving sideways between similar double-game options.
Draft-league implications
The Round 2 evidence also changes the waiver board.
Mackinnon should be rostered everywhere. If he is somehow available, check immediately.
Elijah Pepper should be rostered despite Perth's single game. His three-game scoring run is now too substantial to ignore.
Anthony Dell'Orso has also responded emphatically after a scoreless opener, following with 20 points, six assists and three steals against Adelaide and then 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists against New Zealand.
In deeper formats, Nate Hinton remains attractive because his rebounding and defensive production create value without requiring a huge scoring night.
For the full draft board, see the NBL27 Fantasy Draft Waiver Wire.
The Buckets Round 3 approach
This is not a round to chase every double.
There are too many of them.
Instead, prioritise:
- Cheap or mid-priced players whose roles are expanding — Mackinnon and Rakocevic.
- High-floor creators whose roles have already been confirmed — Velička and PJC.
- Premiums with both ceiling and two games — Cotton and Anthony.
- Do not force a sell after one poor game when the role is intact — Pinder has responded strongly and is now a HOLD; Hickey remains the more patient hold.
- Holding elite single-game players when the alternative is a sideways trade — Davis.
Round 3 gives coaches options. Use that flexibility rather than letting the fixture force unnecessary trades.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best NBL27 SuperCoach trade target for Round 3?
Max Mackinnon is the standout value target because of his price, GRD/FWD flexibility, expanding role and Brisbane's double. Nick Rakocevic and Arnas Velička are also priority buys.
Should I buy Nick Rakocevic?
Yes while Isaac Humphries remains unavailable. Rakocevic has produced consecutive 20-point games and Adelaide doubles again. Check Humphries' status before lockout.
Should I trade Kendric Davis because Sydney only plays once?
Not automatically. Davis is in excellent form and remains a premium role player. He is not a priority Round 3 buy, but owners should avoid a sideways trade simply to chase a double.
Is Keanu Pinder a sell after the Adelaide game?
No. Pinder responded with 27 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals on 10-of-14 shooting against Melbourne. The correct call is now HOLD and reassess for Round 4 rather than selling off the earlier Adelaide result.
Is Elijah Pepper still a buy?
In draft leagues, absolutely check availability. In SuperCoach, Perth's single-game Round 3 and Brandon Knight's impending arrival make waiting more attractive than chasing last week's scores.
Should I trade in Arnas Velička?
He is one of the strongest Round 3 buys. Consecutive double-digit assist performances indicate that Brisbane's offence genuinely runs through him.
Plan the round: check the NBL27 SuperCoach Fixture Guide, read the Max Mackinnon Round 3 deep dive, and keep the Round 3 Injury Report handy while we wait for the next official injury update.
Late Round 3 update: Froling rises, Rakocevic holds, Pinder responds
Friday and Saturday added enough evidence to change a few of the original Round 3 calls.
Sam Froling — late-round BUY / HOLD
Froling produced 42 SuperCoach points against Adelaide, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds. That is the strongest evidence yet that Illawarra’s depleted frontcourt can support useful fantasy production, and the Hawks still have their second Round 3 game against South East Melbourne.
His projected price is around $234,700, up from $228,200. The caveat is Makur Maker, who has cleared his medical checks and could enter the rotation against Phoenix. That creates a minutes variable, but it does not erase what Froling has already done.
Updated verdict: BUY/HOLD for the late Round 3 window. Do not overpay if Maker’s role becomes substantial, but Froling has earned more than a passive watch.
Nick Rakocevic — the role survived a quieter scoring night
Rakocevic scored only six points against Illawarra, but still reached 31 SuperCoach points through 11 rebounds and five assists. That is useful evidence because it shows the fantasy floor is not completely dependent on 20-point scoring nights.
With Isaac Humphries still unavailable, Rakocevic remains a BUY/HOLD, and his projected price has climbed to about $229,000.
Keanu Pinder — move from SELL to HOLD
Pinder answered the Adelaide disappointment with 27 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals on 10-of-14 shooting against Melbourne.
That performance removes the case for a frustration sell. The correct call now is HOLD and reassess for Round 4. His role remains too central to Cairns to treat the earlier poor score as proof of collapse.
Bryce Cotton — HOLD after the Illawarra loss
Cotton’s latest score was quieter than his Round 2 explosion, but nothing about Adelaide’s structure suggests a role problem. Existing owners should HOLD rather than manufacture a premium sideways trade.
Last updated: 4 October 2026.
Final Sunday update: Rakocevic confirms the role, Maker changes Illawarra's frontcourt
Round 3 finished with two useful confirmations.
Nick Rakocevic closed the round with 29 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and two steals against New Zealand while Isaac Humphries remained sidelined. That performance turns the earlier BUY/HOLD into a much stronger acquisition case entering Round 4, when Adelaide plays twice again.
For Illawarra, Makur Maker debuted with 14 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes on 7-of-11 shooting. Sam Froling remains a HOLD, but Maker's role is now real enough that Froling's ceiling should be assessed with another genuine centre in the rotation.
The Round 3 takeaway is simple: Rakocevic strengthened his case; Maker created a new frontcourt variable; Pinder's SELL case was correctly abandoned after his Melbourne response.
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