Round 5 is not a normal trade week. Two of the most productive SuperCoach guards are unavailable, four clubs have double games and Sydney is entering a particularly attractive run of fixtures. That makes the best trade more than a simple swap from an injured name to whoever scored well last weekend.
As at 7pm Adelaide time, 12 October 2026, the NBL’s Round 5 SuperCoach guide identifies Sydney, Tasmania, South East Melbourne and New Zealand as the four double-game teams. The official fixture opens on Wednesday, 14 October. Confirm final team lists and your game lockouts before committing.
BUY: Kendric Davis — the clearest injured-guard replacement
Davis is the first name to test against your budget. The NBL lists him at $428,500 after Round 4, averaging 41.8 SuperCoach points. Sydney hosts New Zealand and Perth this round and then has double-game rounds in both Rounds 6 and 7. That combination of a proven creation role and sustained fixture volume is what separates him from a one-week points chase.
The argument is stronger for coaches replacing Parker Jackson-Cartwright or Arnas Velička than for those sacrificing a healthy premium to reach him. Davis is not guaranteed to outscore every other guard in a single match, and his recent confrontation with Bryce Cotton is not a statistical projection. The decision should be based on his role and schedule, not rivalry theatre. Verdict: BUY if the trade fits your structure.
BUY: Will Magnay — pay for the multi-category route
Magnay is a different type of premium buy. The NBL lists a 42.6-point SuperCoach average and a $356,800 price heading into Tasmania’s two home games against Adelaide and New Zealand. A centre who can accumulate rebounds and defensive statistics gives you ways to score even when his shot volume fluctuates.
He is not automatically the better move than Davis. If your biggest hole is a starting guard, forcing a frontcourt purchase may leave you unable to field the right players. If your centres are weak and you can retain a functioning backcourt, Magnay is the more balanced upgrade. Verdict: BUY for centre-needy teams; genuine captaincy candidate.
BUY / WATCH: Josh Bannan and Taran Armstrong
Tasmania offers more than one route into the Round 5 double. The league’s guide records 38 SuperCoach points for Bannan in Round 4, while Armstrong has a 30.8 season average. Bannan suits teams needing forward production; Armstrong is the more natural guard alternative for managers who cannot afford Davis. Neither should be treated as a guaranteed replacement for Jackson-Cartwright’s 53.4-point average.
There is also a reason not to overreact to Tasmania’s spectacular 122–112 win over Illawarra. The NBL’s account of that game describes extraordinary team shooting and Scott Roth’s frustration with the defensive finish. A record night can raise a player’s appeal without becoming his weekly baseline. Verdict: Bannan BUY where the forward spot fits; Armstrong WATCH/BUY for a needed guard.
HOLD: Bryce Cotton and Nick Rakocevic
Cotton just led Round 4 with 91 SuperCoach points across Adelaide’s two games, while Rakocevic added 81 and moved to the top of the season points table, according to the official Round 4 recap. Adelaide plays only once in Round 5. That lowers their immediate weekly ceiling, but it does not erase their roles.
Selling Cotton solely to chase a double can be a costly sideways move, particularly if the replacement requires two trades to reverse. Rakocevic’s opportunity still depends partly on Isaac Humphries’ knee recovery; the NBL injury list gives Humphries no confirmed return date. Verdict: HOLD both unless the trade solves a larger roster problem.
HOLD: Sam Mennenga — do not punish the wrong Breaker
New Zealand’s double remains attractive even without Jackson-Cartwright. Mennenga’s 62-point SuperCoach performance against Perth was the highest single-game total of Round 4. It is not proof he will score 62 every outing, but it is enough evidence of his independent scoring and rebounding capacity to resist a panic sale.
The uncertainty is how New Zealand will redistribute ball-handling and shot creation. Losing a point guard can mean more shots for the remaining starters, or poorer offensive efficiency. Both outcomes are plausible; neither is established. Verdict: HOLD Mennenga, monitor New Zealand’s starting backcourt.
SELL: Jackson-Cartwright and Velička if you need active points
The NBL’s Round 5 guidance says Jackson-Cartwright will miss both New Zealand games. Brisbane’s Velička faces roughly eight weeks out with a quadriceps injury. The league injury register still lists Jackson-Cartwright’s return as TBC, so do not invent a firm date for his comeback.
In season-long roster formats with limited trades, holding a premium through a short absence can sometimes be rational. In SuperCoach, two missed games in an immediate double and a significant multi-week injury are materially different problems. Verdict: SELL Velička where a trade is available; SELL Jackson-Cartwright for a playable Round 5 premium if you are chasing current-round points.
SELL / HOLD BY STRUCTURE: Luke Travers and Zylan Cheatham
Travers’ 36 SuperCoach points across Melbourne’s Round 4 double and Cheatham’s 28.4 season average, as reported by the NBL, are reasons to consider reallocating money towards stronger double-game roles. Neither is a mandatory sale without a viable replacement. Prioritise removing unavailable players first, then decide whether these lower-return spots can finance Davis, Magnay or a more balanced squad.
Buckets verdict: Solve injury absences before chasing last week’s leaderboard. Davis is the strongest combination of role and future fixture, Magnay is the best centre-led upgrade, and Tasmania offers alternatives at multiple positions. Cotton and Rakocevic should not be discarded merely because they play once. This is a Round 5 trade board, not a prediction of individual fantasy scores; check final availability again before Wednesday’s first game. For the previous decision context, see Buckets’ Round 4 trade board.
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