After their penultimate game of the 2020–21 season, the Taipans announced that head coach Mike Kelly would not be returning for the 2021–22 season.[2]
On 25 June, the team option on Jordan Ngatai's contract was taken up by the club. His original contract was a two-year contract (with the second year being a team option), having only joined the Taipans at the start of the 2020–21 season.
On 26 June, Kouat Noi signed a new two-season contract with the club (the second year being a mutual option).[3] This extends his time in Cairns up to potentially four seasons, having joined the team before the 2019–20 season. Nathan Jawai and the club also took up their mutual option on the second year of his contract, extending his time in Cairns to seven seasons.[4]
On 27 June, the final day before free agency began, the Taipans took up the mutual option on the contract of Majok Deng.[5] They also abandoned the option on the contract of Mirko Đerić, instead signing him to a three-year deal (the final year being a mutual option).[6]
On 29 June, Adam Forde was announced as the club's new head coach, signing on a two-year deal.[7] Forde joined the club as an experienced coach in the NBL, having spent eight years as an assistant coach with the Perth Wildcats, followed by a two-year stint with the Sydney Kings, both as an assistant coach and as a head coach.
On 13 July, Deng re-signed for three seasons, overriding the mutual option that himself and the club had taken up weeks earlier.[8] The new extension will see Deng remain in Cairns until 2024.
On 19 July, Keanu Pinder was signed as the club's first new player for the season.[10] He signed on a two-year deal (second-year mutual option).
On 24 July, Jarrod Kenny re-signed with the Taipans for the 2021–22 season.[11] This will be Kenny’s fourth season with the Taipans after he joined the club for the 2018–19 season.
On 5 August, Sam Gruggen was signed as an assistant coach on a two-year deal.[12] Gruggen joined the club after serving as an assistant coach for Forde during the 2020–21 season, as well as serving time with the Townsville Crocodiles.
On 6 August, Tahjere McCall signed with the Taipans on a one-year deal.[13] McCall joined the Taipans after serving as an injury replacement player with Orléans Loiret Basket and winning the NBA G League championship with the Lakeland Magic.[14][15][16] During his time with the Magic, McCall was voted into the G League's All-Defensive Team.[17]
On 18 August, Kerry Williams was signed as the second assistant coach.[20] Williams spent the season prior as the head coach of the Cairns Marlins of the NBL1 North, and before that also spent multiple seasons with the Cairns Dolphins of the Queensland Basketball League. Williams also spent five seasons with the Taipans as a player before transitioning into a front office role with the club.
On 16 September, the Taipans announced that import Cameron Oliver had been released from the final year of his contract after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with a California based National Basketball Association team, later revealed to be the Los Angeles Lakers.[21][22]
On 17 September, Stephen Zimmerman was signed as Oliver's replacement on a one-year deal.[23] Zimmerman signed with the club after winning the Czech National Basketball League with Basketball Nymburk, where he averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds across 17 minutes per game.[24]
On 7 October, Brayden Inger was signed by the Taipans as a development player.[25] He joined the club after competing in the NZNBL with the Southland Sharks.
On 30 December, Marshall Nelson was signed as an Injury Replacement Player for Machado.[26]
Roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.
