Back in December, new Winnipeg Sea Bears Head Coach and General Manager Mike Raimbault, along with the organization made a huge announcement for the 2026 campaign. They had agreed to sign three time Canadian Elite Basketball League Most Valuable Player Xavier Moon. It is one of the boldest statements the team could make after an 11-13 season that saw them lose as the host of Championship Weekend in the Western Conference Final. Moon will be the player Winnipeg can use as a building block to jump start the new era. But who should join him? Before the signing of Moon, Winnipeg had created their list of protected players for the following season. Those are players the Sea Bears have first priority to speak to and sign if they wish as soon as the Free Agency period is open (they may also come to a contract agreement even before the period begins). The other caveat is both the organization and player have to agree to that decision of being on the list. This should mean that at that time the player is open to returning for the following year. Other player additions or winter season commitments may change that, like we may see with the addition of Moon. On Winnipeg’s list there are eight players that agreed to be there, with one already having agreed to return in Nathan Bilamu. I am going to go through each name as to whether or not I see them returning with the Sea Bears in 2026. The element of the team signing Moon will be factored in, but not the full extent of my reasoning.

Nathan Bilamu

One of the biggest surprises of the 2025 season was the emergence of Bilamu. Having made the team through a training camp tryout after graduating from Lakehead University, there was a slow burn to seeing success. But once he got his opportunity, he never looked back. Bilamu forced Mike Taylor to continue to find ways to play him with his tireless work ethic, rebounding and defending. There were even some flashes of offensive upside. That positive momentum has continued into his winter season in Portugal to an even higher level. Fantastic to see him return for 2026.

Simi Shittu

The biggest no-brainer on this list is Shittu. Once arriving he was consistently Winnipeg’s best player, posting team bests in multiple categories and being inside the top five or ten league-wide. The 2025 CEBL All-Canadian was an important cog to the Sea Bears and if he is willing to return the team should absolutely welcome a reunion.

Will Richardson

So much for having him for just a few games. Richardson was initially only supposed to be with the Sea Bears for a short stint to fill the hole left behind by the Americans that went to play in the NBA Summer League. The problem became he was so good that the team decided they wanted him to stick around. In that small nine game sample size Richardson was arguably their best player down the stretch of the season. While his play will be the main reason I believe Winnipeg should bring him back, it also comes down to his fit with Moon. Richardson can play on-ball or off-ball on offence which would give some versatility in the back court with Moon. In addition he showed good signs on defence.

Trevon Scott

He and Richardson were in the same boat joining the Sea Bears in the middle of the 2025 campaign. Fill the roles of those going to Summer League, then that would be it. While Scott did not play to the same impressive levels as Richardson, he was still solid. The offence was inconsistent, but all other aspects of his game were at a high level. Scott isn’t the highest on my priority list of players Winnipeg should look to bring back, but his fit next to Moon is really good and he did have an overall decent campaign. I would not be upset at all if they decided to bring him back and it just feels right.

Emmanuel Akot

It was a very up and down summer for Akot, who was coming off a foot injury that he sustained at the beginning of the winter season. He did not look the same as he had in 2024 with Winnipeg, then controversially left to play for the South Sudan national team just as it seemed he was picking up steam. While I feel that the end of season controversy would have been the resolution for any possible return for others, being a hometown guy and having had good stretches with the team should see him return for 2026. He’s had his moments as a starter, but if he can be a true bench piece, watch out.

Kyler Filewich

2025 saw Filewich play his first games of professional basketball, with his role ever changing just as the roster did. He began the year starting, did not see much play in the middle, then showed his value as a bench piece late in the summer. He has taken that little bit of momentum into the winter season, showing great strides in more playing time. Another Winnipegger who should be back on this roster in 2026 and I would not be surprised if his role looks more like it did towards the end of the last season.

Maurice Calloo

When the Sea Bears announced this signing late in the year, I was quite excited. I had seen what Calloo had done at other stops in his professional career and thought this would be a good fit. It just never seemed to gel in Winnipeg and he didn’t get very many opportunities to do so either. I’m really not sure what the interest would be from Calloo to return, but if Mike Raimbault sees value then that is a different story. I do see a fit here, but I would not be surprised if they go in a different direction.

Jalen Harris

Here is the one you have all been waiting for. Winnipeg’s marquee player from 2025, Harris was supposed to be who carried the Sea Bears to their first playoff win. The issue was that he was incredibly inconsistent, while still posting decent numbers. Being a volume shooter, that field goal percentage was never going to be anywhere close to phenomenal. One of Harris’ faults lies in the fact that he is a ball dominant player, who does not pass very much and turns the ball over a lot. Not the biggest recipe for success when you can’t play off the ball on offence very well either. This goes along with his defence, which isn’t on the strong side. I would very much assume that before the conversations with Moon had begun, a return for Harris was much more likely. Now with the addition of Moon, I do not see any reason for Winnipeg to have him come back. This is why I feel Richardson is a better fit for who they are now trying to build around. It is no longer Harris’ team, it’s Moon’s.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears will begin their season May 9th, opening day against the Edmonton Stingers on the road.