Hoops

Bryce Cotton to replace Webster at Wildcats

Aww yis. I like that idea

What's the likelihood Tai Webster plays NBL this season?

GREAT picture Ricky! Sour grapes from some anon

Spendat like Bendat.

Great picture of Cotton there, with McCarron, Jawai and Wortho standing in the background (you can't see Jawai because he got super skinny in the off season).

@LoveBroker, agree Webster + a spare ipmport spot would have been good, and in terms of production on the stats sheet Cotton might not be a massive upgrade over Webster (at his best), but Cotton is just one of those next level players that if he's willing to sign to you do what you can to get him.

As for losing the spare import spot for injury cover, I'd like to see Brandt start and sign an import PF who can also play C. I think Brandt showed some good signs late in the season and also seemed to click well with Cotton. Knight can come off the bench with minutes at PF/C and not be relied on as heavily, meaning an injury to him won't stuff up the team structure much. Also having Cotton now will make it easier to cope with any Damo injuries.

http://www.nbl.com.au/featured-news/bryce-cotton-returns-perth-wildcats/

Lovin it.

Confirmed by club in e-mail.

Confirmed

^Correct, but we'll take it.

Cotton signing this early to Wildcats is because the ship has sailed on his NBA opportunity due to the poor Summer League showing.

Great picture of Cotton there, with McCarron, Jawai and Wortho standing in the background (you can't see Jawai because he got super skinny in the off season).

Anon, I know, that's why I said 'at his best' which would be the year he returned from his first NBA tryout.

An asset like that and being a local which gives you that import insurance card I think is worth a lot.

Cotton is great, no doubt, but consider he could also leave at anytime to the NBA. The Wildcats were lucky last time it was a 10 day contract which he turned down. What if this time it was a 1 year contract? Even league minimum for a 1 year player is US$900k which is more than the entire salary cap in AUD.

I disagree Lovebroker. Webster last year was fairly average and a year or two removed from his best after his troubles in NZ. Still was going to be a great asset for the cats but to say he is almost as good as Cotton is a stretch..

Mock is LAME

What's that sweet smell in the air? I'm getting the scent of more Wildcats championship GLORY

Whilst Cotton's grand final heroics are probably still fresh in Wildcats supporters' minds, do you guys think this is that great a move?

Thinking about it more I think I would rather have Webster then have the 3rd import as an insurance policy for Martin and Knight. These 2 are becoming injury prone, especially Knight's concussion history.

Webster at his best is a low 20+/ppg player @ around .375 3pt, thats only a little less than Cotton. A Webster is great at the pick and roll which the Wildcats somehow mastered at the end of last season so I think Webster was due to flourish (plus being away from NZ).

I wish Webster the best and hope to see him back in the NBL with any team. He is a star, he makes mistakes but generally atones for them.

Sorry should probably clarify what I meant by Wildcats mentioning the signing on social media. I'm well aware that the official news announcement probably won't be until next week when it clears league admin. I was trying to imply that the Wildcats didn't do the usual tease that teams like to do on social media e.g. Guess who's back? or We got him, etc. etc.

"Cats cant announce its official until its been approved by the league."

Without fail this simple fact is forgotten about each and every time an NBL signing is made.

Cats would be waiting on paper work and summer league to make an announcement.

They may have just settled paper work with cotton too and didn't expect the info to leak.

They may have planned the Webster news today as it would be buried amongst AFl news as it's a Thursday.

They'd also want to hold off Cotton announcement until a less filled sports news day too.

Well that was interesting, Webster gone and in comes cotton. Webster is a great player but cotton is a different level. Summer league stats would say different but he will get bums on seats and that what's all about.

Well done to Perth for getting him back if true.

Cats cant announce its official until its been approved by the league.

The Wildcats haven't even mentioned anything on their social media yet and Chris Robinson from the West Australian couldn't contact his agent for confirmation. I hope Lachy hasn't jumped the gun too prematurely.

If true its a great news to have him back. It will certainly drive the rest of the NBL to try either to counter his recruitment or up the ante. There must be emergency meetings in Hard Rock Cafe now :).

The day that the Cotton rumour comes out. Webster asks for release related? 100%

Posted this in the Webster thread, I reckon a convo like this definitely would have taken place:

I think it almost has to be Cotton related, I can't see them just letting him go for 'asking'. The club might have said something like "Corey, things have changed and we're bringing Bryce back now. This will move you to the bench and heavily impact your minutes. We'd love you to stay, but if you want to seek better opportunities elsewhere we understand and won't hold you back if you ask us to release you".

surely the money Cotton required was a part of the Webster release along with the reduced role he would have been given

I've updated the thread title and bumped it to the top. Great for the league to have strong players like this returning.

http://www.wnba.com/fever/photogallery/110520_3.html

;-(

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Lachie Reid (Channel 10 reporter/Wildcats game announcer) just confirmed Cotton is coming back on Twitter.

Replacing Webster.

Here we go!

Prather is a priority but a waiting game.

Confirmed by Lachy Reid.

Then he smiles and says "i love them (REDARMY) too"

Not the best poker face.

Quick interview of Cotton on the NBL facebook page. Got asked if he's had any progress in contract talks with Perth:

"Right now i'm still trying to finish this up (Summer League), but we'll see whats in store in the next few weeks"

One team from a neighbouring minnow basketball country makes a national league continental just like Euroleague!!!!1 DERPITY DERP DERP!

SteveK2 it seems to me also like they lowballed Cotton I would say. Otherwise doesn't make sense as ACB is up there for salaries in Europe.

Salary in Euroleagues can vary wildly. The top players (not necessarily imports) can earn in the millions euro range. The 'scrubs' would be lucky to receive 100k euros.

Maybe they offered Cotton sub 250k euros, hence the GTFO response? I'd think if the offers are closer to 500k euros, it would be difficult to dismiss that?

smartarse

I don't know what you meany

Knew someone would say that... just barely.

Thanks to the Breakers, NBL is continental.
Thanks to Andorra BC, ACB is continental.
Thanks to AS Monaco, Pro A is continental.
and so on and so forth.

You know what I meany by continental, smartarse.

"ACB is the second best domestic league in the world after NBA (Euroleague is continental)."

Thanks to the Raptors, the NBA is continental as well

He's averaging 1.5 points, shooting 11%, 0.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 15min a game in the SL. I doubt he's had huge interest from overseas, and a contract offer in Spain after these performances might have not been for as much money as we think.

Even if they spend big on him, the Cats highest offer won't be as much as overseas. IMO though as long as the money is somewhat competitive, the overall package of their offer: Australian lifestyle, club success, team facilities, Australian culture, familiarity of being here already, English speaking country, chance to be a superstar here, Country safety, etc might be good enough for him to return.

Are you serious?

ACB is the second best domestic league in the world after NBA (Euroleague is continental).

The money would be good so the facts are either wrong, Cotton is holding out for more or Perth are really spending $$$$$$$$$$$.

I don't know much about Unicaja Malaga nor the league its in.

How much can the average import command in that league?

What kind of return could I expect from winning such a bet? After some careful deliberation I'm prepared to put my grandma's false teeth on the line only if the price is right.

Webster ‘asks’ for a release, and it’s granted, plus the Sportando tweet - I think you can bet your grandmas false teeth on Cotton being back in the red.

Sportando is pretty solid with stories.