Hoops

Norton confirmed by Wildcats

Nice for my Cats but I don't think it's good for the league as a whole to gouge all the talent from smaller clubs

Anon 870

Spot on.

But this would tend to indicate that the NBL needs 1 of 2 things from here:
Equalisation measures such as the salary cap; or
Significant transfer fees, at least for players approaching their peak.

I know that the 2nd option would also be an equalisation measure.

The league needs the smaller franchises to survive. Any less than 8 teams and the viability of the league would be seriously questionable, especially to potential investors and sponsors.

How many franchises are up for sale and who owns them??? So, LK needs to help support Cairns and Illawarra.

Couldn't be happier, I'm a big believer that you don't tell Norton that he's a starter or coming off the bench and you get him to pre-season training and you get Damo and him going at it every day.

Should become a great NBL player as he's still young and played a heap of games and Illawarra will be just as upset about losing Norton as they will be about losing Kay

Brandt/Jervis
Kay/Wagstaff/Vague
Import (Devondrick Walker)/Steindl
Import (Cotton)/Import (Ramone Moore type)
Martin/Norton

Kay and Norton is an Aussie core to work with over the next few years.

Cats remain very well placed despite their poor finish to 2018.

Rob Beveridge must be hating life right now.

Great signing. Norton and martin will be a very hard backcourt to score on when playing together, stops can mean easy transition baskets.

Tokoto surely will not be invited back. His lack of range was debilitating for the cats offence.

I'd like to see devondrick walker, he can shoot 40% from 3, has length Nd athleticism.

Excellent signing.

Norton goes HARD to the hoop and challenges defences on the reg to match his physicality. Gleeson will mould him into an absolute stud, i predict multiple championships.

"How will this work for Perth?

Martin 20 / Norton 20
Import 30 / DKD 10

or will Norton start? "

Posted a similar thing in another thread. IMO they start Damo, but Norton will play the starters minutes. Probably Norton 20-25min and Damo 15-20min.

The crowd loves a massive cheer when Damo is called out with the starters, they'll use him to set the tone and have his leadership out there.

They'll want to just try get Damo through injury free this year I reckon. In rounds where the Wildcats play 2 games I wouldn't be surprised if we see Damo playing only 10-12 minutes in one of those games.

Martin/Norton
Import(Cotton)/?
Import(Prather)/Steindl
Kay/Wagstaff/Vague
Import/Brandt

I was otherwise occupied when the Kay/Norton news started to solidify so didn't comment at the time, but together these two should set up the next Wildcats dynasty. They won't do it alone, but they're a solid shot at being the next Martin/Knight head-tail building blocks - no-fuss, team-oriented, two-way contributors.

In the absence of a points cap, you can't blame Perth for grabbing them. They're not going to have Cotton/Goulding/Lisch-level pricetags, and snatching quality local players removes them from your opposition's limited recruiting pool.

And you can't blame the players for making the move. If a strong club offered me a three year deal while my past club was experiencing some level of uncertainty, and I didn't have family ties in that place, I'd be seriously inclined to shift.

But I think that if this doesn't shake Illawarra in 2018/19, it's not going to help beyond that. It's a seismic hit to talent and prospects and a lowly finish after a season of iffy crowds in 2017/18 may be damaging, especially in a small market. Who are you building around from the 2017/18 team? Who's left to grab? Unless Glover is a prodigy or Cooks comes home, it's going to be tough.

Tokoto isn't coming back.

How will this work for Perth?

Martin 20 / Norton 20
Import 30 / DKD 10

or will Norton start?

Gleeson speaks of Norton and Martin playing together, ummm...Norton averages 8 ppg and Martin less than 5. Martin is 27% from deep, Nortin is 35%. Not sure this duo is going to strike any fear offensively.

It is almost certain that Martin will be down for some of the season, so there should be a contingency (Naar?).

If you assume that they will try to keep Cotton & Tokyto, or players very similar, that leaves the Cats with 1 Local and 1 import spot to fill.

If I could take a further guess, they will again chase an athletic 4 with their 3rd import slot, someone who can not only protect the rim, but get on the end of some fast-breaks and dunks.

That will leave them looking for a local guard or maybe SF...

"Title favs now"

Putting $4K on it?

Title favourites my arse!Sydney Kings are favourites if everybody stays healthy.

Title favs now

Nice

Hurry up mate!

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/view/20120115kyrie_irvings_olympic_decision_will_affect_future_choices/srvc=home&position=recent