Great decision by Perth.

I hope the person that said he was better than Ennis based on a game against a state league team waits a bit longer to form an opinion next time.

Sacked 1 game after a 26 point on 10/11 shooting.
Last 8 points in regulation, including a 3 with 2 seconds to go to force overtime (which they won).
That's harsh.

It's not harsh considering he was absolute trash for everything bar 1 game.

Good call. McKay will be sweating bullets with the impending return of Knight.

Very harsh, I agree. Wonder who they've got lined up.

Good decision

It had to be done, but it's also the Cats' own fault for assembling a team without the right mix in the first place.

Well it's not so much he wasn't a great fit and more of a "we've found someone better, we've got to get rid of someone", surely? How else would they be touting a replacement at such short notice only 2 rounds into a season?

Clearly his production didn't warrant him being cut already but it's obvious the Wildcats had already lined up someone who they think will be a better player so pulled the trigger early on Johnson.

Brewers 3p% looks exactly like what the Wildcats do not need

Troy Daniels on the other hand..

Why would you even mention Troy Daniels. He already has a sizeable long term deal with the Grizzlies...

What Perth really need is a reliable 3 point shooter!! JJ looked a decent shooter from outside, hopefully his replacement is as good or better from deep.

Nick Marvin recently followed him on twitter

Troy Daniels probably stuck behind 6 players in Memphis rotation

It wouldn't be Troy Daniels though because they would've waited until he was cut by the Grizzlies and then released Johnson.

Imports contracts don't become guaranteed for the rest of the season until after something like 10 games or two months into the season whichever comes first.

What the Wildcats gave Johnson more than the standard non-guaranteed 1 year deal?

I can understand 'NBL proven' imports like Rotnei Clarke, Torrey Craig and Jermaine Beal getting 2 year deals but a new guy to the league sight unseen?

I wouldn't have thought the Wildcats would be that silly.

He's been better than Bryson at all those things.

Brutal.

Extremely harsh after three games and one outstanding performance. There has to be more to it surely ?

He's worth thinking about for the Kings... If for no other reason than to have a player with a chip on his shoulder vs Perth.

Yeah okay. Personality and attitude more the problem? If it wasn't that, it's hard to understand why someone like that wouldn't be given at least a bit more time.

If the Sydney Kings have any sense about them they will cut Michael Bryson right now and slot in Jaron Johnson. Johnson, on his worst game, contributes more than Bryson ever has.

Gleeson's explanation makes sense.

Perth could very, very easily be 0-3 right now, after 2 home games. They won 2 games by a bee's member, and it's clear their half court game is struggling.

This is Perth we're talking about- no doubt they've got someone lined up. Someone good.

I wonder if any rival clubs decide to pick up Johnson now he's been deactivated? Sydney could use him!

Oh they will have someone quality to slot in. It wont be some sort of Mustapha Farrakhan drop kick lol.

I'm guessing it's going to be a former NBA guy, and if so I'm going to go with the most recently wavied - Toney Douglas?

Trevor Gleeson press conference about the JJ decision:
https://audioboom.com/boos/5171329-trevor-gleeson-press-conference-17-october-2016

I reckon it's been in the making since the ABC.

That guy Dolla looking real good right now..

Athletic, Schmathletic. The formula worked so well last year.

What we'd give to have Dolla and Jerv back.

They wanted more athleticism, so they got rid of Beal. Now, they need a guy like Beal who is a threat from 3. With Wagstaff losing his touch as a three-point shooter, the Cats don't have anyone who is a threat from range

I think the idea of having 2 greyhounds on the wing in Prather and Johnson was a whole heap better than the reality... That whole high flying, up-and-down Wildcats team that we kept hearing about pre-season definitely hasn't arrived yet.

I don't really think Johnson is the problem, and maybe they were creeping too far outside Gleeson's comfort zone. The grindy, beat-you-into-submission style of play seems to work for them, and I'm not sure they needed to tinker with it.

Any chance Sydney releases Bryson and signs Johnson instead? I'm sure they are monitoring the availability of guards at least.

Just looking at Daniels pre season stats i wouldnt be suprised if it was him
http://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2489530/troy-daniels

Looking at those pre-season stats, do we really want him? :P

Well last year he shot the 3 at .484 so yeah you would, plus NBL closer in will help a lot

cairns did off Johnson a contract but wildcats out bid them,i bet he wishes he signed with cairns now.

Benno is a cancer on this board

"was just thinking, i wonder how many people spent $100 on jaron johnson jerseys lol"

People should know by now that you don't get too attached to your imports. Especially in the first few rounds.

Hahahah coming from someone named Anonymous very funny!

Is the G.O.A.T. Anthony Stewart still available?

It took the Cats longer than usual, but it seems that they have finally come to contractual terms with Hoggy Time.

It's harsh, but then you have to figure the decision has been in the making for a while, probably made before his epic game against Cairns.

JJ was always a bizarre choice. Perth decided they wanted another "wing" player, and effectively signed another SF. What they needed was a better Beal, what they got was another Prather.

As I mentioned in my thread after Friday's game, what's the point in having two gun import "wings" if you can't play them together?

JJ has shown he can be a 3-point threat, but perhaps not consistently enough, and perhaps they're not happy enough with his ball handling and ability to run plays. Plus, as mentioned, these events were probably in motion for a while.

It's also possible the Cats were hoping for a bit more from DKD, to at least provide a few more quality minutes off the bench and a bit of a 3-point threat. But so far he looks like needing a lot of development.

It will be interesting to see WHAT the Cats have lined up?
Could be they have gone the obvious route and grabbed a SG. Or perhaps they're happy to keep using Kenny & Damo, and they have opted for a Centre???

When I got the "member first" email, before I opened it I though great, they have officially retired Shawn after his 350th game.
After reading the email I kept going back to it in the hope it had changed to my version of the news. Love Shawn but think his time is up.
Back to Jarron, I liked him but has been wondering how well both he and Casey could exist on the court at the same time. They seemed to crowd each other a bit in earlier games, esp in the pre-season. Just too similar. Although it's a shock and seems a little heartless, I am glad the cats have made a decision early. They very much could have been 0 and 3. Yep, thanks to Jaron we did win game 2, but cohesion in what the team had been doing had been lacking. I certainly hope he gets a gig somewhere else soon (Sydney maybe as if Jaron isn't the right fit, well Bryson is well and truly not what the Kings need).
All that being said, have loved the first two rounds. Lots of upsets and teams playing their hearts out. No easy wins this year.

"It's also possible the Cats were hoping for a bit more from DKD"

I know I was. It's early days of course, but 0% from the field is not a great start for a specialist shooter.

Indeed.
They lined him up for a shot, well set in the corner, plenty of time on the clock, and he missed.
If they were looking to him to provide some 3-point shooting off the bench, then yeah, its gonna take some time.
Which makes me think that the Cats will surely be going for a designated SG to replace JJ. Somebody who can partner Damo, run the plays when required, and create opportunities for others in addition to being a consistent scoring threat.

This just annoys me that we didn't throw our cheque book at steve Holt, even having him as an Asian player and coming off the bench, he would fit us beautifully.

I was also annoyed that we couldn't sign Clint Steindl and looking at the games this season has been dreadful. We aren't the highlight team we are very stop start and we simply can't rely on Wagstaff shooting ten three pointers a game.

I don't care how tall our replacement import is, if he is a gun slinger like Rotnei then I'll be happy but if he can't shoot then I won't be happy.

As for JJ, would be happy to keep watching him in the league somewhere, does anybody think he could go to Brisbane as Te Rangi is injured and they could use more wing depth.

Nate Robinson

Troy Daniels looks absolutely automatic from 3 and Kevin Murphy looks a very capable score in this league, I can't see us doing too bad with either of them

Troy Daniels looks absolutely automatic from 3 and Kevin Murphy looks a very capable score in this league, I can't see us doing too bad with either of them

Daniels is also on a measly (by NBA standard) $10mill over those 3 years. A contract most teams wouldnt have a problem buying out for flexibility or other needs.

So its not outside the chance of possibility.

I have a suspicion it will probably be someone who hasnt even played in the NBA.

With Ennis at the Grizzlies too kinda reinforces this Daniels rumour.

According to Lachie Reid it is NOT Troy Daniels

Plot Twist, Kevin Lisch terminates Sydney Contract, signs with Perth and all is good with the world again.

Clearly Hoggy sent his tape directly to NBL teams and didn't post on this forum.

required: ability to create shot off the dribble; keyway penetration; perimeter shooting .. . .. so basically some kind of combo-guard extraordinare!?

Is this the thread where we list random fringe NBA guys in all caps?

KOBE!!

Isn't Ray Allen hanging around for a spot on a contender..

CHRIS BOSH

I thought it was interesting that in the press conference Gleeson stated they had a "short list" of candidates to replace Johnson. Is it possible that they had not even made a deal with a any player prior to Johnson being sacked or is Gleeson just feeding us a spiel. If that is the case I would find it highly unlikely they could get someone over to play this weekend.

Or maybe the replacement player is very short? Nate Robinson?

Yeah, I took "very short list" the same way as anon. Just a euphemism.

A contract probably can't be signed until the original one is scrapped, but it would seem crazy to me to cut a guy without already having at least a verbal agreement in place with the replacement.
Still probably a stretch to have the new guy in Perth and cleared to play on Friday night though. Jet lag is a bitch coming back from the states so anything we can get will be a bonus if he happens to make it in time.

Suspense is killing me, somebody namedrop already

Yeah I was thinking along those lines also. It would be a very bold mood to cut a player without having anyone lined up already.

"Damb, I wanted Daryl Dawkins"

He's dead, Jim.

Baron Davis confirmed by an egg account on twitter with no followers.

Cats said they want the new guy lining up this weekend, so the deal must be done, bags packed tickets booked.

Besides, they're not going to cut a good player (who's just not the right fit) without a better replacement lined up.

Kinda harsh on Johnson - Game 1 - quiet, Game 2 Huge, Game 3 - well Prather took over and had tunnel vision - few plays where he had the easy dime available but took it upon himself . Having said that I don't mind taking the game on so long as he continues to drop his 25+ppg

As for Beal, don't regret the decision at all.Incredible when hot but horrible when not. The dude was slow on defence, would get burnt by opposing PGs, inconsistent and at times made bad decisions.

Classic example last Sunday when he bricked a trey from the parking lot with his team down 1 in OT.

The Perth Wildcats have signed American perimeter specialist, Andre Ingram, out of the NBA D-League.

In his eight seasons as a professional, Ingram has shot an impressive 45.5 per cent from range and, in his most recent season, went for a staggering 49 per cent from outside the arc.

His 583 career threes is an all-time D-League record.

The 30-year-old is excited to start his journey with the Wildcats.

"It's all happened very quickly, but I can’t wait to arrive in Australia and meet my new teammates," he said.

“To start playing with a new team so soon after arriving will be tough, but I’m confident in what I can bring to this group and will be doing all I can to help get us some important wins this weekend.

“Perth is a highly professional organisation with a community focus and I’m very excited to now be a part of that.”

Andre Ingram attended American University in Washington D.C, before playing his entire professional career in the D-League.

In four seasons with the Utah Flash, he became the team’s all-time leading scorer and won the competition’s three-point shoot-out in 2010.

He then moved to the LA Lakers-owned Los Angeles D-Fenders, where he has since become a regular fixture and again won the D-League’s three-point comp earlier this year with a record 39 makes from 50 attempts.

In the 2015/16 season, Ingram averaged 10.4 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals.

“I watched Andre play last April when I was in the US, so he’s always been in the back of my mind, and we were lucky enough that he was available and ready to come over,“ said coach Trevor Gleeson.

“We thought we needed a really good threat from the perimeter. We can stretch the floor and open it up, and hopefully that will create some avenues for our guards to attack the basket.

“He’s got deep three-point range and that’s something that we need help with.”

Andre Ingram stands at 191cm and weighs 88 kilograms.

The new Wildcat is currently on board a flight to Perth and is expected to be cleared to play in Friday night’s clash against the Illawarra Hawks at Perth Arena.

This guy shoots at 46% beyond the arc. All time leader in D league 3s....think hes just a pure catch and shoot threat.

Yes he will be someone that defenders will stick to like shitvro a blanket. When open I think he will be automatic...

What else can he do?

"...A downgrade defensively, transition, playmaking, chemistry. All for some threes..."

Johnson was average at the defensive end. I didnt see any high wire acts in transition that were promised. He didnt create any shots for himself and rarely for team mates. Its not like he was the glue guy holding the team together either.

Maybe we were watching different games...but i doubt it.

Really don't understand why people feel the need to dig around for justification.

Props to the Cats organisation that whatever did clearly happen with JJ behind the scenes has stayed secret. Rumours of that stuff usually leaks out pretty quickly.

Probably because there are no rumours.

Not every player release is a scandal.