From the Email.

Perth Wildcats sign Corey Webster

Reigning back-to-back NBL Champions the Perth Wildcats have wasted no time in bolstering their roster for the 2017/18 season, signing star guard, Corey Webster.

The three-time championship player with the NZ Breakers parted ways with his former club this off-season, and the Wildcats leapt at the opportunity to make a world class addition to its back court.

The New Zealand international is looking forward to a fresh start in Perth.

"I can't wait to start playing NBL basketball again," said Webster.

“To be continuing my career at one of the best organisations going around, who have won three of the last four titles, is very exciting for me.

“I’m also looking forward to embracing the club’s community program. Overall, I’m ready to work hard both on and off the court.”

Corey Webster is a proven offensive threat, both as a shooter and a creator.

His career-high NBL tally of 39 points came just 16 months ago, where he dropped seven threes on Melbourne United at Vector Arena.

In 2015/16, he averaged 19.6 points and 2.3 assists per game.

In the lead up to that season, Webster was invited to train with NBA franchise the New Orleans Pelicans and even signed a three-year no-guarantee contract.

He played in three pre-season games with the organisation and impressed Pelicans coaches with his work ethic and shooting ability from range.

Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson, who’s coached against Webster for a number of seasons, said his game speaks for itself.

“Corey’s a world class shooter. One of the best shooters I’ve coached against. I’m real excited that he’s joining our squad. He’ll bring a different perimeter threat out there and I think he’ll fit well with us,” he said.

“We’ve played against him a number of times in the finals. To have that firepower on our team, combined with our defence, it’s going to open up a lot of avenues our guys.”

After recovering from the hip and back injuries which foiled his 2016/17 season, Webster is playing in the NZ NBL for the Wellington Saints this winter.

So far, he’s averaging 25.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game with the Saints off to a 3-0 start to the season.

I like it.

It's obviously risky, but Perth is a great environment to potentially get him back to that high level again. Quality "locals" (non-imports) are always a valuable commodity so I'm pleased that Perth has added one.

Damo and Webster on the same backcourt.. can't wait to see that.

Looks like Corey is getting his groove back in the NZNBL and with something to prove.

With three imports still to add, this is a big signing. Looking good.

what no why

whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Hopefully he isnt just blowing smoke (pun intended) and is ready to get his career back on track and Perth's professionalism will be a perfect boiling pot (pun intended) for him to realise his potential again.

Corey isn't exactly new to this league - he knows you don't sign with the Wildcats if you're planning to coast through the season and put in 50% effort on and off the court.

Very excited about this signing!

I wonder if this is a silent acknowledgement that we're zero chance of getting Cotton back (which I think most of us know anyway).

Hey if it doesn't hash (pun intended) out, you could always do a Jaron. Not like you haven't done it before and Bendat can afford to smoke (pun intended) away a few hundred grand, its chump change for him.

Ok, did not see that one coming.

I haven't followed all the details, but I understand Webster has had some issues. So there is a risk. Hopefully he will get his act together.

Surely though he'd be considered a bench player for the Wildcats? But in any event its good to get some depth in the SG role.

Will Cotton be back? I think we all hope so, but suspect not. If not NBA, he'll be looking for a good European job. The Wildcats would be crazy to bank on his return.

We'll have to wait and see exactly what this means for the Wildcats Roster. Perhaps no other changes except for the Imports?

This makes me wonder how Corey Webster passed the Wildcats culture/values test.

I wonder if the other members of the team were brought in on the decision making process?

"This makes me wonder how Corey Webster passed the Wildcats culture/values test.

I wonder if the other members of the team were brought in on the decision making process?"

While Marvin and Gleason would have ultimately made the decision, I find it unlikely that Damo, Hire, Wagstaff etc haven't at least been given the "whaddya think?". Even Jack Bendat himself.

The other thing is that some people DO manage to turn their lives around. It's bloody hard to do though, and you really need to be in the right environment for that turnaround to succeed. Without being obnoxious about it, one of the reasons for the Wildcats constant success, particularly in recent years, is that the core group provide that environment.

The only thing I'm concerned about is we still maybe need that Cotton, Randle, Dillard, Ware type.

Not sure how the starting 5 will look but its a good problem to have.

While Webster adds some much-needed perimeter shooting to the Wildcats, he wasn't the team’s first option. The Wildcats initially attempted to sign 36ers star, Nathan Sobey, after his breakout season, but the 26-year-old combo guard turned down the offer, sources said.

Hopefully Kinny will be a good influence on Wibsta

Martin / Kenny
Webster / DKD
Import / Hire
Import / Wagstaff / Knight
Import / Brandt

Interestingly, a Jaron Johnson/Prather type import combo could work in this lineup.

Hopefully this means the return of Dunigan!

I would've thought the Webster signing would be in place of a cheap 3rd import.

No brainer really, very good shooter, something we can always use.I'm sure his contract would have clauses in it regarding off court behaviour. We had no trouble finding a replacement this year when we needed one, i'm sure we could find one for Corey if he plays up off court and we cut him

I would expect Walker to be in the lineup next season. *Shrugs*

A lot harder to find a decent replacement local than a replacement import though!

Can't replace cotton but this kid can ball and shoot the rock with the best of them, stays mentally and physically fit should be awesome.

Still 3 imports to come, world class shooter added. Well done cats. Great start.

Shots have been fired.. lets see what the rest of the league does.

Not sure about this one... I don't see it ending well.

Best Case Comparison: Rodman to Bulls

Wildcats sign Webster. He is a great pickup. If 36ers picked him up-oh that was a bad move with his legal issues. Already read Cats fans claiming title favouritism. Maybe wait until we see all clubs complete their rosters.

They see me rollin'......

"Martin / Kenny
Webster / DKD
Import / Hire
Import / Wagstaff / Knight
Import / Brandt"

I don't think Webster will be starting. I imagine he's been brought in to offer some depth in the SG role.

If we stick with 11 players, then I can see DKD being kept in his pseudo-development role, as the 11th man, otherwise I doubt he would survive the cut.

Be interesting to see which direction they go with their big import, but I would imagine the squad would look something like this:

Martin / Kenny
Import / Webster }
Import / Hire } DKD
Import / Wagstaff
Knight / Brandt

Gotta say that Dan wasn't the only one who heard the Bullets news. In fact, Andrejs Lemanis and CJ Bruton got a verbal agreement from Webster's camp on Tuesday evening.

Once again, verbal agreements mean shit all in professional sports.

I think he may have red-shirted a year at College.
He then played in Brazil for a few months. He was too old to be a Development Player so the Wildcats kept him around as a Training Player. When the quad expanded to 11 this season, he was added.

He's an ok outside shooter when he gets going, but didn't get many minutes this year. I see him playing a 2/3 type role.

Not without risk, but local talent in the prime age for a basketball player is hard to come by, good signing. The potential to add three imports to this core is rather intriguing.

The suggestion they went after Sobey makes sense however I am not convinced Sobey is there yet, a breakout season is nothing until it is solidified with another strong season and consistent post season play.

If Prather is not back I could almost see a mckay johnson combo filling out the starting lineup well. I know Johnson again, but as a 3 his rightful position in our league he would go fine. That also leaves another import spot up for grabs. I could see a starting power forward on the cards to reduce Knights minutes and maybe bring Knight of the bench.

Signing Webster is definitely worth the risk, especially for a team that has such a solid core group and can provide that structure both on the court and off that Corey would be craving...

If they keep an import spot spare, which I think they will, it's not a huge risk because they can replace him if things go awry off the court.

Brandt/Knight
Import/Wagstaff
Import/Hire
Webster/DKD
Martin/Kenny

I am amused by all of this talk about JJ returning to the 'Cats. He's been cut by the team twice. Do you think he's going to have faith in the organisation that gave him the best impression they could that they would keep him until the end of the season, only to cut (again) him as soon as something better came along?

The man would have to have a very low self-esteem to take another contract with the Wildcats.

You'd think with this signing that the Wildcats will do their research into replacements, but give Casey Prather until the last possible second to decide to come back.

Do that, bring McKay back, and you've got the core of the team that just won the championship, added the outside shooter and still got an import spot free to cover either Redhage's spot or injury.

Can't see any way JJ plays for the Wildcats again.

Anyone who even hints at the thought of Jaron Johnson returning to the NBL (let alone the Wildcats!) should just stop typing.

He'll never play outside of the USA ever again and I'm confident he probably won't even be playing professional basketball in 3 years or less.

I'm thinking that the import spot freed up by Webster will be used as Matty Knight insurance.
(take note, Mike Dunigan ;)

The inner beast in McKay is starting to wake up.. will be happy to get him back.

Mike Dunigan to cats confirmed.

Have we had any confirmation that Knight will play next season?

Let's hope he's not introduced to any Eagles or Dockers players!

"He'll never play outside of the USA ever again and I'm confident he probably won't even be playing professional basketball in 3 years or less."

What's your reasoning for thinking this? He seems to be putting up strong numbers in the d-league

"He'll never play outside of the USA ever again and I'm confident he probably won't even be playing professional basketball in 3 years or less."

Agree with the first part, disagree with the second part.

Not sure how you can rule out a 24-year old still putting up reasonable numbers in the D-League as a goner in 3 years...

http://stats.nbadleague.com/player/#!/204189/gamelogs/

"Mike Dunigan to cats confirmed."

Source? Not seen anything on Twitter or FB.

Any idea on the length of his contract? Best off season signing in off season that's not a import since we got damo and wagstaff and knight.

I suspect we'll see McKay back.

This is a big risk because you just don't know which Corey Webster is going to show up.

And the Wildcats don't take BS from their players, examples include David Bailey and Steve Leven.

You don't pick the Cats if you think you're in for an easy ride.

His numbers in the NZBL are looking pretty good and any back court pairing with Damo has to be able to shoot.

Why wouldn't Johnson return to the NBL?
If players took offence to an entire league after being cut, some would have very short Careers - or all be playing in Uzbekistan.

He didn't fit well at the Wildcats but he is still a good player by NBL standards. Depending on how much money he wants, he'd be a good fit for some teams - either as a SF - even as an SG with the right PG partner - or for a team that already had local talent and were looking for a bench player.

Many assuming Webster has been signed as a starter? I'm not so sure?

He's not Cotton quality, not even Beal. Why would the Cats settle for going backwards? Plus Martin is getting older and so is Kenny. Last year showed that the Wildcats are vulnerable to injuries there.

Webster is good player and a local, so teams would be nuts to pass that up - but doesn't mean he's a starter. Also he's a risk. If he's there as a bench player, and he stuffs up and gets cut, the damage is limited.

Plus I'm not fully convinced that DKD is up to speed yet.

And I don't see why the Wildcats would opt for only two imports based on current potential squad. If we stick with 11 players they would need to find an extra local - and I doubt they would sign Walker or Wroe in prefernce to an import.

Best off season signing in off season that's not a import since we got damo and wagstaff and knight.

Nope, he joined in 2010.

Many assuming Webster has been signed as a starter? I'm not so sure?

He's not Cotton quality, not even Beal. Why would the Cats settle for going backwards? Plus Martin is getting older and so is Kenny. Last year showed that the Wildcats are vulnerable to injuries there.

Plus, isn't there a hard salary cap on a team's bench players?

He's not Cotton-quality, but neither is ... well, pretty much anyone ... so that's not really a fair bar to set.

Cousins out in 3 months, mmm this could be interesting!!