Personally thin that they were gunning for Long, now that he's off the table they will start looking for a quality import C to fill the vacancy, but this might not happen to summer league unless they have someone in mind. Feel like we'll sign a back up C soon though, I wouldn't mind seeing Jawai back at the Cats as our back up C.

Not much, the weather has turned. Oh and there's the uninterrupted weekend afternoons for home opens now that it's the off season.

I'd be interested in knowing whats going on in Perth too, as I'll be there for the next 10 days..

They have the core of a Championship winning team sitting there and two import spots up their sleeve to fill whenever they feel like it. That's what's going on in Perht.

We are lucky to have two import spots still available but I would also be happy getting Bairstow and going with two imports again.
I'm more interested in who will fill the bench spots.

I would like Bairstow and Jawai to sign in Perth and look to a import SF again (whether that be White or someone else). No rush on signing an import but getting an Aussie big is a priority.

Brandt and Kay did it, I think Bairstow and Kay can. Of course, they need a replacement for Jervis off the pine, and that's possibly where an import comes into it?

Hopefully they find an Aussie reserve (Jawai would be good but unlikely) as it would be a waste of an import spot that could potentially end up a Cooke Jr 2.0.

Perth might need to spend more on a 3rd import if they can't land Bairstow or quality Aussies.

But, they'll be fine. It's Gleeson and the Cats.

Martin, Wagstaff, Cotton, Vague, Norton, Kay & Steindel ...with 2 imports to go, only going to take a serviceable Aussie centre to make this a really big danger to the comp.

Does Bairstow play like Matt Knight?

Good screener, can hit mid range, decent rebounder, often injured?

As mentioned earlier, early departure announcements generally mean the reciprocal announcement is pending.
So Jervis has landed at Cairns. We can assume this is for personal reasons, but who really knows.
Haven't heard anything further on Brandt signing in Europe, and its hard to know how mutual this decision may have been.

Certainly those departures added fuel to the Long rumour, but I always found it strange. Gleeson I think prefers to find his own talent, when it comes to imports anyway. Besides which his defensive game isn't really up to Cats standard.

I was impressed with what I saw of Bairstow this season. But in checking the stats his minutes were moderate. Don't know if that is because he was being managed carefully whilst regaining match fitness, or if there may still be underlying question marks over his health?

I am really interested to see what direction the Cats go with their Hire replacement. They have progressively moved their starting SF to an outside "wing" player, but so far have kept a relatively tall bench.

I've heard a rumour that we are looking at a local veteran as backup centre. I wouldn't mind Jawai, but I doubt he would return just to play backup. Perhaps Nevill is tired of Taiwan?

You'd have to assume they're going for a import starting centre. My tip would be a Jameel McKay type.

@Cram why? Work?

No way on Neville!

For his size he is a terrible rebounder and defender

"@Cram why? Work?"

Just a holiday

Lachy Reid suggest on twitter that Wildcats are going with 1 import, has anyone got more news on that. One mean just Cotton all not counting Cotton because you still need 3 5 and i cant see Jawai starting

I would love if Nevill return, a legit 7 footer

If they get Nevill they should save money and go with no imports because they won't win anything.

I hope the Nevill suggestion was just a trolling attempt.
Waste of a roster spot.

LoL at the Jameel McKay suggestion too.
Perth want to defend a title not be mediocre.

Right, a team with McKay would never win an NBL title.

In the past Mr know it all but with Long and Bogut the standards have risen.

Surely Bairstow would be a good option for Perth. I think he would fit into their style of play and could be as effective as Brandt. Great experience with the Bulls when they were an ok team.

As I said, I heard a RUMOUR they were going with a Veteran backup centre.
(Which is not a totally terrible idea, as backup.)
Now who that rumoured veteran might be I don't know. My mention of Neville was flippant.

As for the starting role, I suggested a Jameel McKay TYPE.
ie somebody fast and athletic, who can take the pass on a fast break, and also get back and intimidate the shot on D.

I would assume the Lachy Reid tweet was just having a dig at Hutchy. As in we beat you this season with only two imports, next season we'll do it with only one.

The only alternative is that they have their eye on on some ex Europe or NBA types???
Or maybe Cotton will marry his girl and become naturalised.

The rumour mill is that Brandt is coming back because we didn't get Long.

Not sure I agree with this, just looking for Jawai or CB to be signed.

@Cram Ah I see, it's a pilgrimage to the city of the first Tigers NBL championship.

city = site*

Brandt is going to Europe (just left NZ and his mates are wishing him well in Europe....check his Twitter).

Bairstow also likely to be headed to Europe.

Perth scouts didn't find the players they were after on very recent trip to the states and will return to US soil for Summer League, the intention will be to sign an import 5 and find an import 3 (in case Terrico doesn’t return).

Jawai has his salary underpinned by the Queensland government. He is still a wanted commodity in Cairns so they should be favourites to land him.

Are you just guessing there champ? Or do you have Intel.

Casey Prather will be joining the Wildcats.

Isaiah Hartenstein will be joining to.

Wildcats in talk to both.

You also said Perth were signing Shawn Long so I will believe it when I see it.

When Long demanded $800k a season the Wildcats let it go. Wildcats were only prepared to offer Long the same salary as Cotton which is very generous because the value Cotton brings to a team is much more than anyone else in the league.

Nic Pozoglou a chance at backup bench spot.