Olgun:

The reigning NBL MVP and Grand Final MVP informed the Wildcats of his decision on Thursday, citing the effects of the recent salary-cutting measures that were agreed on at the beginning of April.

Cotton's contract is above the $200,000 mark, so his salary for the 2020-21 NBL season would have been cut by 50 percent. The new agreement allowed players to opt out of their respective contract before May 4, with the Wildcats holding Cotton's domestic rights if he chose to return to play professionally in Australia for the upcoming season.

Can anyone clarify how long Perth hold his domestic (NBL) rights?

E.g. Can he sign overseas, and if cut/contract terminated mid NBL season, can he sign with any team?

Perth own his nbl rights until end of 2021 season. We won't see him here for a year, if ever again. Europe / D League would be most likely destination(s)

Opting out itself is not really a big deal, and I'd expect plenty of others to be doing it too, but yeah the wording of his message makes it sound to me like he's already got something lined up

Confirmed by Olgun:

The Wildcats hold his rights just for the 2020-21 season. Part of those rights is that he can only return on the existing contract.

Still hoping his aussie citizenship comes through though!

Could it be a way of nullifying the current contract, to then sign a new one that backloads the loss off season 20/21 into following seasons, to recoup the lost income?

No, because they can't do that.

He's signed in Italy with Basket Brescia Leonessa

This is bad for the league. I wonder if it will affect his citizenship?

He's in the thick of the process of naturalising so he's likely opting out for a bigger payday this season and will probably come back to the NBL/Perth the season after once the salary restrictions have been lifted.

#804305 -

The league doesn't make money, it losses money. What is more relevant that a couple of sponsors balance sheets is the standings of the owners of the league and teams.

If we look at the 36ers ownership, Grant Kelley is the CEO of Vicinity shopping centers. They have taken an absolute hammering. Kestlemen owns a luxury property development company, I presume their bottom line will be impacted as well.

Don't think you cam leave the country for any great length of time with out your application being delayed for citizenship

Oh dear. This is could be the early nail in the NBL coffin.

https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/perth-wildcats-mvp-bryce-cotton-confirms-shock-departure-from-nbl-ng-b881534328z

No paywall

The league is going to suck ass next year. I feel like they should call next season off or just run a bigger NBL1 for our local players and try figure it all out the year after.

^Cotton was already here and it didn't stop him leaving.

Perths starting 5 to look completely different if Damo retires...

PG - Norton
SG - import?
SF - import? (would White be returning?)
PF - Kay
C - Brandt perhaps?

I wouldnt think we will keep Plumlee having lost Cotton, we need to find buckets with Cotton leaving and wouldnt want to chew up an import slot on Plums.

As a Cats fan and an Australian basketball fan, this hurts. But I'm wondering if this is the leagues fault in bringing in the pay cuts, or was it each teams decision?

The Cats are one of the leagues wealthiest and with many reports saying that team income is based mainly around ticket sales, how are they effected? Mine, my families and I'd say most/all 13,000 members fees have already been paid...there aren't many tickets left.

So was it the leagues decision to cut salaries...or each teams?

If Europe is playing and paying now, no top player will stay which will mean sponsors are going to pull out as well. I understand the league wanting to keep it equal but 3 good teams is better than 9 crap ones in the eyes of sponsors.

This is a sad day for the NBL (and Perth) that a player of Cotton's calibre is leaving because of something out of anyone's hands.

The other 8 CEO's will be telling their players to stay because the Championship no longer goes through Perth.

Alternatively Cotton could be a guiding light out of the NBL if he shows there are other much better paying jobs out there for grabs.

Now if Kay goes, Martin goes, the Wildcats are basically doing a rebuild. 3 new imports, and 2 irreplaceable Australians.

In the Wildcats statement they pretty much say it's the league and players association fault.

"I understand the league wanting to keep it equal but 3 good teams is better than 9 crap ones in the eyes of sponsors"

Say's who? The league will still be talented and more even which should help lift crowds. Who generated more league interest Cotton or Ball?

Well Brunson, considering Cotton won't be here and the NBA has all but shut the door on Next Stars...I think the things aren't looking great. And 'More talanted'? From where? Development players stepping up?

Just because a league is even doesn't mean it's worth watching. The VFL and WAFL are pretty even, just ask the 25 people that go and watch. The NBL1 is pretty even, maybe...who knows because it's a no talent league which no one watches.

Stars bring sponsors and fans, if the kings don't bring back their 9 imports how many fans do you think are buying memberships?

Players come and go and the sport/league is bigger than any one player.

Each player has the right to choose their own path and while he played a very good game and was a very good player, it just means that there is an opportunity for someone else to fill those shoes.

As far as Perth are concerned, I think we all saw how vulnerable Perth were/are without Damien Martyn direction traffic. He had a spell on the sidelines last season and if you compared the performance of Perth without him vs with him, there's quite a gap that should be concerning Perth fans if he is to hang up the boots and not feature in NBL 21.

With the NBL, I think NBL21 will be different to NBL20, but as far as it being worse, we don't know yet. There's a saying that of the things you worry about, only 50% actually happen, then
of the stuff that does happen, 40% happens with no or less desirable consequences than people worry about, then 5% happens with the consequences people worry about and 5% is worse. So, we worry 90% over nothing.

The NBL20 season set the benchmark moving forward, strong crowds, exciting games, exciting finish to the minor rounds, games being stopped due to a leaking roof, excitement on and off the court, new team. Funny end to the season. There was a lot to pack in and keep the crowds happy.

NBL21 should start in October, but there are plans if it doesn't and a shorter season in length, but I suspect the same games would occur. I wonder if we would see a lot more double headers to fit them all in. The only real unknown is the spectator aspect which is out of the NBL's control and the government will have a policy in place by then I would expect.

With crowds, I would not be surprised if there are a couple of key changes in government policy. The first is HVAC (air conditioning). There's concerns that any viruses could travel and be spread using air conditioning. There are rules regarding air circulation times so don't be surprised if indoor stadiums might need some UV sterilisation of the air going back into the stadium. Secondly, I think you'll find the hygiene standards of stadiums will increase dramatically with an increased requirement to keep toilets areas clean, food areas clean, etc etc, including lots of hand sanitiser stations. Lots more cleaners etc. Thirdly, don't be surprised if we see thermal cameras on entry points to scan for potential sick people and fo security to subtlely take these people aside. With the Covid19 Ap it will be easier to monitor people as well. So a few things to keep spectators, and more importantly, players safe. The sport needs crowds as empty stadiums are pretty boring...however, all those safety measures will mean that the stadium owners will have to charge more per game night.

I think it'll be just a good as NBL20 and hey, remember we have the Tassie team returning in NBL22, no doubt the double headers will be popular down there.

Huge blow for the league, but i can't imagine he would jeopardise his citizenship application considering he has an Aussie partner and child.

Secondly, he would be well aware that being a citizen allows him to play professionally in Australia until his late 30's (probably an extra 6 years that he wouldn't get as an import)

Should still be eligible for the Boomers come 2021.

Good time for a clean out, get some more serious ex-NBA talent into the lineup and charge again.

It's sad. It's always sad to see a favourite player leave, especially when he looked to be here for the long term.

As has been said, the opting-out itself isn't a problem, but the language suggest he already has better offers in place.
It's not hard to imagine. He's the reigning MVP, champion, and finals MVP. Even at the best of time he'd be getting slightly better offers o/s, and now with the 50% ay cut, its inevitable.
The world's not going back to normal, and I think many leagues and teams will struggle, but for a top player like Cotton I guess there are still options out there.

Yes, the league has acted very quickly on the salary cuts, especially when things are so uncertain, and I think the May opt-out deadline may have been a little early. But, it's much fairer to do it this way, rather than waiting until next season has almost started before pulling the rug.

I'm not clear exactly how this works. Have they imposed a salary-cap?
Otherwise I'm not sure how you can insist that contracted players take pay-cuts, whilst free-agents and new players are free to negotiate.

Cotton's spouse and child are Australian, so I imagine he can still progress his application for Citizenship. However it will nolonger be a priority for BBall purposes.

Obviously other players will be similarly effected, but it remains to be seen how many will get better offers elsewhere.

Still far too much uncertainty to predict

I just noticed it showed up in the ABC's daily coronavirus blog so at least the league got some exposure................right??

A sad day for the NBL. I cant help but think the NBL made the decision to cut wages so drastically too soon. The pandemic is changing on a daily basis and who knows what the situation will be by October or if they decide to delay the season until December it could be deemed safe by then to have crowds.

Its possible Cotton could be back again after playing elsewhere to make up for lost earnings. But i agree with comments above that in his statement it sounds like he wont be back.

I cant see caspar ware and hopson and the like playing NBL next season either. Its so disappointing to lose great payers especially after one of the best seasons i can remember.

Which other players have opted out of their contract so far?

Timberland

My point was ball brought in more publicity than the big 3 teams which is a fact.

I wasn't saying there would be more talent. I was saying the league would be more even. These are the cards the league have been given.

A league averaged more fans than NBL. I imagine they got more fans watching it at home also so a pretty poor point from you. The second tier leagues will always be small. They get people like Mitch Creek, Sobey and other NBL players playing for them, they don't all of a sudden get 5000 attending the games.

Would sponsors at other clubs enjoy watching their team get pummeled and having another losing season? I am sure they would love that. They are less inclined to put their money in if their team isn't competitive.

Brunson,

Never mentioned the A League...but good reading by you. The local IGA that sponsors the Taipans prob wouldnt like sponsoring them if they got pummeled every week, though they did for years.

The league was better last year because better talent was spread across the the league making it more even. If we lose the top guys the second their guys won't step up, the league will step back to meet them.

The sponsors I'm talking about are the big league ones (Bunnings, Chemist warehouse etc) who won't want to put their name to an inferior product.

If we lose our top players to Europe etc...we are a second tier league.

And the league wasn't 'given these cards'... they hand picked them out of the deck by making league wide pay cuts 7 months before the season started.

Why are people acting like a) NBL clubs can't possibly be losing money right now despite teams owners' other businesses taking hits and membership renewals presumably hitting record lows and b) there isn't a review in three months to reassess the salary situation?

Better to cut it too far now and adjust back up later than to suddenly find yourself with no money in six months.

Haha ^

NBL is in a decent position - numero uno - they don't have to make many decisions before July.

Between now and end of July, if they're hoping for an end of October start, that's plenty of time to see how things shape up.

By three weeks' time, mid may, we will have a picture of how places have faired with social distancing. SA is on track to have no (known) cases by then. By then nationally, if we have less than 500 active cases, it's a trackable number that gives us a good chance to avoid a second spike.


By start of July, it could be the case that 1) SA has no cases and more confident of avoiding a second spike if nothing pops up over the course the 4 weeks between June-July; 2) Tas, NZ & WA finds itself in a similar position; 3) East coast starts to get well on top of it.

If I was the NBL, i'd look at:
1) Having 32 games played to try to get that revenue back
2) Front load the schedule in SA, WA, NZ and perhaps Tasmania to house some Hawks games - should these places be safe enough for crowds
3) Have all 9 teams limiting travel, play out half of their series at once in those locations
4) Hopefully by July/August there will be a more definitive position re imports and Government stance, it may well be some imports can fly over if placed in isolation for 3 weeks

They definitely panicked and made a rushed decision - October/November/December is a long time away;

It's even more bizarre given our relative strength of position with Covid-19 versus the countries where we would likely lose guys to (Spain/Italy etc. are dire right now).

It's a bit of a win-win for Cotton isn't it?

Either Europe is OK come winter, leagues resume and he gets a nice paying gig in Spain/Italy (as bad as those countries are right now economically and with Covid-19 nothing would surprise me if he did); OR he returns to the Wildcats for next season on his reduced contract as a Plan B (Perth will move heaven and earth to accommodate him).

Casper was reportedly on 800k

And Bogut was reportedly on $1 million a year. Would Bogut bother to go around again for $500k? Maybe not.

I can understand Cotton moving on from $300k to stay on next season.

I don't know if any of these pay cuts are for the entire season. Other codes are only doing pay cuts until season restarts.

Have to assume there is a salary cap? Rumoured to be $700k???
Maybe with existing adjusted contracts grandfathered??

It that is so, then no it wouldn't be better to be a free agent. Guys who were hoping for a big NBL pay-rise next season, could be left struggling.

It will be interesting to see what Cotton has lined up. I suspect that this may simply have brought forward his move by a year.
Had he played out the final year of his contract, at a similar level, it would be hard to see him not getting much better offers elsewhere.

My understanding is that he was on $500k. But whether it was 5 or 6, a 50% paycut is a kick in the balls, especially if he can get a million bucks or more elsewhere.

Either I'm missing something or this is the worst deal in history (insert Trump meme). Why would the players association agree to a pay cut on an uninteruppted season.

The way I understood it, players would take the pay cut for as long as the season was on hold, which is now as they can't train and they get paid during off season as well. If/when the season resumes they return to their regular salary amount.

Bogut salary would have been as a marquee player, Cotton as well you would think.

Nothing confirmed about crowds being allowed or not allowed for October yet. So either you are Scott Morrison and letting out a secret...or you are a try hard know it all who really knows fuck all, I'm thinking it's the latter.

Why would the players agree to drop their salaries by so much if there is even a chance of an uninterrupted season?

I don't understand it but I believe the salary cap stays the same

I imagine all of the Sydney Kings stars will be opting out?
Supposedly they were all playing for low 200's, so that will be cut to low 100's.

Bogut won't be affected, cos he was playing for love.

Yeh see ya mate

Plumless will be interesting.
He seemed genuinely chuffed to be in Perth rather than China when the shit hit the fan
and he doesn't need the money.

Cool anonytroll, thanks for the tip, if you can look into that crystal ball and tell us something useful like the lotto numbers for a draw in 6 months time that would be awesome.

6 months is a long time away and a lot can change in that time. 5 days ago LK said that he was still hopeful of crowds in October. Unless it is said officially there is little use in speculation.

Anonytrolls try to help but really they do not.
Hoping too Dazz that Plumlee stays for love and not money though he has plenty of the latter.

Cotton says he's doing the right thing by his family and he is, his citizenship is done at this stage.

I think they meant "done" as in "completed", not as in "ended".

On re-reading it you're right.

There were two other posts I should've quoted instead which claimed otherwise (#398 and #401 above).

It will be good to see the playing field more even with Cotton oping out. If the Breakers can get their full kiwi squad back, they will definitely win the championship.

Sucks how New Zealand have one team still.

2 issues with above:

1. Very surprised that of all destinations, Italy was the choice. With the virus apparently making a come back there, can't be the right option for "best for me and my family" (post '451 says it all. Well said, anon).

2. "Tassie team returning in NBL22, no doubt the double headers will be popular down there." - Tsk tsk!

He can't get his job keeper payments now

NBL peaked 2019/20 and will never be as good.

I think the only person that's said hes going to Italy is a Hoops poster.

Its possible he hasn't got anything lined up yet and is exploring the market. He wont have any trouble getting a gig that pays a lot more.

It will be interesting to see where he ends up when things settle down globally.

I don't agree that its good for an even playing field with Cotton leaving. You don't want to lose such talent from any team, you want every team to have a Cotton.
Plus it's not like the Wildcats were killing it last year. Cairns and Sydney both had their measure a couple of times during the year and in finals.

Talent like Cotton leaving is never good.

Is what it is.

No, its not all doom and gloom.
Frankly, the biggest issues are around whether we have a competition at all and whether crowds are allowed in.
We will lose a few players, and we'll replace them, like we do every season.
Losing Cotton is sad, but its not like the replacements will be total crabs.

Have to keep in mind that at this time, leagues, teams, and players are trying to PREDICT where we'll be in 6 months time, and manage the risks accordingly.
As we have all discussed, in terms of physical recovery, Australia would appear to be ahead of the world. So yes, there's still an outside chance that we could have a league whilst most of the world is still in lockdown. And who knows, maybe the NBL can sell their broadcasts all over the world because we're the only league playing? LOL.
But once leagues start to get back up and running, those with lucrative TV deals in place will be the winners.
And with that in mind, I imagine the moguls in Europe are making all kinds of contingency plans.

My gut feel is that on average there will be less money everywhere, that on average the NBL will be no worse off, and in fact better off than some leagues. But clearly there are some leagues and clubs that will be cashed up and looking to make the most of the opportunity.
So I don't think we're going to see a wholesale pillaging of the NBL, but players at the very top end, like Cotton, will be highly sought

This will be a big test for the Wildcats and Gleeson.

If he can win again with such a change of personnel, he could be considered one of the best coaches in NBL history.

He has had the luxury of Cotton for 4 seasons and structured the offence around him, unless he finds a like for like, the schemes will have to change (more so if Kay, Martin, Steindl depart).

Next season everyone is getting pegged down to Illawarra and Cairns level spending, so there are no favourites.

" No one thinks Perth players play for cheap wages"

I dunno there's definitely some people on here who think that.

Many of those view Perth as having a cheaper roster than Adelaide.

One might say it was trolling to rile people up, but really more of a trump vibe - saying something stupid > say it’s sarcasm > then posit “ it could be true tho”

If Cotton was to become naturalised, would his contract need to change to reflect this or does it stay the same? Surely a contract would read differently for an import and a local player?

I like your thinking - now that would be a handy loophole.

That's what I was thinking. Weird how last week Cotton was talking about something big was in the works on his Insta.

"Why would it?"

Well that's why I'm asking, do you know for certain it doesn't change?

Homicide is pretty sure Cotton is going to the NBA...

Just watched the presser.
Trev cracks the sads because richer teams outbid him for his BFF. Boo fucking hoo.

It's weird that there has been a lot of speculation in the local media that Cotton will somehow stay...
But from what Bryce and Trev said, it appears clear he already has other offers on the table.

If you can't beat them on the court gut their squad by enacting drastic and premature cuts. Thanks NBL.

Its almost like there is a points cap again. Lets make it an even and mediocre league.

Lol. Of course you do.

Perth won a title when Adelaide choked to Illawarra in the semi a few years back. Adelaide were tar and away the best team that season except for that choke.

"ink you'll find the hygiene standards of stadiums will increase dramatically with an increased requirement to keep toilets areas clean, food areas clean, etc etc, including lots of hand sanitiser stations. "

Isn't pay wave the safest payment system? Will Adelaide even have EFTPOS?

Important consideration

Will Adelaide even have EFTPOS?

That's not how any of this works.

How does it work then. You seem to have the ear of nbl or work for them.

So Goulding to Perth as a marquee could happen! Fingers crossed!

Didn't the imports not see eye to eye with the coach either?

Maybe he would like it better under Conor Henry?

Yes as from memory CG43's one season Perth pit stop was after the Bullets collapsed.

^ Err delete that

No thanks

Would want to be a bloody good import combo guard.

In all seriousness I guess it depends on how desperate the club is to maintain the playoff streak and if they're willing to compromise their usual policies to do it.
If a season happens and it's without Cotton & Kay here then we're pretty screwed.
In addition to a top import we'd need a very good aussie. Which Goulding is. But he isn't the type of player we'd normally recruit.
I'll cheer him if he puts the red jersey back on but hopefully we're looking at other players first, with a longer term view.

Little Birdy says Cotton to re-sign with the Wildcats soon.

Well if someone on this forum said it, it must be true.

Haha grouping Adelaide as spenders with Sydney Melbourne Perth is a total pisstake.

It's like comparing a castle to a run down camper van

Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Fiat

Seems like a fluff piece as how can we compete with the overseas under these new draconian NBL restrictions?

I'm surprised people are buying Cotton's shirts.

If he gets his citizenship, Perth can sign him for double what he was on last year - meaning he earns what he would have anyway - and it won't cost the Wildcats a single penny more.

Exactly the same as they were before: NS don't count at all, marquee players only count up to a certain number that depends on the salary cap for that season and how many marquee players a team has.

Injury players don't count against salary. Think games missed by bogut, lisch, moller.

We're going to Make Wildcats Great Again with Cotton's re-signing.

Threw the bank at Nick Kay to make sure they bought themselves a championship

There are two ways to spend money to build a top team and a dynasty.

Bendat bought the Wildcats in 2007 and built it up organically by increasing demand for the product until the 4,500 Challenge Stadium was sold out for every game before the move to Perth Arena in 2012. During this time profits were made and reinvested during the lower salary cap era. The club is self-sufficient with 10,000+ members. Perth are at worst breaking even.

Meanwhile at the Kings you have AEG and later on Paul Smith join them and in their four and one years respectively try to win by throwing money around like crazy. Bogut on $1mil and a billboard advertising campaign costing $1mil alone this season is unsustainable. They have accrued millions in losses and will get tired of it soon and move on. Luckily they didn't win this season as these type of owners get bored quickly after winning a title as their ego has been validated. They will be around in the short term but eventually will bail. Having a drawcard like Bogut and a top of the ladder team still had them with the problem of resorting go offering massively discounted or free children's tickets to dress up crowd figures. Sydney are at best losing only seven figures, not eight.

The above was a response to this:

Everyone buys championships. This is a dig at Perth fans who claim Sydney tried to buy and championship but yet fail to realise they do the same. And in fact worse than most.

Considering that Bevo was going to give Kay top import dollars and Kay said he wanted to stay only to sign with Perth a few days later and not speak to Bevo, I'd say that goes towards buying a premiership. No Kay no premierships.

It was reported at the time he signed with Perth that Kay was on $400k per which would probably be about right as Perth need to pay overs to get people to relocate to the other side of the country.

I very much doubt Dario Hunt was on anything close to $250k he came from the Belgian league which is both cheap and a "trainer wheels" league in preparation for the better leagues in Europe. Tate at the Kings also came from that league and likewise would've been relatively cheap.

All this time I was so proud of Adelaide only to be told today that we bought our championships because we lured Robert Rose to the team.

Even the Wollongong Hawks bought Matt Shanahan and Freddy Kruger.

Shame on all NBL champions of today and the past for your procurement shenanigans.

I must be one of the rare few not privy to the P/L statements and Salary schedules of every NBL team.

Would you guys mind telling me which public domain location I can get this info or what Freedom of Information provisions I must invoke to get the Kings and Wildcats to have their Enron'esque accountants to divulge their books?

250k for an import is cheap.

koberulz
Earlier this week

Well if someone on this forum said it, it must be true.

Apology accepted.

You said he was close to signing, the news is now reporting that the Wildcats are trying to keep him. Those are vastly different things.

All this time I was so proud of Adelaide only to be told today that we bought our championships because we lured Robert Rose to the team.

A lot of wank in this thread

Everybody spends what they can to get the best team, ie buying a championship."
Nobody has ever denied that Perth are one of the big spenders. What I have said is that they were outspent by Sydney, and probably Melbourne.

And yes, poster (way) above is correct. Bogut was Sydney's Marquee player, so only $150k (IIRC) of his $1M counted towards the tax-cap.

And yes, there have been players who opted to sign and/or stay with Perth for equal to or less than what they were offered elsewhere.
That's not saying that Perth on average pays less than most clubs, its referring to individual players.
My understanding is that Kay had essentially the same offer from 3 teams. Perth was one of those, and he chose Perth.

As for Cotton, I don't there is really anything new here.
There was a deadline to opt out, so he did, so that he could consider his options.
He apparently has offers from Europe, and the Cats are trying to match those.
Obviously, at this time, he's still at home with his family in Perth.