With Cotton maybe not returning, this is a good first step.

This is exactly how super professional clubs going about building maintaining the roster..back the coach retain the talent..I so pline for the days of sixer / wildcat dominance and rivalry.

Great signing, best four in the competition this season imo, never really got the accolades he deserved. Plays both ends.

Dolittle is very good, no doubt.

But I think he is better because of Cotton's gravity.

Without Cotton he won't be as effective.

Kendrick Davis should be a target, he brings better point guard play that could also help Doolittle

Kd sixer bound.rock solid. Sixer must retain the next BC dominant star..

Keeping Doolittle is big for Perth and if Cotton doesn't resign I'd agree they definitely need a lead PG, but I'm not buying it yet re: KD. Lots of smoke around KD/Adelaide/Wells and although Adelaide are a bit of a train wreck in general, having a hard time imagining Rillie/KD being a great fit.

Presume Pinder is gone from his social media post. He has his limitations but also wasn't really well utilized under Rillie and if he stays in the NBL I think there's a good chance he can regain his Taipans form.

Pinder has signed in China

Great signing

Doolittle's played for the same Puerto Rican team the last 4 years too. Seems to like finding something that works and then sticking around.

Continuity is king in the NBL, based on the current grand final series- Harvey, Clark and Lee all long-term NBL imports, 3, 4 and 5 seasons respectively and all played multiple years with their current clubs (Lee had a year in Tassie in between)

If Cotton and Pinder go, then it's even more important to keep Doolittle as a bridge of consistency with this season.

And of course Kell another long-term NBL import but year 1 with Hawks.

Vickerman loves NBL imports- Hopson, Trimble, Long, XRM, Clark, Prather.

Doesn't guarantee it'll work, but there's something to be said for "better the devil you know"

Jesse Wagstaff has signed on for another season - his 17th with the Wildcats

A little surprising but as the last remaining link to the gritty, defensive-orientated Wildcats of yore this is probably a good thing even if its just to sit on the end of the bench in a jersey and give the players a kick up the ass in huddles and timeouts from time to time.

Is he on track to crack 500 games next season provided he plays enough?

No.

Had forgotten he already cracked the mark this season!

Nothing is surprising with this front office. To a degree, I get it, bringing Wagstaff back, but on the other hand I don't. It’s an important position, he doesn’t play big minutes, just has moments. His time on the court lessens time of other young guys that need more time, and experience. Also, I suspect they could get another local for a similar price that can play more consistent minutes. Similar to last year, I feel the biggest impact he will have is off the court. Imports were pretty good this season, I just feel the local core isn't quite up to scratch in comparison to other teams.too many players in similar positions falling out of rotation.

Next Bryce/Mets de Guaynabo game is Monday 8am Perth time I believe all free on pootube if ur bothered

https://youtube.com/@metsbasketball?si=wkfPMLdOVEgVmxRR

Nothing is surprising with this front office

Out of curiosity, with free agency period inbound what is everyone's thoughts. Not many contracts already in place, who would you like to see signed, and who would you be ok with not getting another contract? Obviously everything is pending on Cottons decision, but at a minimum for locals, what is everyone’s thoughts? Sure a bit hard with Henshall being up in smoke, Pinder maybe unlikely to return, as well as Tai, could be a lot of spots to fill, along with a bench that rarely sees court time.

Dylan Windler has signed on for 2 more years

Anyone with any rumours or intel?

Hopefully Hyrum Harris re-signs at PF
Centre hopefully we get either JLA or Wetzell.

If Henshall or Webster don't return we're looking pretty thin at the guard rotation.

So far this is how we're looking.

PG *Import / Russo-Nance
SG Pepper / X
SF *Windler / X
PF *Doolittle / Harris? / Wagstaff / **Huefner / ** Gerovich
C JLA? / X

I think the Cat's should take a look at Johnny Narkle at the 3.

According to Olgun Sunday Dech is close to signing a 3 year deal with the Wildcats

I've seen nothing official on social media yet, and haven't received the usual members news email, but the Cats put this on Youtube 10 minutes ago

^ haha, oopsie! Looks like they stuffed up by publishing that this morning. They have now made it private.
Anyway, Sunday is a Wildcat.

Almansa has declared for the NBA draft, and also deleted all photos of him in a Wildcats jersey off his instagram page. Weird....

Sounds like Almansa was not a happy camper, or he didn't like being associated with a team which wasn’t a winner