Dunno but Cats just announced Todd Withers

Not required. The ones that do usually don't have DP’s that are good enough to step up. It’s a way of using an overage player as a DP when they have injuries

I don't understand the point of the Cats signing Withers then. Seems like a stupid thing to do.

Not when you sign an import as your IRP.

Anon is right. The teams that signed NRP's last season were Adelaide (Jacob Rigoni), Illawarra (Kyle Adnam), Melbourne (Rob Loe), Tasmania (Lachlan Barker) and NZ (Dom Kelman-Poto). I think Brisbane may have had Gabe Hadley as a NRP too.

It's unusual for a team to sign an import as a NRP given they can only play if replacing an unavailable/injured import so probably speaks to the lack of other options around for said player that they're willing to be a glorified training player for a season and the likely low pay that would come with that position.

Surely this means either Windler or Doolittle are injured. Did anyone manage to see who was playing today in Japan. I know Dunkman said it was very difficult from the vision to identify players.

I'm nearly certain Doolittle played, but it was extremely hard to see who was who and I haven’t been able to find stats. It was in there training gym, pretty dark and possibly no stats recorded, even the score took time to come up. I bailed at halftime, it’s probably on you tube if you want to watch or nbl app.

Nope. Neither are injured. I think it's a glorified training role like Zodiac said. It makes no sense other than that, and even that makes no sense.

According to the Wildcats game report Windler sat out, as did Cotton

I can also give you a few players stats: Henshall had 22pts, Almansa 11pts, Withers 11pts, Michael Harris 17pts

Nagoya didn't have any of their imports play, which was disappointing. A good interview with Shawn Dennis on you tube. He mentions that top clubs spend 12 million dollars. The game is just growing at an exceptional rate and there is a lot more money there.

Will probably sign him to the Otago Nuggets or whatever their NZ team is and then can use this bit of extra cash to circumvent the cap in that league.

Withers deal may not even be for the whole season it could just be a temp deal until all three imports are ready to play. Could even just be for this Japan tour?

NZNBL season doesn't start till March

New owner must have ticked this off in terms of spend and maybe it's an indicator the Cats now have even more to play with in terms of $$. I have always thought that one day an owner would come along where money would not be an object and just spend what they wanted and basically not care about the cap and luxury tax etc. Not saying that is what happening here but in terms of spend by the Japanese clubs there is nothing to stop an NBL club spending that sort of money either if the owner had deep enough pockets and viewed the club as a passion rather than as a business.

Majok was an injury replacement last season at JJs, I don't believe he ever got on the sign on sheet let at all play.

Majok was initially for Magnay but once Magnay returned early in the season they made him a training player for the rest of the season but yeah never played a game. Barker was their NRP.

Yes, that is 100% correct, Zodiac.

Sounds like Withers' deal is for the whole season.

The Perth Wildcats have secured the signature of Todd Withers as a Nominated Replacement Player for the NBL25 season.

Withers last played in the NBL in 2022 and had a strong recent NBL1 season with the Warwick Senators, averaging 24.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game.

He was named in the NBL West All-Defensive Team, rewarded with an NRP role at the Wildcats.

Withers is eligible to train full-time with the club for the duration of his contract, but can only be elevated to the main roster and suit up for games if another restricted player is injured.

The 201-centimetre forward boasts a strong record in the NZNBL, as a member of the championship-winning Otago Nuggets in 2022 and the league's All-Star Five in 2023.

https://nbl.com.au/news/former-36ers-import-joins-perth

It's smart by the Cats, Withers can train all season, integrate with the team... then if one of BC, Doolittle or Windler go down with an injury... Withers can step in right away, where as other teams would struggle to find an import straight away.

Nagoya didn't have any of their imports play, which was disappointing. A good interview with Shawn Dennis on you tube. He mentions that top clubs spend 12 million dollars. The game is just growing at an exceptional rate and there is a lot more money there.

How is it smart by the Cats? What would have stopped them doing that anyway?

My last comment was for you "Lost in the Sky". I cant figure out how to reply to certain comments?

Yeh there is. Well not on the unrestricted players, but you couldn't stack a full team. There is a limit to the most you can spend on your lowest 5 paid players.


KL
A few hours ago

New owner must have ticked this off in terms of spend and maybe it's an indicator the Cats now have even more to play with in terms of $$. I have always thought that one day an owner would come along where money would not be an object and just spend what they wanted and basically not care about the cap and luxury tax etc. Not saying that is what happening here but in terms of spend by the Japanese clubs there is nothing to stop an NBL club spending that sort of money either if the owner had deep enough pockets and viewed the club as a passion rather than as a business.

Will probably sign him to the Otago Nuggets or whatever their NZ team is