I wouldn't see him leaving Perth for another nbl team, he can’t be a marquee and the money he probably can get in Japan won’t be matched in Australia by any club or you are only playing one player as there would be hardly any money left in the cap or you would have to pay the tax which would give money to other clubs, not good business. As I’ve previously stated imports after loyal service to one club like Cotton should be allowed to marquee, he’s served his time. After 4-5 years at one club imports should be locals under the marquee rule.

Unfortunately I think he's done. He's off to Japan.

How is it that Japan can pay so well?

They have structured it so the imports and best homegrown talent get the big bucks and the rest get very little.

Dunkman, I like your import marquee idea

Good idea Dunkman.

Like the NBA's "Bird rights", call this the "Cotton rule". Hope he stays with Perth.

Thanks JR.

Japanese clubs are owned by major corporate companies and most are very well supported.

BC owes Perth nothing, we owe him he's a historical figure forever in WA/NBL basketball already. As the season has played out the idea of him going overseas for proper money to match his skill level is completely warranted - if local offers here are not even in the ballpark you can't blame him. It also gives the cats a chance to completely rebuild without having to scrimp on certain roles due to his cost. Would love him to stay but the alternative doesn't turn the Cats into wooden spooners.

Why would BC want to stay in Perth?

The coach is trash.

He has one big contract left, if Japan is going to pay more and there is a chance he gets to play with Gleeson again, he should go.

I have no doubt he loves Perth but he is essentially a businessman and business takes priority.

If this really is Bryce Cotton's last game as a Wildcat, it marks the end of an era—not just for Perth, but for the entire NBL. Five MVPs, three championships, and countless clutch performances—he’s already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play in the league.

If he moves to Japan, you can’t blame him. The money on offer there is far beyond what any NBL team can match, and at this stage in his career, securing a big contract makes sense. However, if he stays in the NBL but signs with another team like Melbourne United or Tasmania, that would be a massive shake-up. The Wildcats would have to completely rethink their roster—finding another franchise player isn’t easy, but it could allow them to rebuild with more flexibility under the cap.

No matter what happens, BC’s impact on Australian basketball is undeniable. Hopefully, the league finds a way to keep stars like him around in the future—maybe something like the 'Cotton Rule’ that’s been suggested. Either way, this offseason is going to be huge!

I hope whichever way it goes, it is resolved in the next few weeks and doesn't drag out for ages

No rush says Wildcats owner Mark Arena:

"We've not sat down. We need to certainly do that," Perth owner Mark Arena told The Dribble Podcast.

“Bryce is in our view the best player in the league and should be compensated as such. That’s such a key part of what does the roster look like. If Bryce is going to re-sign with us, what does the team look like? If he’s not, what does the team look like? It is totally different. But we don’t have any dates yet.”

https://nbl.com.au/news/wildcats-wont-rush-out-of-contract-cotton

Now this is all speculation, or my business mind in overdrive but Melbourne seems to be able to keep a very solid marquee players of White, Delly and Goulding with two imports. Now again a little bit of total guess work but don't Melbourne train at a a gym owned by Goulding and a partner. So putting a bit more speculation together, maybe Gouldings contract for basketball is minimal for a player of his standard but the rental fee for Melbourne to train out off is huge. You would think that’s outside his basketball income and the cap.
Now I’m basketball fan, not a cats fan though I think they did well this season but I’d be be real happy to to see Cotton stay in the NBL, now if my guess work is correct, could they not work a similar deal with Cotton. Yes I know Goulding is a local but so is White and Delly and neither are cheap.
Now again, change the rules would be easier, any import that has played for the same club for 4-5 seasons should be allowed one of the marquee spots. It’s just not right that a player of Cotton status has to leave and Cooks can get 1.2 million, please keep Cotton in the NBL.

Goulding's always been highly paid by United at least $500k per year was the talk a few years back. Not sure about this 2 year extension that starts next season though.

the new owners a billionaire so as long as he's willing to pay penalties for being over the cap they can pay Bryce whatever they want really. As dunkman said Melb must have a huge payroll but probably have it over looked based on who is in the owners group

On United that's true most years but this season was a "down" year for them. They lost JLA, Travers and Hukporti and only replaced them with White, Lee and Loe. Compared to last season's loaded roster this season's team would certainly be cheaper. They've done well to make another GF but I suspect the Hawks will make short work of them.

On Perth at the end of the day Cotton got cute and fucked up his citizenship thus fucking up the Wildcats ability to put a comptetitive team around him as a non-local. If I were a Perth fan my thinking would be if he leaves so be it. Devoting $1 million a year of the salary cap to an import who's contract you can't marquee, unlike Cooks, would be crazy, IMO. Doolitte's going to need a pay rise, likely a big one too. I doubt Pinder, Henshall, Webster re-sign for peanuts either. At this point the Wildcats might be best served by Cotton leaving.

2023-24 salary spends listed here, interesting read

https://www.espn.com.au/nbl/story/_/id/40085987/how-much-nbl-team-spent-2023-24

TL;DR Cash spend was fairly even with 8 of 10 teams spending ~$2.8m - $3.3m, with Perth and Cairns the outliers. Perth was so high partly because they bought out Norton and Blanchfield. And unlike many teams, their highest paid player cannot be a marquee.

Cap spends ranged from $2.4mil (Perth) down to $1.64 mil (Cairns). Cairns wasn't as much of an outlier on cap spend because they spend so little they dont even use the marquee rule.

Cotton signs in Puerto Rico for the rest of this season.

From Lachy Reid:

Bryce Cotton will be leaving Perth to play in Puerto Rico - he will join the Mets de Guaynabo.

This does not have any impact on his @NBL @PerthWildcats future. The BSN league season ends around July.


Isn't this the same team that Kendric Davis has signed to?

Is this the first time Cotton has played elsewhere in the NBL off-season?

KD has signed in China for the rest of the season.

No, Cotton finished the 2017-18 season in Italy.

Apologies, KD is indeed in China.

So will Cotton leaving the country help with his citizenship, I thought the reason he didn't get was because he had to leave the country and return and Covid was happening so elected not to.

I think the citizenship talks are all but dead at this stage, can't see it happening

Channel 10 in Perth running an interview with BC tonight in which he states (if the tweet is true) that he won't be at another NBL club next season but hasn't committed to Cats yet either.

He gawn.

Joey Wright saying he's staying.

If so he is obviously content with not adding anymore (team) silverware to the trophy cabinet.

Joey also said that your man Rillie coached very well, sorry PW, I've spoilt your evening ::))

In case anyone hasnt heard the man himself on the issue

https://x.com/ashnelson08/status/1897958840835981753?s=19

How accurate has Wright been recently?

In a series it is easier to adjust, especially by the third game. I did like the comment made about there being a phone call to Gleeson.

The Japanese season runs until early May, so if they wanted to lock in Bryce, they could have signed him for the rest of this season with options.

I assume they would have to cut someone to do this though?

What's Japan got to do with anything he's signed in Puerto Rico until July.

The fact anyone still takes notice of Wright befuddles me.

Wright is entitled to his opinion like we all are, you can take it or leave it.

My statement still stands

Yes, you are entitled to it, just like he is. ::::))))))

The fact anyone still takes notice of Wright befuddles me.

Boti's one thing but Joey was a very good coach who still provides great insight.

We're talking about being on the pulse with what's happening though.

@Zodiac I meant because he hasn't signed with Trev in Japan when they could have signed him for rest of this season, does that make it less likely he will be in Japan next year? Maybe not, but it's another angle

Okay yeah I get ya and agree. I've always considered the Japan thing to really just be a threat to squeeze as much as he can out of the new Wildcats owner on this next deal.

If he were serious about Japan with his stock skyhigh right now he likely would've jumped on a multi-year deal but playing in PR there is the risk he doesn't perform as well which likely won't reduce his standing with Perth but likely would a team in Japan. To me PR is him implying Japan is unlikely.

Also Cotton always signs 3 year deals with Perth, opts out after the second year and signs another 3 year deal so this is the first time he's been a free agent in a long time so probably more ego seeing if he can still play well in another league outside the NBL, where the team isn't built around him plus keeps the heat on the Perth owner to maybe increase his offer.