Nearly just fell over, surely not!!??

I was driving when I heard this in the radio, I had to immediately pull over and see it wasn't April 1st. I think I wept a little lol

That’s enormous and I’ll take him over KD any day.

36ers just teased it on insta, this is really happening

Shocked just like everyone else, for the life of me can't understand it.

How much more $ can Adelaide offer than Perth?

Genuinely mind boggling. We are so back baby. Probably

wtf

Bryce Cotton - a 5-time NBL MVP - has agreed to a three-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers, sources told ESPN.

36ers once signed Rob Rose which is on par with this

This is huge

Shocking! All I can think is he had a massive falling out with JR during the season and this is a massive FU to him and the Wildcats.

Amazing!

But I'm also thinking "how will we screw this up?"

Gonna be some big matchups against Perth and Sydney this year though.

This is huge.like all xmas eggs have come at once. Culture posivity leadership winningness all in one package. All the soothsayers who been doubters get back on board as the cotton on train is rolling into the city of
churches.
Good times. Amazingly great growth is happening. Beleivers unitd.. dare to imagine

Massive coup by the sixers! :O

Need to find a bigger stadium

Just about the thing I expected the least. Big for Adelaide, not great for Perth fans.

Suggests more to his departure from Perth than met the eye....a falling out somewhere.

And perhaps is experience playing overseas at the moment hasn't been as good as he hoped

Genuinely need a bigger stadium.

The recruiting looks great now. This team will compete.

The hardest part hasn't hit. Watch him not count against the salary cap... not feasible for him to be in Aus any other way. Gut wrenching for Perth fans, what a fumble by the organisation. Insanity

Watch him be a complete shell of his former self!

Who's the PF people are hinting at?

Wow, while sixers must be paying more than cats it still says a lot that he didn't want to stay playing for rillie.

Sixers gotta make sure they have a roster and plan for teams bullying cotton out of the game.

Fuck me, just saw this on 7 News!

Welcome to Adelaide, Bryce :)

Lucky we've get fan boy Mark and Teflon Mills running the show!!

lol...wildcats members quiz night starts in 90 minutes time…should be very interesting lol

So the talk is, no one wants to play in adelaide....

36ers have no money..

Then we sign Bryce cotton...

Amazing off season by the 36ers.

Watch him become an instant Australian Citizen. Mali can do anything :)

You mean no one in NBL Media got to this first!?!?

Isn't this great. Off-season!

I'm crazy but I’m mixed on this. Great player but I hate the foul bating. At least it’s a direction where we looked clueless before. Imagine the coin this cost.

Welfare check on Q Anon, stat!

The hardest part hasn't hit. Watch him not count against the salary cap... not feasible for him to be in Aus any other way. Gut wrenching for Perth fans, what a fumble by the organisation. Insanity

April fools was 7 weeks ago

What!!

Didn't people say no quality player or import will over want to play for this coach or Adelaide , been a great post season so far and if the PF is correct wowsers watch out

How do we envision DJ's role changing now?

Weird backcourt imo. You absolutely do this though.

"Welfare check on Q Anon, stat!" <--- This is gold!

Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, first thing that came to mind was between Cotton and DJV, we're gonna need two basketballs!

Intriguing! Family obviously a big factor or those huge overseas contracts were few and far between. He's not exactly playing like a 5 time MVP in Peurto so it makes sense to come back to oz if a team has the moolah but Adelaide has thrown me. BC will kill wherever he goes best of luck and Patty or bust JR

Whom dares win whom scores more win. No stopping Bc or DJV. Buckets town.hoop la hoop hoop..

Bryce Cotton joining the Adelaide 36ers is a massive move for the NBL. His leadership, scoring ability, and experience as a multiple-time MVP could really elevate the team. Looking forward to seeing how this reshapes the league dynamic!

Who is the PF in the mix??

Holy fking sh*t

I think KET has nicely summed up everyones thoughts tonight

This is crazy.

Waiting for the emergency episode of Marketplace to drop!!

Fantastic move, Gleeson must be weeping, his side also just got knocked out finals as well. Cotton is such a team player that DJ must be also licking his lips. Well done sixers.

Emergency episode is up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGMKXjbno3Q

After the NBL didn't roll with the Cotton ambassador thing, part of me wonders if LK put some dosh in to bring him over to Adelaide...

Do we think 36ers still envisage a backup import big or does the likely expensive Cotton mean a pivot to a young Aussie or a cheapie undersized Aussie like H Harris?

Can't wait to the two biggest ball hogs in DJV and Cotton play side by side

When is the Real players of the 36ers reality show being released on Hayu?

Wildcats muppets will be losing their collective minds, love it

As if the wildcats and 36ets rivalry wasn't already intense enough this just takes it to another level level! I’m old enough to remember the rivalry from the early 1990’s to early 2000’s but man this will be entertaining!!

Dunkman Greg Hire on X hinted Gleeson might be joining the Sixers in some capacity soon. So no he is not weeping

I look forward to the media putting zero tough questions to Rillie, Arena or any front office staff about how they let this happen.

Rillie is now under incredible pressure. He literally drove out the greatest wildcats and probably player in the leagues history. If he has another poor coaching performance there is no way he can survive another season .

Imagine reaction out west if Damo now joined 36ers as assistant coach.

Bryce will certainly take team to new level on court and improve culture off court to a level which may have taken years to get to. Huge signing.

Matt Weston comments are still more big announcements to come and name of PF floating around is insane. Matt Weston said the PF will be the one they will spend biggest on. Could be very exciting signing given Mike Wells NBA connections.

The biggest disappointment for me is the fact that he said if he's not at the Wildcats he’s not gonna play for another NBL team. But at least it’s not Sydney

Does Perth still retire Bryce's jersey after leaving for their rival?

This is the result when SEG run the show at your club and appoint Rillie as head coach.

Even the Sixers can be made to look like a better prospect.

Why would Gleeson join the Sixers, he'd have a very high paying job in Japan.

Who's the big name PF?

Adelaide vs Perth and Adelaide vs Sydney are two games to put in your calendars!

Agree DJV and Cotton isn't a good fit. Flynn Cameron likes a shot too. Not a true point man, more of a combo guy

When is the Real players of the 36ers reality show being released on Hayu?

Mitch Creek - PF

I thought Mitch wouldn't come back to ADL under this ownership?

And i wouldn't blame him.

Nick Kay or Mooney coming to further insult the wildcats.

Well done Adelaide!

Honestly that would be awesome.

Fuck SEG and the useless new owner who naively paid $50mil for SEG to carry on.

What a day, Ange becoming European champion and now this.

As a Wildcats supporter, I wish all the best to Bryce going forward. Definitely a shock, and not where you would anticipate him to land. Despite popular opinion, I do think Bryce moving on was the right outcome for both parties. They have struggled to build a championship calibre team around him for many years. A lot of the blame goes towards the front office, but perhaps his huge salary as an import has its limitations for talent around him, when other teams are utilising multiple marquee players. I would not be surprised if the Wildcats front office pull a rabbit , or two, out of the hat for the next 2 big signings.

All they've ever pulled out of the hat are turds.

Who is the "import 4" Hooley was on about in the emergency broadcast, anyone?

Perthworld, no one is forcing you to continue supporting the wildcats. Clearly you aren't happy with the organisation, which is fine. But you can move on, should you choose to do so. I assume you are an adult, but your previous remark sounds childish. Not to mention you casually threw on an additional $10million to the sale price of the Wildcats.

The cats probably have over 2 million plus dollars to spare after the Pinder, henshall and bryce departures... they already have Doolittle and wonder locked up . So that allows them to get one marquee like patty mills and another high quality import

Jarell Brantley would be a nice announcement at the 4

i dont expect Wildcats to win shit with Rillie in charge.

glad to see Bryce stay in the league.

I've been through many ownership changes since the 80s and my support does not 'move on' but the various consortia eventually do. Just got to ride this current iteration of a freakshow out. Club does not equal ownership as the latter is temporary.

Even at $40mil young Mark will be taking a haircut on his exit unless he can put together a competent management staff post-SEG contract.

The thought of so much money at their disposal is scary since they've relied heavily and were grinding Cotton to the ground since taking over. Without him as a linchpin things could get very nasty.

So what our roster currently looks like

Cotton / Rasmussen
DJ / White / Harris
Cameron / Kenyon
Import / local
Humphries / Griscti

We need size and defence, Cameron and Kenyon (and maybe to a stretch Cotton) are currently the only above average defenders on this team.

We really need to hit on an athletic/defensive wing (what is Cleveland to?) not another scorer.

There's not enough of the ball for Cotton, DJ, Humphries, and then White and Harris plus this import.

We should really take a flyer on a college Aussie for the backup wing spot, somebody like Elias Cato from Central Arkansas, or Trace Evans from Seattle Pacific, or Caleb Van De Griend from D2 school Minot state (he was a D2 All-American averaging 20 and 13).

Happy for Adelaide though.

Could this be a big FU from LK to Mark Arena for jumping up and down and siding with Novelly?

Happy for Adelaide though.

Pretty sure Wells was an assistant at the Jazz when Bryce was there wasn't he? I wonder if this had anything to do with his decision? You'd have to think so?

"Not to mention you casually threw on an additional $10million to the sale price of the Wildcats."

$14M actually, the Wildcats were valued at $40M, Arena bought a 90% stake for $36M with Hutchy & Co. retaining a 10% ownerships stake.

Once again, Adelaide shock the league. Last year it was Harrell, this year to a greater extent it's Bryce Cotton. For a team that no one wants to play for, it obviously doesn’t mean no one will play for them. Again, Adelaide supposedly a mess but still managed to secure Cotton, Cameron and could not have done any better securing the available role players. All this and some teams don’t even have a coach. Hooley seems confident there is more to come.

How much could we speculate he is on? And three years. This is a serious achievement for a variety of reasons.

For me, pressure is now on Wells. This team is shaping up with more hype than last season now, and also the year they went after Franks, Cleveland etc.

I have no idea what’s going on in Adelaide. Casey made mention to Marvin having some influence. Either way, well done Adelaide!

Pressure is on wells, unlike last year this is the team he selected.

Puff, unless the Cotton situation has changed things, Adelaide intend to sign a third import. I think they may as well do this as imports don't have to be expensive but could still offer lots more than a local for the sake of a local.

Officially announced by the 36ers now.

Don't listen to anyone that says Cotton kicks his legs out when he shoots threes.

Tongue in cheek aside, super duper happy with the news. What’s the defensive plan here? The 4 can be a stretch player on offence, that would still be good, but the player will need to have an elite defensive presence to help Cameron fill the holes of BC and DJV whilst making sure Humphries doesn’t get into foul trouble.

The backup big will also need to be a no thrills stoic defensive piece.

No frills, I meant to say, I think.

I read he played under Wells at college? There was a method to the madness of cutting Ninnis afterall.

Bad move by Perth not cutting ties with Rillie & putting gleeson back in the chair!

@KET Isn't Griscti a fully signed player, that would be your backup big. Unless my math is wrong we only have two roster spots left unless they release one of Griscti or Rasmussen.
If @Master Chief is correct and they are wanting to sign two imports still, we need two wing players, preferably defensive

@Puff we don't have a single recognised Power Forward on the roster. All the wing spots are well covered.

Expect that we will sign a shooting, perimeter-oriented PF (A DJ Hogg type) and a bruiser who can play both PF/C (Griscti insurance)

If there's more surprises on the way... is there a third member of the Utah reunion? One with a local connection?

I'd love for them to look at Sion James from Duke. Should be a late 2nd round pick, so could be stashed here for a couple of years. 6’6, 100kg solid unit on the wing, shot over 40% from the 3, was always guarding the best players on the opposing teams, and if you watched the Duke games, handled the ball when Flagg and Procter couldn’t.

"is there a third member of the Utah reunion? One with a local connection?"

Ingles was a teammate of Cotton's at the Jazz, I remember he gave a strong recommendation of him to the Wildcats, not sure he would come back home.

I feel like Perth are now going to go through a Breakers-like phase of self-destruction.

With respect @JT, we really don't have a single true wing on this team. Kenyon and Cameron only 6’5", they are the talledtsd outside of our centres.
looking at the finals series, who on this current team is guarding Days, Lee, Buluk or Blanchfield. Or White or Tanner from United. Who has the size to go against Prather, Noi or Toohey?
Who’s guarding Doolittle this season?

They will throw Cameron, Kenyon and Harris at those players. All of whom have done such roles in the past.

Sure, it would be great to have an Antonius Cleveland out there. But that is a luxury compared to having no 4 man.

Not only that, Weston is on record saying that is where we are allocating big cap room to, with other commentary (Uluc, Hooley et al) indicating that we will get a back-up 4/5.

Just think it through a bit - if Humphries gets injured (of which he has a record), there is no way they are going to want to start Griscti or your favourite '6"6 college graduate at the 5 spot.

I. Love watching Bryce play but him and dj in the same backcourt together is a terrible pairing both very poor defensively and both need to have the ball . Bryce will put up great numbers no doubt but I can see dj struggling to get involved big time

The wings are Cameron and Kenyon, just the two import PF's left to come now.

Humphries / Griscti
Import / Import
Cameron / Kenyon
Vasiljevic / Harris
Cotton / White / Rasmussen

Prior to the Cotton signing the Sixers/NBL Media said the starting import PF will be a stretch 4 with NBA experience and the back up import PF will be a cheaper guy who can play some 5 in case Griscti still isn't up to it.

I suppose if the Ingles thing was to happen it would be in place of the starting import PF. The Sixers have also said Cotton will become naturalised during his first season here and Weston wants him to retire a Sixer.

Is this DJ's last year of his deal? Cotton naturalises, takes over the marquee spot from DJ the season after next?

That was my thinking too, LaPark. This is a way to push DJV out

2 years left on DJV's contract.

Anyone thinking this is a poor signing needs their head read. Not one NBL team passes on Bryce

Quite right - you take Cotton and then try to fit the team around him. If DJV cannot be made to fit, then I'm sure they could find a way to part company no matter what the contract says.

Poverty mindset from anyone who thinks this cannot work. I guess years of conditioning as a disappointed 36ers fans would do that to someone. Vasiljevic comfortably played the role next to ball dominant guards at the Sydney Kings. If anything, this will be a beneficial recalibration of his role.

Both LaPark and hoopie suggested the dropping of DJV after his current contract is over(2 yrs,thanks Zodiac). It's the only way this signing makes any sense, to me.

If you can, you grab the best player in the universe whenever he's available. Work it out later.

Magpie Murray summed it up!

Yes, you take Cotton on 3 year deal every time.

Assume anyone above not positive about this signing are not Adelaide supporters.

This off-season so far should result in upgrade of overall oncourt team, but more importantly a big improvement in team culture.

It's critical that non player club culture is aligned and everyone sticks to their area. If so, might be very good times ahead.

KD was also a ball-dominant guard, JT, and I don't think that DJV produced his Sydney form last season alongside KD.

I’m a bit hesitant to say he will regain that form alongside Cotton.

I’d love to see it, but ...

The play for Cotton makes everyone else who is looking for a guard look really really amateur (and there are a couple of clubs that fall into that category) ...
although I have a suspicion that the other Nick behind the scenes had a little something to do with pulling this off.

Trezz has posted this today:

" Do y'all want the Monsta back down under in Adelaide"

Trez probably still contracted by Larry to post NBL "hype"!

FWIW I think Cotton is a willing passer, he'd love not having to carry the offense himself. Gleeson always found ways to get others involved.

Bryce Cotton speaks about signing with the 36ers coming up in the sport on Ten News.

Not much on 10 News, "best decision for me and my family" about 20 seconds of Cotton actually speaking, but there's obviously a longer interview out there that got filmed.

OK, it was just a clip from this they played on the news

https://youtu.be/HzjvsIS5IL8?si=BU_2frKPrKJ81OF5

Had to take 24 hours to digest this shock, I'm ranking it up with the Luka trade. And I'd if had been posted on April 1st it would have been to unbelievable.
It is the biggest signing in NBL history, would be like Gaze in his prime coming to Adelaide or Loggins going to Sydney. I remember the Rose signing and that was huge, but the club was in great shape and an attractive landing place.
Any team in the league signs Cotton, but here are my individual pros and cons.

Pro's
Reigning MVP and had maybe his best season.
Brings veteran leadership and credibility to the team. If DJ starts chucking he'll be getting told and DJ will listen, that's what he's needed during his time in Adelaide. Might be able to give Isaac some confidence, stop his pouting. And if there's plenty of PnRs in the offence Humphries should benefit greatly.
Will get the benefit of superstar calls, close game can just give him the ball and get out of his way.
Will majorly piss off Rillie and expose how he had to nearly solely rely on BC to win.

Cons
How does the starting 5 work, have 3 point guards starting that are used to having the ball in their hands. But this should be a pro for DJs role, can go back to his college days of not being the go to scorer and feed off Cotton for shots. Cameron will benefit playing with him but not convinced he's a good fit as a starter with other 2.
Obviously hates Rillie, Wells had problems with players as well, hopefully he's learnt to chill out a bit in offseason and Cotton gets along with him.
Defensively they'll be a sieve, whilst Cameron is an up and comer, Sunday would have been a way better fit. Who's going to guard the oppositions best guard? Kenyon does help the bench, but it's still extremely bad. If IH or the import gets injured or in foul trouble is it really only Gristci as a big to come in?
Will rely on the perimeter nearly exclusively unless this new import is good.
In terms of good publicity, can't do much more than this.
And Adelaide had the second best guard to Cotton last season apparently and still had a shit season, lucky to make it into play in and lucky they faced Brian without Cooks. And would say they had way better depth and players last year.
And it's Adelaide, if anyone can screw it up or be unlucky it's them. ACL or Achilles in first couple of games?


For those crowing about how this proves Adelaide is an attractive place to sign, it really is all about the money. Cotton would have to be on a million plus to get him here, add Cameron's money on top of DJs and IH, plus this rumoured big 4 man, Adelaide would have to be the biggest payroll along with Sydney. And where is it all coming from, has to be LK trying to boost the chances of selling it for a big profit. And there's the transparency issue with the league. If Harrell returns it'll be ridiculous.
If anything is going to fire up the other owners it'll be this, clubs will be majorly pissed that Cotton has seemingly been gifted to Adelaide.
But that game in Perth will be must see tv, would imagine it'd be like Lukas return, how many fire Rillie chants will start.

"The Lying King" with a pic of Cotton's face on the front cover of the WA newspaper. They're taking it well in Perth!

F*** the West Australian, its been a rubbish newspaper for years.

Cotton owes Wildcats nothing, Perth people owe him nothing but gratitude.

Hopefully the crowd show him that when he visits.

"And Adelaide had the second best guard to Cotton last season apparently and still had a shit season"

Phantom, I think Bryce will bring a much calmer presence aswell as an elite game.

Without locker room issues and the confidence he will create on court knowing you can just throw him the ball if needed, I can see others game will elevate, particularly Isaac (I hope). I think he will make the team better by more than just the elite game he brings

https://x.com/PerthWildcats/status/1925789431081971847

good on Wildcats pouring some water on the Wests BS

Not suggesting above all locker room issues flow back to Kendrick BTW

KD might've been runner up to Cotton for MVP but in reality Cotton is a much better player than him and not a problem in the locker room either.

The absolute dumbest stunt they could pull now would be to bring back Harrell

I don't think they're bringing back Harrell, that's just him trying to use people power to put pressure on the team to bring him back. He's been to China and now Puerto Rico and then doing the Big 3, so I'm sure he's just looking to line up his next gig.

In terms of "box office" he's also not needed in Adelaide now with Cotton on the team.

Agreed I can't see the Sixers having interest in bringing Trez back. He's just trying to drum up hype for his next contract.

Fantone is on the money honey finally. BC brings culture credibiliity in buckets to make a statement sixers are rejuvenating.most exciting times and affirmation.its big positives.

https://youtu.be/89d-I3kp390?si=By7XW9BEifaC4eiK

36ers press conference.

Never a dull moment being a 36ers supporter

The sad story in this signing is poor Michael Harris. Playing limited minutes behind Cotton I always felt he never got his chance. When he signed with Adelaide I thought this might now be the chance for the him to get the minutes.

Then the news came out...

It doesn't matter who the Adelaide Dirty Tricksters recruit, they will find a way to self implode and stuff up their season. Defensive disaster of a squad so far and a whole lot of ego. And the ego starts from the front office, to the coach and down the team list. Should start a book on how they stuff it up this time. Probably starts pre season with Cotton realising coach is a f***with.

Jack McVeigh's in Adelaide atm...

Seemingly lost a bit of his mojo towards the end of his two way stint, so with Roth doing his family time thing Jack is likely headed straight to see Joey

Isn't his wife still in Adelaide?

Crackers65 you clown, Cotton has already had Wells as his coach in the NBA and was one of the reasons he signed here.

Sixers fan, Wells was an assistant coach at Utah. He did what he was told to do, not design and direct the program from a head coaches perspective. He did nothing last season to show to me that he is a head coach. The clown show won't take long to show up.

The Wells-Cotton link has definitely been overblown.

Cotton has stated consistently over the years how his wife did not want to move away from Perth which goes to show what a bottle job SEG did when re-signing an unconvincing Rillie to another three years in September.

Nick Marvin being by GK's side (plus possibly the added spice of an autistic Mark Arena spitting his dummy in front of LK recently) would have more to do with it.

I think punters are reading to much into it, Cotton has just taken a pay check for three years, probably around the same coin as he could get OS, Japan most likely, they very rarely sign multi year deals, it's normally season to season, he’s got three seasons. Imo Sixers think they can get him naturalised or just pay the tax. Great signing but they got find some defenders or it’ll be same as cats last few seasons.

Just saw a rumour on X that Pinder also signing with the 36ers!

Olgun has shut that one down very quickly!

I think punters are reading to much into it, Cotton has just taken a pay check for three years

Rillie*

Whilst Cotton is the undisputed MVP, the rest of the team is a big question mark. Would still be issues with Wells and Humphries who's mentally fragile at the best of times. At least they had Martin last year even if he was a shell of his Sydney days.
How will DJ cope, I think a lot better than with Davis hogging it.
Cameron has never been a consistent starter and now has to live up to the potential with a big payday, as well as playing outside of his preferred position. In hindsight would have been better getting a proven import 3 for the money being outplayed. Someone with the attributes of Lamb would have been good.
Don't know what their plans are with this mysterious import big, will it be a new face or someone who's been here before. And if it does transpire to be someone like Martin, then the problem of sacking them rears its head again, Martin should have been sent home if it wasn't about the money.
Then the bench is a major problem. Kenyon a great pickup, but who's the big? And Whites been bouncing around the league for a reason, Harris fell out of favour at Perth and is Rasmussen trustworthy enough to get more minutes. Even comparing it with last season of Martin, Cadee, Marshall leaving may have it as the worst bench in the league.
Then the question mark of Wells, is he up to it? Didn't show too much last year, chicken and egg of it he was to blame for player revolts, or were the players the catalyst. If they struggle does he get shown the door early on, would they do a SEM and get someone outside asap, or is there someone in house ready to step in?
Just too many questions and their track record to really inspire any confidence.

BCs interview on Devondrick Walkers podcast is looking to be the expose we are all waiting for

A short clip is out with him directly addressing the abortion of a backpage on the West yesterday using multiple expletives which is unlike cool calm BC. It should be explosive!

Cottons reaction

https://nbl.com.au/news/crazy-and-disrespectful-cotton-slams-wa-paper?fbclid=IwY2xjawKenA1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrHEiRfamWaxi-YA5koTj43WJrU1B_2xyOiMbWV1PW7Ih5164KrKwULTZaBE_aem_RaxvUCpM27hgCTcKhorKdQ

Bryce Cotton unleashes:

"I just find it so funny ... I broke the scoring record - the league scoring record - in December. The West Australian gifts me, you know, this big poster: King of the Jungle," he said.

“We're six months later now, they’re talking about 'The Lying King’. Like, that … it’s crazy.

“So, like, I can’t wait when I go back to Perth - I can’t wait. When I go back to Perth, I’m burning that. That little gift they gave me? That’s going straight to the fireplace.

“It’s just crazy and disrespectful.

“But at the end of the day it’s not surprising, and that’s part of why I moved the way I moved.”

https://nbl.com.au/news/crazy-and-disrespectful-cotton-slams-wa-paper

Well there we go, it's confirmed.

Thanks Hutchy, SEG, Mills, ScoMo, Rillie, Arena et al.

What a bunch of fuckwits who have taken over from a classy Bendat organisation.