Cotton twist in Wildcats departure

Bryce Cotton has opened up on his departure from the Perth Wildcats, saying it ultimately wasn’t his decision to leave the club.

Speaking on the EasyDay Podcast, Cotton said he asked the club to afford him time to explore the Free Agency market after Perth’s season finished.

“As much as people feel—and I say—I left the Wildcats, I didn’t technically leave,”he said.

“Maybe three or four days after I came to Puerto Rico, they were like, ‘Look, we need an answer.’ They sent an email: ‘We need an answer within the next two or three days whether you’re going to sign your extension or not.’

“I was like, ‘Hold up … you knew all year I’ve been saying I want to test Free Agency.’

“Not being cocky or arrogant, but I just had one of the greatest seasons in NBL history and I’m a Free Agent for the first time ever.

“That’s not to say ‘I’m out of here’, but I’d be a fool to not just say, ‘Let’s just see what’s out here,’ because who knows how many more times I’m going to be a hot commodity as a free agent.

“They were like, ‘Oh, we need an answer, because you’re an integral part of our roster and if you’re not going to be here, we need to know.’

“I had my agent tell me, ‘Give me your answer’ within two to three days after I got to Puerto Rico, and I was like, ‘That’s just not enough time for me to make a decision. I want to test Free Agency. So if you guys feel like you want to move on, I understand. That’s not enough time for me to make a decision. I want to see everything that’s out there.’

“Maybe a week later—if that—my agent sends me a screenshot of basically a rough draft copy memo that they were going to put out to the fans the following day.

“I didn’t even read the whole thing … I read basically the first sentence: ‘Bryce Cotton is not going to be part of the Wildcats’ NBL26 squad.’”

Cotton said he was shocked receiving the memo, assuming he had more time to make a decision on his future.

“I’m like, ‘Oh, OK, you’ve decided to move on and do what’s best for you.’ To me it’s like, no harm, no foul.

“I’m doing what I felt was best for me by just seeing what was out there—not to say I was leaving—but I wanted to see, and you’re doing what’s best for you, doing what’s best for you as a business, because you don’t want to wait, and that’s fine.

“When I saw that I’m like, ‘No, I’m not going to let you put the word out to the fans. I’ll let them hear it from me first,’ because if that’s what you’ve decided to do—everything I’ve given to this city, everything I’ve given to the club—I’ll tell you first I’m not going to be here.”

Cotton said he understood the club’s decision and respected it, but didn’t have the time to do the proper due diligence on a potential return for NBL26.

“They made the business decision to part ways because they didn’t want to wait … which is fine, but I don’t want to hear all this bitching and complaining when I’m doing what’s best for me, as well as the result,” he said.

The five-time MVP and recently signed Adelaide 36er paid tribute to the Red Army.

“To the Perth fans, from the time I stepped onto this soil and played for the ’Cats, I gave you everything I had—every night, every practice, when I was hurt, when I was healthy,” he said.

“I gave it everything I had regardless of the result.

“I always put a lot of expectations on myself because I wanted to try to deliver and bring a lot of joy to the city because of how much joy they brought to me.”