The story behind the mastermind move that shook the NBL

The Adelaide 36ers have pulled off arguably the biggest free agency move in NBL history, securing five-time MVP Bryce Cotton on a three-year deal. But how did they do it?

A major part of GM of Basketball Operations Matt Weston’s role is to be on the front foot with recruitment and always with an eye to the future.

Just hours after the news dropped, Weston outlined how the 36ers’ powerbrokers managed to land the greatest import of all time.

“We worked day and night for two to three days and got it done,” he said. “We got the deal done quickly.”

The rumours of Cotton’s next destination had continued to swirl over the last two months, with Japan looming large as the strongest contender to land the 32-year-old. But with each passing day, no deal had been struck.

“I stay in touch with agents all the time and I had kept in touch with Bryce’s representatives, but I didn’t ask about Bryce,” Weston said.

“I knew that when he left the NBL that he wanted clear air to make his mind up (on his next move), so I knew going in early that was going to look classless.

“His agent is very professional. Neither of us played silly games or tactics.”

While Cotton’s name may have been lingering around Weston’s mind all off-season, it wasn’t until this week that things started to take shape.

“On Tuesday I simply asked the question, ‘What’s going to happen with him?’ and they told me he was open to coming back,” he said.

“So we have been working day and night talking about philosophy, strategy, what we do and how we do it here.

“I worked around the clock from that and on Thursday we got the deal done.”

It’s a club-altering move for Adelaide, whose front office of Weston, Nic Barbato (CEO) and Grant Kelley (Owner) deserve a tonne of credit for putting everything in place to land such a big deal.

“You’ve got to go out there, push the envelope, find the resources, and make big splashes like this,” Derek Rucker said on a special edition of NBL Now.

“Full credit to the front office staff, Matt Weston, Nick Barbato as well, and Grant Kelley, because the owner has piled a lot of money into this franchise, but not had much return in recent years. And they are going again,” John Casey continued.

It cannot be understated that a move of this magnitude, with a player of Cotton’s calibre, doesn’t happen often, which makes it one of the biggest signings in league history.

And the greatness of Cotton’s résumé and what he brings meant that the 36ers had to pick their moment carefully.

“I didn’t want to come in straight after the season, as I said, because it’s a risk, right?” Weston added.

“But it’s what you do in business - that when you want something, you have to show you’re a value as well.

“So, at times you say ‘look, we are here,’ and you want to be respectful.

“In these moments you look at guys who can impact the program and obviously Bryce is at the top of that.”

When it came to ironing out the finer details of such a big deal, Weston said he drew on advice given to him by a former mentor in Brett Brown.

“He always taught me, ’Make them say no, Matty,’” Weston said.

With everything that Cotton has done on the court, there has been one part of playing in Australia that he hasn’t been able to achieve yet—becoming an Australian citizen.

“He wants to become an Australian,” Weston said.

“We will be working on doing this in the first season ... I want him to retire in Adelaide.”

The 36ers have never been afraid to make a big move, and while it hasn’t always worked out, they continue to show the basketball world that they won’t stop building something special for the city and state.

As for what’s next, well, Matt Weston’s message to fans is simple: “There’s more surprises to come.”

For all the latest Free Agency news, download the free NBL APP now.