Cats put contracts on hold
The Perth Wildcats have put contract negotiations on hold until the end of the season as coach Rob Beveridge looks to guide his team to a second consecutive title.
Four players from last season’s championship-winning squad – Brad Robbins, Kevin Lisch, Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff – were named on the NBL free agents list this week, along with regular starters Cameron Tovey and Andre Brown.
Wildcats chief executive Nick Marvin said it was club policy to leave negotiations until the end of the season in order to avoid distractions.
“If we commence negotiations with a particular player or coach mid-season and negotiations break down, it breaks the rest of our season,” Marvin said.
“And if we have a successful negotiation with a particular player, then that separates that player from the others that haven’t been offered contracts and that would divide the team as well.
“So we will not negotiate with any of those players listed yet, however, it is our intention to re-sign all of them for next season.
“The question is trying to get them all to fit in our salary cap and we think we can get it done.
“We think that everyone here wants to be here and there will be some sacrifices that have to be made, but that’s up to the club and the players to hopefully reach an agreement.”
Lisch starred in last season’s grand final series and was a priority signing last year, but he knocked back the two-year contract offered in favour of a one-year deal.
The American guard has applied for an Italian passport, which would open the door for cashed-up European suitors to come calling, but said the application would not impact on his decision.
“I absolutely love it here, love playing for Bevo and love my team, but I won’t make that decision until the end of the season,” Lisch said.
“Right now it’s the last thing on the minds of both me and the entire club.”
Adam Gibson, Kirk Penney and reigning league MVP Corey Williams are among the plethora of NBL stars on the free agents list, but Marvin said the Wildcats would not target players from other clubs.
Each club is granted exclusive rights negotiate with players on its current roster until two weeks after the grand final series.
Well-regarded coach Beveridge is currently in the second year of the three-year deal he signed before guiding the Wildcats to last season’s title and is highly unlikely to leave the club in the off-season.
