{"id":853348,"date":"2026-08-13T04:06:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T04:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/853348\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T04:06:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T04:06:11","slug":"make-or-break-wildcats-search-for-missing-piece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/853348\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Make or break’: Wildcats search for missing piece"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recent weeks, NBL teams from all across the League have locked in their top-level import point guards for the fast-approaching Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season.<\/p>\n

From Melbourne and South East Melbourne signing MVP contenders Cole Anthony<\/a> and Skylar Mays<\/a> respectively, to Queensland duo adding Arnas Veli\u010dka (Brisbane) and Jaylon Brown<\/a> (Cairns), there have been numerous high-profile moves.<\/p>\n

That quartet join the likes of Bryce Cotton, Kendric Davis, Parker Jackson-Cartwright<\/a> and Tyler Harvey, who are all returning to their respective side as the number one ball-handler.<\/p>\n

When you add in Taran Armstrong returning to Tasmania, only one team remains without an elite point guard, and that’s Perth.<\/p>\n

On the latest episode of The Marketplace, presented by Paywise, Jack Heverin said Perth’s pursuit of a top-level ball-handler would ‘make or break their team’.<\/p>\n

Read more >> United recruit throws down MVP gauntlet<\/a><\/p>\n

While the Wildcats have already started pre-season training ahead of their home opener on Saturday, September 19 against South East Melbourne, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc is confident Perth will land their guard soon.<\/p>\n

“The market’s always been difficult,” Uluc said on The Marketplace, presented by Paywise.<\/p>\n

“Even Melbourne United when they were pursuing Cole Anthony, they had other high-level options and it wasn’t a matter of them necessarily just choosing Cole Anthony over those others. Cole Anthony, from what I was told, was their number one option. But all of those other options, who would all be high-level import guards in the NBL, have all signed elsewhere.<\/p>\n

“High-level European teams are signing players right now, and we’re in that space where it’s not just the NBL that is going through a signing flurry; teams around the world are going through it too and are signing those high-level guards.<\/p>\n

“[But] we have seen import signings go this late. I appreciate the wait always sucks, but patience can sometimes be a virtue, especially in the NBL.<\/p>\n

“Players often get cut from their respective NBA teams, or they don’t make training camp, so you could get a high-level player this late in the piece.<\/p>\n

“There is a natural risk that always comes with that, such as a high-level player doesn’t become available, and you’re just left with the scraps? That’s the fear.<\/p>\n

“The hope is that that’s not the case; the hope is that you can leverage Danny Mills’ relationships and John Rillie’s relationships to go and find someone high level.<\/p>\n

“But as of right now, I’m told they don’t have one and are still searching for the right person.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Heverin knows how important landing that ‘right’ point guard is, for a team that contains the likes of Kristian Doolittle, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Dylan Windler and Elijah Pepper.<\/p>\n

“They’ve got to land this position, and I have full faith that Danny Mills and John Rillie will do that,” he said.<\/p>\n

“[If they do], I think they can win it, based on that roster that’s there right now.<\/p>\n

“They’ve got two of everything. If they can hit this spot, I’m really confident that they are a top four team and could potentially win the whole thing.”<\/p>\n

Uluc agrees the Wildcats, who have been eliminated in the Playoffs the past three seasons, have all the foundations of a title contender.<\/p>\n

“They have balance, and there’s size up front,” Uluc said.<\/p>\n

“They have [plenty] of shot converters on that roster; they just need the connector to bring them all together.”<\/p>\n

Rounding out the Wildcats’ roster are Cameron Huefner, Jaron Rillie, Jesse Wagstaff, Angus Brandt, Anthony Dell’Orso, Alex Higgins-Titsha, Marley Sam and Jimmy Whitt.<\/p>\n

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