50-point hero on way out?

As the Brisbane Bullets prepare for their first season under new head coach Stu Lash, Olgun Uluc has given an update on the mystery surrounding James Batemon’s contract status.

“I’ve been told that last week the two parties decided to mutually part ways,” Uluc said on The Marketplace.

“He is now off contract and is now a free agent.”

Batemon got off to a slow start in NBL25, before becoming one of the most prolific scorers in the league, highlighted by his 50-point game against Perth.

However, since the Bullets’ season ended, there has been a simmering noise throughout that he may not return next season, despite being contracted by the club.

“When James Batemon first signed it was a two-year deal, but from what I was told, the second year of that deal was largely non-guaranteed,” Uluc added.

While Batemon is technically free to sign with another team, Uluc mentioned that both him and the Bullets have a desire to potentially come to a new deal.

“I’m also told that there is some interest in bringing him back and that that interest is mutual,” he added.

“This effectively gives Batemon an opportunity to go and gauge his interest elsewhere ... and it gives the Bullets an opportunity to be basically a clean slate.”

It’s not uncommon for teams to make a move like this with an import who was initially signed on a multi-year deal, as it gives them a lot of flexibility going forward.

“This being mutual really helps the Brisbane Bullets, because we do see this more often that people would realise,” Pete Hooley added.

“Whatever their 1A or 1B is on the Brisbane Bullets whiteboard, if they nail one of those, then they’d turn around to James Batemon and say 'we want you to come back alongside this guy'.”