Championship or Bust for Wildcats?

It’s championship or bust for the Wildcats, according to former NBL MVP Derek Rucker, who believes Perth has opened a two-year title window commencing in NBL24.

The Wildcats have gone hard at free agency and, despite having two import spots left to fill, have pulled together one of the most star-studded rosters in the competition.

The evergreen Bryce Cotton will continue to pull the strings for the side, while Webster brothers – Corey and Tai – will remain at the club. The pair have won ten titles between them across the globe throughout their careers.

Add in star signing Keanu Pinder, a potential pair of imports and quality depth like David Okwera, Next Star Alex Sarr and Hyrum Harris, and Rucker believes they have a real shot at the title.

“It looks like they’ve based it around the fact – with John Rillie’s extension – it’s a two-year window,” Rucker said on The Marketplace. “It’s two years, get us a title or bust and everybody’s out of here.

“I think they have done one of the best jobs along with Melbourne United in their off-season recruiting. Their free agent signings have been blockbuster.

“Getting Keanu Pinder, who becomes more of a unique commodity with the absence of Xavier Cooks, he is really going to be a problem for teams to handle.

“Re-signing the Websters … I don’t think feel like they’re good together, but perhaps they’ve matured ... I trust John Rillie’s instincts and judgement on this one.

“They’ve still got a couple of signings left and they’re going for it. You love to see this.”

The Wildcats’ free agency splurge will mean little if success doesn’t translate onto the court, and ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc says failure is not an option for the historically successful side.

The make-up of their current roster means the bulk of their current players will remain contracted for NBL25. If it doesn’t work this season, then next season could be a struggle for Perth.

“The Wildcats have no choice but to be good this season,” Uluc said. “What I’m looking at is next off-season where the Wildcats have nine of 11 players already signed.

“They have to get it done this season, otherwise they don’t have much flexibility going into next off-season.

“They don’t want to get into the same situation they did this off-season in having a Mitch Norton, a Todd Blanchfield, these guys you’re trying to get rid of and you have to pay a part of that buyout fee.

“The only issue I see is outside of the two team options on the two Webster brothers, there’s no flexibility going into next season.

“This season there’s a ton of pressure on this team to perform, because they’re the same thing next season.”