Cadee: Cotton changes calculations for 36ers

• Cotton’s signing signals a clean break from last season’s turbulence and a win-now intent.
• Talent is deep with Harrell, Cheatham and Cameron, but no true point guard or stretch four leaves fit questions.
• Jason Cadee joins Basketball.com.au

I remember I was in Dubai for work earlier this year and I got a phone call, it was Mike Wells.

He told me "we've just signed Bryce Cotton". I didn't believe it, I really didn't.

Adelaide has had the theme in recent years of spending money but sometimes spending it in the wrong way sometimes, you can't say that now.

Bryce changes everything.

Why? Not just for the obvious reasons with Bryce being a five-time MVP, and someone who I believe will add a sixth to his tally this season, but for so many other reasons as well.

To explain that fully, let's rewind to last season when I was part of that 36ers locker room.

I always explained our team as when we were good, we were the best team in the league, but when we were bad, we were the worst team in the league.

When we were good, obviously it was because we had so much talent and at times, Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell were the best duo in the NBL.

But when it went wrong, it was just a result none of us could control.

We've heard KD recently speak about how he hated the way he was treated in Adelaide and then Trez responded.

One thing I could respect with Trez was he gave us all respect, and he just wanted to get back to playing and enjoying basketball and we felt like we could give him that platform.

Him and I also had a pretty good relationship, we both have young kids, and I felt like he had really respected what I had done in my professional career and he was someone I could really bounce stuff off and we could talk about a whole bunch of things.

Trez definitely is a personality, he's not one to shy away from telling the truth - he knows who he is. KD's at the complete other end of the spectrum, it was his first time in Australia and overseas, he was trying to make it back to the NBA and the NBL just seemed like a stop in the road for him.

I understood that it was his first time overseas and away from family, so I tried to help him as much as I could.

Like I have my whole career, I always tried to put other people's interests at the forefront and before my own and KD was no different. I tried to talk to him and help him as much as I could, if somewhere along the lines, he thinks that was people not looking after him then that's disappointing from my end because I feel there was a lot of us who went out of our way to help.

That's why I was surprised to see him come back to the league, after some of the things that went on behind closed doors that resulted in arguments or altercations that led to KD saying "I'm not coming back to the NBL".

Now, sitting here on the eve of season, I'm thinking you felt so disrespected that you came back to the league.

Anyway, I'm not sure he needed to come out in every interview and speak about Adelaide but it creates a talking point.

I think what Adelaide have done with the signing of Bryce is, they've just moved on from last year.

Now, they've gone from a younger, less experienced import in KD, to a guy who has done everything there is to do in the league and commands that respect.

Add Trez, Zylan Cheatham, Flynn Cameron and some other role players to the mix - Adelaide have said 'we are here to win' and they have the horses to do that.

My concern for the 36ers isn't chemistry this season, it's just how Mike Wells puts it all together.

They don't really have a natural point guard and don't have a natural four man or pick and pop floor spacer. They do have a lot of players who can play multiple positions, so the interesting thing for me is just how that all comes together.

If they get it right, they're easily the most dangerous team in the league but whatever they do. Adelaide are still going to be the most interesting team to watch in NBL26.

NBL Round 1 Tips‍

Jason: Melbourne, NZ, SEM, Perth, and Melbourne
Brayden: Melbourne, NZ, Cairns, Perth, and Melbourne

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