Is Norton Brisbane-Bound?

It’s been an off-season of change for the Brisbane Bullets; a new coach, new assistants and new recruits are already on the way, and it’s only April.

With a little over five months still until the start of NBL24, the Bullets have put some vital pieces in place, as they look to bounce back from a disappointing ninth-placed finish last season.

Now, Brisbane looks on the verge of another key signing, with ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc reporting two-time NBL Champion Mitch Norton is on his way to the club.

According Uluc, the 30-year-old was swayed not only by coach Justin Schueller, but also a star big man. 

“I’m told [Aron] Baynes placed a number of phone calls to Mitch Norton, telling him and selling him on the Brisbane Bullets,” Uluc said on The Marketplace.

“It was a push from Schueller, but it was also a push from Aron Baynes.”

The Bullets have been one of the most active teams during Free Agency, adding valuable depth around their stars, Baynes and Nathan Sobey.

“I’m told they see him [Norton] as their backup point guard, so at this point they now have practically their entire bench shored up,” Uluc said.

“That bench is Mitch Norton, Isaac White, Sam McDaniel … potentially Josh Bannan and DJ Mitchell and Tyrell Harrison. That’s a really solid local cohort.

“All of those guys, outside of Mitchell, are on two-year deals, so you’re starting to get a sense of this team coming off a really volatile season and suddenly turning into a sustainable franchise again.

“I think that’s really important given where they were last season and the pieces they have coming in this season from a chemistry and culture standpoint.”