Norton Attracting Interest

Two-time NBL Champion Mitch Norton looks set for a move away from the Perth Wildcats, with interest from opposition clubs growing. 

The 30-year-old has a season remaining on a three-year deal, but it’s believed the Wildcats are looking to find new homes for Norton, fellow veteran Todd Blanchfield and Kyle Zunic.

“Mitch Norton, there is interest in him from around the League,” ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc said on The Marketplace. 

“We saw toward the end of the season, there is value for him. Think of what he did in that Play-In game, getting Bryce Cotton the ball. He has a ton of value on both ends of the court.

“The desire is still for him to find a new home and there is interest out there.”

Norton played around 17 minutes a game across NBL23, the lowest of his career, while Blanchfield also fell out of favour in Perth’s rotation, logging just 16 minutes a game, down from 27 the previous season. 

“Blanchfield it’s a bit tougher for him to find a new home for him, because that’s a two-year deal that you’re working with on the buyout,” Uluc added. 

“It doesn’t seem that teams are as interested in Blanchfield, as they are in Norton.”

On Saturday, the Wildcats secured the signature of star Taipan Keanu Pinder, and are reported to be chasing New Zealand Breakers gun Will McDowell-White, as well as Melbourne's David Okwera and Mason Peatling. 

Corey and Tai Webster are also edging closer to new deals, according to Uluc.