Websters Set to Split Their Separate Ways?

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

After half a season suiting up together for the Perth Wildcats, could we see the Webster brothers once again part ways this NBL Free Agency?

Older brother Corey has had his mutual option picked up and will return to Perth – who also have the likes of Bryce Cotton under contract – while younger brother Tai will test the free agency market.

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Corey played 29 total games for the Wildcats in NBL23, and hit a game-winning shot against Melbourne United in Round 10 which ended up proving decisive in the race for a Play-In spot.

Tai joined the side mid-season from Turkish side Petkim Spor and represented the club eight times.

“There’s always this idea of the Websters having a desire to play on the same team,” ESPN Insider Olgun Uluc said on The Marketplace. “It’s very difficult for a team to opt into two players. There has to be mutual interest, there has to be a desire to have them both in your system, so that’s always a tough thing to do.

“There was some doubt, there were conversations but it seemed like there was mutual interest for Corey Webster to stay.

“The way he played and the way he helped them – especially towards the end of the season where he was an elite starter level guy. He was that FIBA Corey Webster we know of.

“Tai Webster is officially a free agent. The chatter with Perth will continue … [but] one team I’m told is going to be very intense going after Tai Webster is the Adelaide 36ers.

“[They’re] a team I would look at there as a sleeper to go after him.”

RELATED: List of Free Agents Revealed

The status of all player, team and mutual options have been announced ahead of the impending NBL Free Agency, which opens on March 30.