Perth will be banking on the arrival of new import Bryce Cotton and the impending return of star captain Damian Martin to save their flagging NBL title defence.
Cotton, who played 15 games for the Utah Jazz in 2014/15 before spending short stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns last season, has agreed to terms to play with the Wildcats for the rest of the current campaign.
The NBL needs to sign off on the deal, but it is hoped Cotton will arrive in Perth by next week and potentially be available for the January 7 clash with the Kings in Sydney.
Cotton will replace Jaron Johnson, who was sacked for the second time by the Wildcats last week.
Johnson was originally axed three games into the season, before being reinstated when his replacement Andre Ingram returned home citing mental health issues.
Cotton was playing in Turkey for Anadolu Efes before returning home earlier this month for personal reasons.
The American point guard also spent a stint playing in China.
Wildcats assistant Matt Nielsen knows Cotton well, having coached the 185cm guard during his stint at NBL D-League outfit Austin Spurs, while the acquisition also got the tick of approval from Utah's Australian forward Joe Ingles.
"The @PerthWildcats got themselves a great player & person in Bryce Cotton. He will dunk on someone that doesn't expect it. #bounce," Ingles tweeted.
Perth's hopes of making the playoffs for a 31st straight season hang by a thread.
The defending champions currently sit last on the table with a 7-9 record.
But such is the closeness of the competition, the Wildcats are just one win adrift of fourth spot, and only four wins behind ladder-leaders Adelaide.
The lengthy absence of Martin to a knee injury has robbed Perth of its defensive might, with the Wildcats losing six of their past seven matches.
But the skipper is on track to return in mid January in what would be a huge boost to the out-of-form club.
The Wildcats will be back in action on Saturday night when they take on Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
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