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IT'S official. Versatile forward Anthony Petrie will not be adding to his 120 NBL games with the Adelaide 36ers, despite initial assurances he would exercise his 2015-16 option to stay.

Petrie, 33 and 203cm, averaged 9.9ppg, 6.3rpg and 1.6apg last season but became a fan favourite at Titanium Security Arena due to his four-year nightly commitment to success.

A late bloomer, his locker-room presence and leadership will be missed as much as his on-court efforts which have seen him log 262 NBL games at West Sydney Razorbacks, Wollongong Hawks and under current 36ers coach Joey Wright at Gold Coast Blaze.

One of the most reliable and loyal big men in the game, my information is the man known as "Peach" didn't inform the 36ers directly of his decision but the club received a message from his agent.

Wright said he and Petrie had spoken since the initial information was relayed and would part company on good terms.

"I never get upset about guys leaving if it's better for them. I'm gonna do what's best for the team and they have to do what's best for them," Wright said. 

"He did his job and it's time to move forward."

PEACH SUCCESS RECIPE: Anthony Petrie, as 36ers will remember him, fighting for the team.

With captain Adam Gibson headed interstate and Petrie now also bound for a new destination - Brisbane Bullets has strongly been mooted though Sydney Kings would possibly also be a player considering Petrie is from NSW - Adelaide has lost two starters but freed up important dollars.

That said, Wright expressed concern at the figures currently being bandied about, a potential return from the NBA to Perth Wildcats of former NBL All Star James Ennis tipped likely to cost $500,000.

Dual-league MVP Kevin Lisch left Illawarra Hawks for Sydney Kings reputedly for $300,000.

"We need to be careful," Wright said of the sudden salary surge, reminiscent of the NBL's halcyon 90s era before the crash.

The Kings, meanwhile, continue to surround rookie NBL coach Andrew Gaze with talent, New Zealand Breakers' 2015 championship-winning coach and 2016 runner-up Dean Vickerman to mentor/assist Sydney's new boss.

Gaze's alley-oop recipient through two NBL championships together at Melbourne Tigers, Lanard Copeland, also joins his staff as an assistant.

Vickerman cut his teeth at Melbourne Tigers as an assistant, working with Gaze the player before joining current Australian national coach Andrej Lemanis as his lead Breakers assistant.

The duo won three NBL championships in succession before Vickerman succeeded Lemanis.

While "Copes" has an impressive resume as a player, the 1997 Larry Sengstock Medallist also has been coaching. He coached the Hume City Broncos Men’s Championship and was head coach of the Haileybury College men’s team which won the Victorian High School championship in 2014.

The nice irony is Vickerman almost cost Copeland his import role with the Tigers when he first arrived jet-lagged in Melbourne from NBA stints at Philadelphia 76ers and LA Clippers.

Vickers carved him up so badly in their first on-court session, Melbourne considered shipping Copeland out. Of course, once Copes found his wind, he went on to enjoy a storied NBL career while Vickerman steadily found his niche in coaching.