I think this makes a lot of sense. Look at some of the best players - The tallest like Wilson and Stewart (especially Wilson) have expanded mid range and outside shooting games. The days of true back to the basket centers seems to be waning. Especially ones who are on the slow-footed side.
I think Betts is different than these 3:
I agree. Can't see Seattle passing on Miles.
I agree. Betts is just not an overly dynamic player - Griner was notably smoother and faster in college than Betts is, and Griner now feels like a going-extinct dinosaur in today's W. As they say, you can't teach height, but for certain offenses Betts' skillset is not going to be overly helpful.
Cardoso needs someone to push her. She was perfectly happy being behind Boston and letting Boston do all the work. It took a lot of work from the South Carolina coaching staff to make her dominant after Boston left. I hoped she would retain those habits but she has long lapses of passive play in the W. Anyways, Betts has a fire inside which pushes her to get better and seek improvement, so I am sure she will carve out a space for herself, but unlike Boston, I don't think she is quite as mobile or smart, so I don't see her ceiling being as high as Boston's.
Why does Dallas have to draft Azzi? Yes, she's a great player but just because she played well with Paige at UConn doesn't make it an automatic for Dallas to draft her. Dallas has so many areas to address as a team. If they do, it's not going to be solely because Paige is there. I have a hard time seeing her go #1 when a talent like Fam is out there, especially when Dallas needs to improve the depth of the front court position.
You may be absolutely right, but we all have to temper our projections and little since there will be so much player movement (which will further define team needs) between now and the draft (once there is a new CBA).
Here is the only way I view Azzi to Dallas as the right move. Dallas signs a veteran post player in free agency. I have suggested that Tina Charles might just welcome the opportunity to finish her career with Paige in Dallas and make one more run at an elusive championship. There’s probably other veterans that also fit the bill.
And I agree with that as well, however my point was more in response to the poster's thought that Azzi would be automatic because Paige plays for Dallas.
I hear you. I'm kinda dating myself but It reminds me of the Orlando Magic situation with Shaq when they ended up with Penny Hardaway. Shaq was clearly the franchise player. There was Chris Weber, easily the number one pick, but Shaq had a friendly relationship with Penny due to shooting a movie together and kinda put his foot down to the front office to draft Penny. The big contrast is Shaq wanted to play with a Magic Johnson like guard and drafting Penny sortve balanced the roster. Presumably, Dallas drafting a big balances their roster, instead of another guard. Betts and Fam are worthy picks (I do remember watching Fam in U19 and U20 competitions representing Spain, I just haven't watched her this year much) I do think Azzi is a worthy pick and as others have mentioned rosters are in such flux.
There are literally tens of millions who at 22 were gosh darn sure this is THE ONE but would be absolutely miserable sharing a locker room with that person by 25.
Miles could help any team to be honest. Washington would be an awesome fit. With that young core of Shakria, KiKi, Sonia and then add Miles. They could be dangerous, especially if they keep their current coach. Coach Johnson had thay team playing well before the trading deadline hit and then the wheels fell off.
The Liberty have hired Golden State Warriors assistant coach Chris Demarco as their new HC.
Let's not forget Amore who will be returning from her ACL injury. And Melbourne is on the roster too.
Lauren Jackson from Australia was the 1st of the Versatile bigs and then Parker, so then Stewie and A'ja expanded on that. Most of the big like Betts are to slow for the speed of the game.
I honestly think that is about right. I mean she's not exactly tearing it up at UCLA right now. She's averaging 15 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 3.7 APG. Good numbers but not great. Given that slow footed centers like her seem to be waning in the WNBA, I will be VERY curious if/when the GM's pull the trigger and draft her.
I’m not high on Betts and if she turns out to have an Aliyah Boston-esque W career I’ll be pleasantly surprised. That said, 15ppg on a team as stacked with scorers and has played tough competition doesn’t concern me at all. 4 assists/game is pretty good for an off-guard, let alone a center. The rebounds could be higher, but I think the bigger issue is that she’s solely reliant on others to get her the ball and doesn’t have much dynamism to her game.