2025 WNBA Off-Season | Page 12 | The Boneyard

2025 WNBA Off-Season

I mean I kinda think Dallas has to draft Azzi. If I'm Paige and I'm the franchise player, I want them to draft Azzi no? And if I want them to draft her, they kinda have to. It's not like Azzi at 1 is a bad choice. Probably would be a top 10 shooter in the W day 1. Imho I think Betts is a good choice. I can't act like I've watched a ton of awa fam. But I'm interested to see betts more this season. What people say and post about her is the opposite of what I see. I don't see her as slow or unable to guard the pick and roll. I actually see her switch into guards some. My concern is I actually don't think she's that versatile or great with her back to the basket. But I'm sure she'll get better.
 
jdote33 said:
I mean I kinda think Dallas has to draft Azzi. If I'm Paige and I'm the franchise player, I want them to draft Azzi no? And if I want them to draft her, they kinda have to. It's not like Azzi at 1 is a bad choice. Probably would be a top 10 shooter in the W day 1. Imho I think Betts is a good choice. I can't act like I've watched a ton of awa fam. But I'm interested to see betts more this season. What people say and post about her is the opposite of what I see. I don't see her as slow or unable to guard the pick and roll. I actually see her switch into guards some. My concern is I actually don't think she's that versatile or great with her back to the basket. But I'm sure she'll get better.
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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.
 
cancontent said:
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.
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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).
 
I would argue that Dallas already has a plethora of young guards with potential so they need to bag a big to pair with them all. It also seems to me that there would be an overlapping skill set between Azzi and Siegrist. I don't think drafting Azzi to Dallas makes sense.
 
GamecockFam said:
I would argue that Dallas already has a plethora of young guards with potential so they need to bag a big to pair with them all. It also seems to me that there would be an overlapping skill set between Azzi and Siegrist. I don't think drafting Azzi to Dallas makes sense.
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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.

Secondly, Dallas does not make an effort to resign Arike, whose production this past season was up and down, and she basically missed the last part of the season with an injury. So they would need a top shooting guard to pair with Paige.

Finally, Dallas could shop the top pick to another lottery team. But they would need to be confident that Azzi would still be on the board when they made their pick.

With that said, I still believe the #1 pick is Awa Fam. She’s a very good player right now and her upside is tremendous.
 
Basingstoke said:
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).
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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.
 
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The Mystics fan base think Betts may slide to them at #4. Scouts really think highly of Fudd and Miles at #2 and#3.
 
cancontent said:
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.
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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.
 
DEpup said:
Dallas needs a center. I also don't think Azzi and Paige should mix business with pleasure. College is one thing but the pros is something else as young players just starting out.
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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.
 
I do like the idea of Dallas moving down. With Washington having three picks maybe they can swing a trade. I believe that Dolson is done in Washington. And, I’m not an Austin fan anymore after seeing her play while at a Sun game.
 
DEpup said:
I think Miles would really help the Mystics.
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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.
 
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Sooooo Sandy Brondello has a new job..... Liberty have not yet found/selected that new head coach
 
JellyBean said:
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.
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Let's not forget Amore who will be returning from her ACL injury. And Melbourne is on the roster too.
 
EricLA said:
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.

Betts will go high, but I think players like Fudd, Miles, Latson, and Flau'jae are potentially more valuable.
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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.
 
Real talk. Where do you guys have Betts on your draft boards? I am scared to death that she is a trap. And I wouldn’t be able to take her any higher than 6.
 
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Stagnant said:
Real talk. Where do you guys have Betts on your draft boards? I am scared to death that she is a trap. And I wouldn’t be able to take her any higher than 6.
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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.
 
EricLA said:
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.
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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.
 
cancontent said:
Let's not forget Amore who will be returning from her ACL injury. And Melbourne is on the roster too.
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I totally forgot about Amore and Melbourne. But I would still draft Miles if she was available. She is worth it.
 
JellyBean said:
I totally forgot about Amore and Melbourne. But I would still draft Miles if she was available. She is worth it.
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Not saying she wouldn't be, but noting that the number of guards the Mystics have in total. I don't envy the Mystics with respect to how they're going to determine who to draft. Their options are many but they also have to make sure they take a balanced approach.

Which One Choices GIF
 
Stagnant said:
Real talk. Where do you guys have Betts on your draft boards? I am scared to death that she is a trap. And I wouldn’t be able to take her any higher than 6.
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To be honest, all of these picks are a trap because of how teams are set up and core development. I mean look back at the 2023 draft for an example. Some of those players, I will use Grace and Haley for examples, make a team and then get bounced around until they land on a team with the right fit and need. It happens, sadly. As for Betts, I have her among my top 5, hopefully coming here to Minnesota but it all depends on how the off season goes and where players go.
 
This is how I would rank the recruits right now. My personal rankings:

1 - Awa Fam
2 - Flau’jae Johnson
3 - Azzi Fudd
4 - Olivia Miles
5 - Gianna Kneepkens
6 - Ta’Niya Latson
7 - Lauren Betts
8 - Madina Okot
9 - Janiah Barker
10 - Kiki Rice
 
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Watched that SC, Texas game, and Okot is rather impressive. Especially since she's only been playing the game since 2020. 6'6", really moves well, and she is young for that much size . She will still only be 21 years old when she graduates. I see her becoming a very effective player in the W.
 
Stagnant said:
Real talk. Where do you guys have Betts on your draft boards? I am scared to death that she is a trap. And I wouldn’t be able to take her any higher than 6.
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She’s dropped after the very underwhelming showing over Texas but I think folks are overstating her lack of athleticism. Still top 4 in my book. Bigs with her size, passing and touch around the basket are hard to come by.
 
Stagnant said:
This is how I would rank the recruits right now. My personal rankings:

1 - Awa Fam
2 - Flau’jae Johnson
3 - Azzi Fudd
4 - Olivia Miles
5 - Gianna Kneepkens
6 - Ta’Niya Latson
7 - Lauren Betts
8 - Madina Okot
9 - Janiah Barker
10 - Kiki Rice
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I think this is one of the best draft rankings I’ve seen (assuming this is based on talent and not specific team needs).

Fudd is having a fantastic season and playing to her potential at last, but I worry about her injury history over a longer, more compressed season in a more physical league. I usually don’t find Rebecca Lobo as UConn-biased as many do but she’s really doubling down on Fudd at #1.

Flau’jae has a pro-ready physique and doesn’t get nearly enough credit for her efficiency (47% career FG% and 38% three-point %) and defensive ability.

Miles has been, at worst, the #3 PG in the country (usually behind Bueckers and Clark) over her career.

I haven’t seen as much of Fam. If she has 75% of Malonga’s potential, I think she’s a worthy #1 in a year where there isn’t a clear-cut top pick. I’ve read she may not come over right away, but hard to put much stock in that knowing that rookie deals will go up significantly.
 
Have to think Marta Suarez is on some first-round draft boards at this point. She doesn’t have the potential that Janiah Barker does, for instance, but at some point what you’ve done on the court in 4 years has to matter.
 
Look, you can probably find me gushing over Marta in some threads from a few years ago because she was one of my favorite unhearlded players from like 2021-2022 when she was on Tennessee's roster. With that said, Marta still feels like a second round pick to me because of her lack of athleticism. I think she could find a role but it would be a risk. At best I think she is a Katie Lou Samuelson type of player in the W.
 
GoChips20 said:
I think this is one of the best draft rankings I’ve seen (assuming this is based on talent and not specific team needs).

Fudd is having a fantastic season and playing to her potential at last, but I worry about her injury history over a longer, more compressed season in a more physical league. I usually don’t find Rebecca Lobo as UConn-biased as many do but she’s really doubling down on Fudd at #1.

Flau’jae has a pro-ready physique and doesn’t get nearly enough credit for her efficiency (47% career FG% and 38% three-point %) and defensive ability.

Miles has been, at worst, the #3 PG in the country (usually behind Bueckers and Clark) over her career.

I haven’t seen as much of Fam. If she has 75% of Malonga’s potential, I think she’s a worthy #1 in a year where there isn’t a clear-cut top pick. I’ve read she may not come over right away, but hard to put much stock in that knowing that rookie deals will go up significantly.
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I think I would choose Miles over Flau'jae and Azzi. I also think that Latson will be a better pro than Kneepkens, as I think the spacing and speed of the game will favor her style of play. Without considering team needs, I think this would be the top 10 draft board:

1. Awa Fam
2. Olivia Miles
3. Flau'jae Johnson
4. Lauren Betts
5. Azzi Fudd
6. Ta'niya Latson
7. Gianna Kneepkens
8. Kiki Rice
9. Madina Okot
10. Janiah Barker

Dark Horses to move up the board (with a good second half to their seasons): Gabriela Jaques, Yarden Garzon, Laila Phelia, Raven Johnson, Cotie McMahon
 
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