Azzi to Dallas Wings???

[bayern7]

Some insight can be gleaned from GMs comments. Around the nine minute mark, he talks about what he’s looking for in the draft with respect to the direction of the league. From what he’s said, I’m not hearing Betts at #1.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I had to see this Awa Fam

 

[Jonathan14]

Thinking about Azzi's fit on the Wings makes me wonder about the status of another Husky alum: Lou Lopez Sénéchal. Not that she and Azzi share the exact same skill set, but if Lou is back with Dallas, in shape, and has a coach who seems interested in playing her (and something tells me Jose would like Lou's game a lot), then she does meet some of Dallas's needs at shooting guard. As does Arike, to a greater extent, of course, if she's back with the team, healthy, and back to her old form.

But I have no idea where Lou's contract stands with the CBA, and her having taken a year off. Is she still on her 3-year rookie contract, or did that expire?

 

[BBallF]

Being cynical, which pick sells more tickets? Definitely Azzi.

 

[Hayven]

Azzi would be the best option for the #1 pick. She is a three level scorer and has picked up her defense.
Dallas can fill their post needs in free agency.

Unless it’s Stewie, Aja, or Pheesa, your post player isn’t going to be the greatest option. I’d see if I can lure Azura, BG, or Bri Jones, to Dallas. Those would be nice second options.

To those saying Fam should be the #1 pick to fill a post need, neglect to remember Awak Kuier. UConn fans should be familiar with her. She was the next best project from Europe. She’s only played in a few seasons for the Wings. Opting to stay in Europe during the W season the past few years. Also Fam is only 19. Choosing her would mean you’re wanting to possibly be a contender in a few years. Rather than soon. And given NT commitments, who knows if this will pan out. I see another Kuier situation happening if Fam is chosen.

Betts is too slow and limited offensively to be a serious #1 pick. She will be a nice back up, à la Kalani Brown and Teaira McCowan.

The Wings need to move on from Arike. She can’t play well off the ball. It didn’t work the past season, and it won’t work in the future. Sign and trade her for Azura, BG, or Bri Jones.

Lastly, ya’ll know who the new Wings’ coach is right? You think Fernandez is the right coach to run an offense for a big like Betts?

Azzi should (and will be) the #1 pick.

 

[Bone Dog]

Being cynical, which pick sells more tickets? Definitely Azzi.

That’s not cynical. That’s just the nature of professional sports

 

[MilfordHusky]

Azzi and Paige can turn the Dallas Wings into the Golden State Warriors. They will do a decent job of winning and a great job of providing excitement. Azzi works out with Chris Brickley and Steph Curry's trainer. Ask them what they think.

 

[darkstar1]

Very well could be Azzi if she meets the needs of the team. If they need a big, will they sacrifice that to reunite Paige and Azzi?

Maybe they could trade Arike for a big?

 

[oldude]

Maybe they could trade Arike for a big?

?
Arike is currently a free agent.

 

[Jonathan14]

Azzi works out with Chris Brickley and Steph Curry's trainer.

@MilfordHusky I misread "Chris Brickley" as "Charles Barkley" and was really searching my soul for what Sir Charles was bringing to Azzi's game. But then I remembered that my favorite of his nicknames was "The Round Mound of Rebound," and Azzi did have a career high in rebounds yesterday against Utah, so maybe that partnership is working out after all. … Or maybe it's time for me to get new reading glasses. 😉

 

[Bone Dog]

Isn't Yueru a big? Why won't she do?

 

[oldude]

Isn't Yueru a big? Why won't she do?

Too slow. Lacks athleticism.

 

[rt bb fan]

Dallas mostly needs an athletic Big who can play. They can sign a veteran free agent like Tina Charles or use their #1 pick to select Awa Fam, a 19 year old with an enormous upside. They need to address that issue first, something that both Curt Miller and Jose Fernandez will know.

If they take care of the Big via the free agent route, and allow Arike to walk, then bringing in a shooting guard like Azzi via the draft makes sense.

Tina is not the big they need. He time has come and gone.

 

[Bone Dog]

Too slow. Lacks athleticism.

I'm not so sure I agree with this assessment. She's not quick like Stewie or A'ja, but who is? But she's a 6'7" big who has a soft-touch elbow jumper. That alone puts her at least on a par with Betts right now. Also, from what I've heard, she gets along well with Paige. Whatever talent Yueru has, I suspect Paige will be able to make something out of it

 

[oldude]

I'm not so sure I agree with this assessment. She's not quick like Stewie or A'ja, but who is? But she's a 6'7" big who has a soft-touch elbow jumper. That alone puts her at least on a par with Betts right now. Also, from what I've heard, she gets along well with Paige. Whatever talent Yueru has, I suspect Paige will be able to make something out of it

That’s all fine. But she cannot defend athletic wNBA centers, so on occasion when the Wings play teams like Las Vegas or NY, Yueru plays sparingly. I think she’s fine off the bench as a reserve. But the Wings will never get to where they want to be with Yueru as their starting center.

 

[Cuango]

Thinking about Azzi's fit on the Wings makes me wonder about the status of another Husky alum: Lou Lopez Sénéchal. Not that she and Azzi share the exact same skill set, but if Lou is back with Dallas, in shape, and has a coach who seems interested in playing her (and something tells me Jose would like Lou's game a lot), then she does meet some of Dallas's needs at shooting guard. As does Arike, to a greater extent, of course, if she's back with the team, healthy, and back to her old form.

But I have no idea where Lou's contract stands with the CBA, and her having taken a year off. Is she still on her 3-year rookie contract, or did that expire?

I think it would be a huge mistake to keep Arike! She has never been a team player in the sense of ball movement, spread the floor and look for the best shot. She is actually a roadblock to that kind of play. Yes, she was a great (volume) scorer but she cannot make others better and not to be cruel, she is on the downside of her career, her efficiency is…..well, lets just say it’s not great. Plus, with her there might still be some question on who’s team this is. Let her go to another team and make it clear that this is Paige’s team! Draft Fam, keep Maddie and spend big on free agency! Get a top forward, a top guard/wing, and a couple of defensive dawgs and “Bob’s your uncle”! Paige will take care of the rest. 😎

 

[Happydad745]

Geno said something about not being able to teach height....in basketball, so I'm thinking the Wings will take Betts, and I think Azzi will end up playing for Seattle or Minnesota.

 

[Gael]

Azzi will likely go top four to (in draft order) Dallas, Minnesota, Seattle or Washington.

It's hard right now to look at it from the perspective of where Azzi would fit best, because the state of free agency is such that no one has any idea who will be on what teams.

So, perhaps look at it from the perspective of which of those four teams/cities/coaches would Azzi prefer. I have no idea. Washington would be close to her family home. The Wings/Shock have been a dumpster fire team for a very long time, having the most WNBA losses over the past 15 years. Minnesota has the most successful pro coach and the most lakes. Seattle has the best views and the most rainy days.

 

[Bone Dog]

That’s all fine. But she cannot defend athletic wNBA centers, so on occasion when the Wings play teams like Las Vegas or NY, Yueru plays sparingly. I think she’s fine off the bench as a reserve. But the Wings will never get to where they want to be with Yueru as their starting center.

Oh, we were talking about starting centers. I figured Fam would start, and Yueru would come off the bench. Dallas doesn't need two 6'7" slow footed centers, do they?

 

[oldhusky]

?
Arike is currently a free agent.

Yes, there will be very few sign and trade deals this year. Dallas just lets Arike walk, but it is like a sign and trade in essence using her departing salary to pursue another free agent who is better value per dollar spent.

Just about every team will have tons of cap space and most of the best players will be available as free agents. This is as close to a clean sheet of paper as teams or the league will ever see. A super team could emerge from one that was not even a contender last year or the top teams could just reload.

There could be lots of pairing of free agents, where several stars that want to play together make a joint decision of which team they turn into a power, like when James, Wade and Bosh colluded to go to Miami in the NBA. The attractiveness of the destination may play a big factor this year with so much money to spend and so many options.

Never in the history of the league has how you did last year meant so little to predict how you will do next year, until the free agent decisions start to play out.

 

[oldude]

Yes, there will be very few sign and trade deals this year. Dallas just lets Arike walk, but it is like a sign and trade in essence using her departing salary to pursue another free agent who is better value per dollar spent.

Just about every team will have tons of cap space and most of the best players will be available as free agents. This is as close to a clean sheet of paper as teams or the league will ever see. A super team could emerge from one that was not even a contender last year or the top teams could just reload.

There could be lots of pairing of free agents, where several stars that want to play together make a joint decision of which team they turn into a power, like when James, Wade and Bosh colluded to go to Miami in the NBA. The attractiveness of the destination may play a big factor this year with so much money to spend and so many options.

Never in the history of the league has how you did last year meant so little to predict how you will do next year, until the free agent decisions start to play out.

The one factor that I probably shouldn’t overplay, but I will, is which players want to play together. I have argued that everyone loves Paige and she makes everyone she plays with better. Will she be something of a magnet when it comes to the Wings ability to attract veteran players. That’s one of the reasons I suggest Tina Charles to Dallas as a possibility as I know that Tina thinks the world of Paige, and she probably wants to escape from the CT Sun.

Another veteran who’s friends with Paige is Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard, going back to USA basketball. There are a number of other players that fit that profile and of course, in addition to Charles, there’s the connection to UConn. What if a high profile player like Stewie or Pheesa or both decide to build a UConn dominant team in Dallas?

 

[oldude]

Tina is not the big they need. He time has come and gone.

I think Tina still has some life left in her old bones. One more 3-yr contract with an opportunity to win that elusive championship trophy might just be the motivation she needs to finish her career on a high note.

 

[Old Man UConn]

I am not a Wings follower , not many games to watch of THE Paige but, team need size, got killed on the boards from what I understand. Betts of UCLA

 

[cancontent]

Azzi would be the best option for the #1 pick. She is a three level scorer and has picked up her defense.
Dallas can fill their post needs in free agency.

Unless it’s Stewie, Aja, or Pheesa, your post player isn’t going to be the greatest option. I’d see if I can lure Azura, BG, or Bri Jones, to Dallas. Those would be nice second options.

To those saying Fam should be the #1 pick to fill a post need, neglect to remember Awak Kuier. UConn fans should be familiar with her. She was the next best project from Europe. She’s only played in a few seasons for the Wings. Opting to stay in Europe during the W season the past few years. Also Fam is only 19. Choosing her would mean you’re wanting to possibly be a contender in a few years. Rather than soon. And given NT commitments, who knows if this will pan out. I see another Kuier situation happening if Fam is chosen.

Betts is too slow and limited offensively to be a serious #1 pick. She will be a nice back up, à la Kalani Brown and Teaira McCowan.

The Wings need to move on from Arike. She can’t play well off the ball. It didn’t work the past season, and it won’t work in the future. Sign and trade her for Azura, BG, or Bri Jones.

Lastly, ya’ll know who the new Wings’ coach is right? You think Fernandez is the right coach to run an offense for a big like Betts?

Azzi should (and will be) the #1 pick.

To be fair, the Wings team and organization when Fam was selected wasn't the current one in place. Majority of their post players stagnated due to the coaching situation. Fam's development, or lack thereof wasn't all on her. Malonga was drafted this year, also at the age of 19. She performed well for her rookie season, including some good battles with Wilson during the play-offs.

Regarding your contender point, a few years wouldn't be unusual. Wilson was drafted in 2018 and Vegas won their first title in 2022. Ionescu was drafted in 2020 and New York won their first title in 2024. Not sure how drafting Fam, if the team opted to, could be seen as hampering the team's ability to compete for a title within a short time frame.

 

[oldude]

Food for thought. Recently, Curt Miller and his staff made a trip to Europe to scout potential draft targets. One of the places they went was Valencia, Spain, the current home and team of Awa Fam.