Dallas Wins the Paige Bueckers Sweepstakes

[TheFarmFan]

Paige could have ended up in LA if she had gone pro after last season. Instead she returned to UConn. And it didn’t work out in this lottery either. Not meant to be.

I will be happy to watch her in Dallas with Jacy, Maddy, and maybe Lou.

If Dallas adds two more players this draft, what makes you think Lou is staying on the roster? I don't see her high enough in the depth chart that her return is guaranteed...

 

[oldude]

She also saves on all her deals she makes in Dallas, so in the long run she just might make more playing in Dallas vs LA or DC.

Just have to believe there’s another 0 or 2 on her deals in CA than in Dallas. Don’t get me wrong. I love the city of Dallas. But I just don’t know that Dallas is ready to embrace a WBB superstar like LA would.

 

[baggerbob]

Paige might just want to play in Dallas considering there is NO State income tax on her earnings. That means all of the salary and other income that she makes she keeps a lot more in her pocket than giving it up to California or DC.

Playing with that franchise isn't worth it, she should stay at Uconn for another year.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Just have to believe there’s another 0 or 2 on her deals in CA than in Dallas. Don’t get me wrong. I love the city of Dallas. But I just don’t know that Dallas is ready to embrace a WBB superstar like LA would.

Agreed. LA really embraced Brink and Paige is poised to be an even bigger star with a much longer track record as a top player on the national stage. This not only annoys me from an on-court perspective, but also because I feel like Paige in LA could have had an effect akin to Caitlin in Indiana.

 

[Stagnant]

If Dallas adds two more players this draft, what makes you think Lou is staying on the roster? I don't see her high enough in the depth chart that her return is guaranteed...

I said maybe Lou. Maybe if I were Dallas, I am keeping her on the roster now to accommodate Paige?

 

[Just.A.Fan]

Of course LA would be the best spot for Paige and that has more to due with fame, stardom, celebrity than money. She would be cherished and revered with all the other superstars ... past and present who have played and are playing in this city. In Dallas she will have to play second fiddle to Arike. From a pure basketball stand point, Paige would most likely accept that role with a smile on her face. She just wants to win basketball games. But Dallas would be stealing potential all-time greatest from her and that would be unforgivable.

 

[Centerstream]

Hey, at least Lou will finally get to play with Paige.

Jeesh, how quickly we (I) forget...when I first read this, I thought "why would Katie Lou feel this way?" Almost an hour later, "Doh!!!!!!!"

 

[David54]

Fun fact. Pro athletes pay taxes to the state the game is played in.

 

[ConnMotors]

Let’s see if we can make this work and it involves the expansion draft lottery. The Valkeries need to make a move here. They offer the dreadful Wings their No. 1 pick, which is the fifth selection. Then offer Dallas their 2026 No. 1 pick. Plus, if this is doable and WNBA legal have the Wings make as many selections as they want using Sacramento’s expansion picks. Dallas would get at least 11 picks from the expansion draft along with two No. 1 picks over the next two years from Sac. This leaves the Valks empty except for Paige. But, they can add a bunch of good players from all over. Anyone have a better deal?

 

[Plebe]

That settles it! Paige stays another year at UConn with Azzi, and all the good people of the world live happily ever after.

 

[oldude]

OK, here’s my take. Paige has a basketball season to play. But she has WNBA super agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas taking care of the business end of her deals. I have no doubt that at some point Colas will ask Paige what she wants to do relative to the W. If Paige wants LA, she only needs to let Colas know and then see if she can make it happen.

 

[jdote33]

I did want her to end up in LA, but c'est la vie. I think Paige can play with anyone and do anything so I'm not as concerned with her playing with Arike. I think Satou is a free agent, but Paige, Arike, Satou, Maddy Siegrest seems like a good core. I don't know if Lou will be kept cuz of the expansion draft. I don't get y Dallas would trade the pick.

 

[Zarathustra]

So, am I sensing a John Elway type of ultimatum here...? Doesn't sound like Paige though.

Even Paige should want to be happy! (IMHO). THE BUCKET DOES NOT HAVE TO
GO TO DALLAS!

 

[Zarathustra]

She also saves on all her deals she makes in Dallas, so in the long run she just might make more playing in Dallas vs LA or DC.

In my mind, Paige's values are not determined by $$$$. Wouldn't she LOVE to be
in "Media Crazy" (my joke!) Lynx land!

 

[Stagnant]

OK, here’s my take. Paige has a basketball season to play. But she has WNBA super agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas taking care of the business end of her deals. I have no doubt that at some point Colas will ask Paige what she wants to do relative to the W. If Paige wants LA, she only needs to let Colas know and then see if she can make it happen.

Paige won’t do it. And there is no way for her to pull that off anyway.

I am excited about her being in Dallas. I think they have a playoff team right away.

 

[CajunHusky]

She can afford to sit out a year. Playing with Arike????

Exactly ... come back for her Covid year or not declare for the draft and then sign with a European team.

 

[The deacon]

Hey, at least Lou will finally get to play with Paige.

At least for the moment, Lou's on the Fever...

( I know, Lou II).

 

[msf22b]

Paige has options.
1. Take the year off from the W, get a big European
contract and take her stardom abroad.
2. Demand a trade
3. Return to college...unlikely and even self-defeating
4. Report and make the best of it (seems unlikely to me
but what do I know).
5. Where is Stevie's league?

The rules in the W are complicated but favor the teams rather then rookies and seemingly the best one can hope for in taking a season off is being eligible for the next draft. Free agency for Rookies is hard to come by.

If she refuses to report, it's unlikely that Dallas would hold on to her with the trade value.

One has to remember: she is guided by some of the most knowledgable professionals in the marketing business.
Paige is a very valuable commodity...She'll have extensive excellent advice on this decision; the best.

 

[oldude]

Paige won’t do it. And there is no way for her to pull that off anyway.

I am excited about her being in Dallas. I think they have a playoff team right away.

I’m glad you’re excited about Paige playing in Dallas, assuming that’s where she ends up. But I wouldn’t be so sure that Paige and her agent wouldn’t play hardball. Keep in mind that another one of Lindsay Colas’s clients is Stewie, and hardball is exactly what Stewie has been playing with the W by refusing to sign a long term deal.

 

[Stagnant]

I think you guys are talking more from a position of you not wanting Paige in Dallas. She will definitely report. She would report to any franchise. Edit: imo.

 

[oldude]

Paige has options.
1. Take the year off from the W, get a big European
contract and take her stardom abroad.
2. Demand a trade
3. Return to college...unlikely and even self-defeating
4. Report and make the best of it (seems unlikely to me
but what do I know).
5. Where is Stevie's league?

The rules in the W are complicated but favor the teams rather then rookies and seemingly the best one can hope for in taking a season off is being eligible for the next draft. Free agency for Rookies is hard to come by.

If she refuses to report, it's unlikely that Dallas would hold on to her with the trade value.

One has to remember: she is guided by some of the most knowledgable professionals in the marketing business.
Paige is a very valuable commodity...She'll have extensive excellent advice on this decision; the best.

The option of skipping the W to just play overseas is something to consider. Gabby did it and came back after a triumphant Olympics performance with her choice of teams in the W.

 

[oldude]

I think you guys are talking more from a position of you not wanting Paige in Dallas. She will definitely report. She would report to any franchise.

Yes, we don’t want Paige in Dallas. But none of us knows what she wants and whether or not she will “report.” But she most definitely has options, if she chooses.

Let me quote Don Corleone. “This is just business.”

 

[pvdoggy]

Maybe Dallas will surprise everyone and trade Arike instead. Stranger things have happened before.

 

[Hayven]

I think Paige reports regardless of where she is drafted. It’s not in her nature do so otherwise. I don’t think she minds. Much of the pushback is coming from fans. Because we all know how terrible that organization, and some players, are

 

[Alydar]

Really? Arike is going to need to play off the ball and let Paige run the offense. Is she willing to do that?

The correct question is whether the team will allow Arike to be the focus.

Is Jefferson still around? I'd love to see her and Bueckers team up.

I'm also cynical of the draft lottery happening behind closed doors and of the draft itself but that's another issue.

I don't know how well the Wings draw media attention but with the way the Cowboys are playing Bueckers would be a refreshing dose of competency.

 

[bayern7]

Ngl, I’m a little disappointed. As others have said already I’m not sure Paige and Arike is a good backcourt pairing. That was so funny listening to ESPN talk about how great they’d be together, ugh yeah im not so sure…and I’m not so sure Arike’s style of play fits with any other A level guard, let alone someone like Paige. Not to mention they’re from arguably the hottest rivalry in women’s basketball W or college. You look at LA and it’s begging for Paige, the media market, the vibe of the city (Paige is a fashion girl) she has that laid back swagger mixed with blonde cali surf girl that screams LA/west coast to me, the legacy of the team itself, and the biggest thing is she fits much better with that team in terms of what she’s bringing to what they already have. That trio of Paige, Rickea, Cameron would truly be incredible not just because they’re all great/young but they would compliment each other so well. The only thing that team is really missing is a high level point guard. The stars were all aligned, but alas it wasn’t meant to be

 

[oldude]

The correct question is whether the team will allow Arike to be the focus.

Is Jefferson still around? I'd love to see her and Bueckers team up.

I'm also cynical of the draft lottery happening behind closed doors and of the draft itself but that's another issue.

I don't know how well the Wings draw media attention but with the way the Cowboys are playing Bueckers would be a refreshing dose of competency.

Well, that depends on the front office. The Wings just brought in Curt Miller as GM, formerly a coach for the Sparks & Sun, as well as a GM for the Sun. His first order of business will be to hire a HC. Obviously, the new regime will not be there to promote the status quo.

 

[CajunHusky]

Maybe Dallas will surprise everyone and trade Arike instead. Stranger things have happened before.

Everybody keeps talking Arike ... the one player Dallas has needed to get wins is Sabally and I think she is a free agent, She leaves and Dallas becomes Death Valley.

 

[oldhusky]

Let’s see if we can make this work and it involves the expansion draft lottery. The Valkeries need to make a move here. They offer the dreadful Wings their No. 1 pick, which is the fifth selection. Then offer Dallas their 2026 No. 1 pick. Plus, if this is doable and WNBA legal have the Wings make as many selections as they want using Sacramento’s expansion picks. Dallas would get at least 11 picks from the expansion draft along with two No. 1 picks over the next two years from Sac. This leaves the Valks empty except for Paige. But, they can add a bunch of good players from all over. Anyone have a better deal?

If I were the Valkeries, I would approach with a different package. Trying to keep next year's number 1 and hoping to get a second big time player to go with Paige, I would offer this year's #5 pick plus two players to be named later from the expansion draft. i think if prearranged, the Valkeries could in essence pick for Dallas, saying here are all the players available, pick two and we will select them and then trade them with the #5 pick for the first pick.

 

[bballnut90]

If Paige goes pro next year, is her full 3-4 year rookie contract locked in at 75k/year now? Vs if she waits until 2026, her rookie contract will be on the new negotiated rate (which is expected to be much higher?). Granted it all pales in comparison to the amount she makes from social media, but something to consider for her or in particular players like Harmon/Miles/Fudd who may benefit financially from staying an extra year in college.

Dallas isn't ideal as a landing spot but I also don't see it as a horrible destination. People felt Indiana was a death sentence location 2 years ago and look at the franchise now. Provided she stays healthy, Paige will be great wherever she lands. If she struggles to play alongside Arike, one of them will eventually leave. Arike is a solid passer and a great competitor. Teams will have a nightmare trying to matchup with her/Paige defensively. Most important, she seems thrilled at the prospect of playing with Paige.