DeShields to Play in Turkey.

[Volup1]

According to Swish Appeal Diamond will play in Turkey this Fall. Diamond was in Dallas this week and indications are that she may join the Wings next year. Because she did not participate in this year's draft she will be a free agent next year:
An inside scoop on Diamond DeShields

 

[Vowelguy]

Because she did not participate in this year's draft she will be a free agent next year:

I doubt that.
Someone already posted the rules, and I believe it indicated every player had to pass through 1 draft.

I assume the "I will be out here next year" comment refers to the WNBA, not Dallas.

 

[Carnac]

The way the article reads, Diamond will be a "free agent" next year after returning from Turkey, and will be free to sign with any WNBA team she chooses to.

She's hinting at joining the Dallas Wings next year. The article said she asked one of the Wing's players for the Wing's assistant coach's (Bridget Pettis) phone number.

An article just below this one says that T'ea Cooper's dismissal from the team (for having a fight with teammate Jamie Narred), played a large part in her change of heart, and ultimately deciding to leave the program. The question is can she do this? This question came up about 3 weeks ago.

A poster said that she would still have to participate in the 2018 entry draft to come into the league. Is this true or not? Secondly, are the Wings interested in her, and would they sign her?

 

[Kaizen]

Why she needs to contact the Wing's assistant coach?
Does she have an agent?

 

[Bayareahusky]

Good for her... I hope she does well... It has been a roller coaster for her.... albeit much her own doing....

 

[MilfordHusky]

Diamond WILL play in Dallas next year. But will it be for the Wings or a visiting team?

I thought she had to enter the draft. We'll see in time. Is she on good terms with Kaela Davis and Alisha Gray? I thought both relationships might be strained.

 

[YellwJcket999]

The way the article reads, Diamond will be a "free agent" next year after returning from Turkey, and will be free to sign with any WNBA team she chooses to.

A poster said that she would still have to participate in the 2018 entry draft to come into the league. Is this true or not? Secondly, are the Wings interested in her, and would they sign her?

WNBA CBA 2014-2021Final
(f) No player may sign a Contract or play in the WNBA unless she has been eligible for selection in at least one (1) WNBA Draft.

She is not eligible to be a "free agent", nor does she qualify as an international player. Even if she did qualify as an international player she would still have to have made herself available to participate in at least one draft.

She needs an agent and/or a lawyer to go through the CBA with her. There is no scenario (cursory review) that gives her an exception to just sign with a team of her choice without going through the draft process.

 

[Shades]

Why she needs to contact the Wing's assistant coach?
Does she have an agent?

If she knows she's playing in Turkey, that's a good indication that she has an agent.

 

[Bestiarius]

WNBA CBA 2014-2021Final
(f) No player may sign a Contract or play in the WNBA unless she has been eligible for selection in at least one (1) WNBA Draft.

She is not eligible to be a "free agent", nor does she qualify as an international player. Even if she did qualify as an international player she would still have to have made herself available to participate in at least one draft.

She needs an agent and/or a lawyer to go through the CBA with her. There is no scenario (cursory review) that gives her an exception to just sign with a team of her choice without going through the draft process.

The key here is CBA - Collective Bargaining Agreement. The players are in a union that negotiated an agreement with the WNBA. New players must adhere to the agreement. The players don't want new players to just come in an pick a team, thus the negotiated draft rules. A player must go through the draft to play in the WNBA. It once required a person to go through two drafts before they were eligible to become a free agent, but apparently the new agreement requires participation in only one draft before they can negotiate with a team directly. It's kind of academic, because if a player is in the draft but not selected by a team, what's the chance that they will be able to negotiate their way onto a team directly?

 

[BroadwayVa]

WNBA CBA 2014-2021Final
(f) No player may sign a Contract or play in the WNBA unless she has been eligible for selection in at least one (1) WNBA Draft.

She is not eligible to be a "free agent", nor does she qualify as an international player. Even if she did qualify as an international player she would still have to have made herself available to participate in at least one draft.

She needs an agent and/or a lawyer to go through the CBA with her. There is no scenario (cursory review) that gives her an exception to just sign with a team of her choice without going through the draft process.

Playing Devils Advocate---the key word is ELIGIBLE---she was eligible because of age-
it does not read that she MUST participate in a draft--only that she be ELIGIBLE
The WNBA is not stupid --they wrote ELIGIBLE and not MANDATORY for a reason.
Why must she have an agent? Or lawyer---they are used for people who can't work the process themselves or don't have the time--apparently Diamond has the time.

 

[oldude]

If players are allowed to bypass the WNBA draft, and enter as free agents it would create chaos. Players could opt for the best deal and a few marquee teams could dominate the league. The intent of the CBA is to control costs and create parity as much as possible.

DD will be part of the WNBA draft next spring. Where she will be drafted and by whom will be the subject of significant speculation.

 

[CTtransplant]

Playing Devils Advocate---the key word is ELIGIBLE---she was eligible because of age-
it does not read that she MUST participate in a draft--only that she be ELIGIBLE
The WNBA is not stupid --they wrote ELIGIBLE and not MANDATORY for a reason.
Why must she have an agent? Or lawyer---they are used for people who can't work the process themselves or don't have the time--apparently Diamond has the time.

It doesn't say Eligible for the draft, it says "Eligible for selection." Diamond decided to forgo the draft and remain in college. Therefore, she was not eligible for selection.

 

[BroadwayVa]

If players are allowed to bypass the WNBA draft, and enter as free agents it would create chaos. Players could opt for the best deal and a few marquee teams could dominate the league. The intent of the CBA is to control costs and create parity as much as possible.

DD will be part of the WNBA draft next spring. Where she will be drafted and by whom will be the subject of significant speculation.

The IMPLICATION of the Collective Bargaining is UNION MEMBERS are under requirements--assuming the WNBA is a closed shop--that applies to ALL. I could talk about Taft -Hartley
but--
the truth is --she will MOST LIKELY --be in the next draft. The WORDING of ELIGIBLE--is NOT incidental--it, if written by attorneys, is by design--so is the WNBA a CLOSED SHOP i.e. must be a union member to participate
Chaos--rarely happens in places of employment, which the WNBA is, when highly skilled people enter or leave --it may change the emphasis What causes chaos--is discrimination in wages benefits.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Is this directly from the WNBA contract? If so ,I can only accept what you wite.
Free agent--if defined in the contract--would not apply to her--she wasn't part of that contract
Apparently if she is speaking with the Wings management, big IF, there is interest or they'd tell her to come back when you are eligible.
If she were a free agent--at this point I think they'd let her get some experience in Europe and then assess her potential--no rush is recruiting her now--the season is underway.

I agree the whole thing is ODD. It will be fun to see how this runs out.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Playing Devils Advocate---the key word is ELIGIBLE---she was eligible because of age-
it does not read that she MUST participate in a draft--only that she be ELIGIBLE
The WNBA is not stupid --they wrote ELIGIBLE and not MANDATORY for a reason.
Why must she have an agent? Or lawyer---they are used for people who can't work the process themselves or don't have the time--apparently Diamond has the time.

The phrase is "eligible for selection." DD did not enter the draft thus she was not eligible for selection. She must enter next year's draft. No free agency here.

 

[SVCBeercats]

I agree the whole thing is ODD. It will be fun to see how this runs out.

Actually it is quite normal. Remember this is DD! So this is quite normal.

 

[Kaizen]

If she knows she's playing in Turkey, that's a good indication that she has an agent.

If she has an agent, it should be the agent to contact the Wing's assistant coach.
Agree, it is so odd.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I have no doubt that Deshields thinks she can pick her WNBA team, one way or the other. It's who she is.

 

[Vowelguy]

The IMPLICATION of the Collective Bargaining is UNION MEMBERS are under requirements--assuming the WNBA is a closed shop--that applies to ALL. I could talk about Taft -Hartley
but--
the truth is --she will MOST LIKELY --be in the next draft. The WORDING of ELIGIBLE--is NOT incidental--it, if written by attorneys, is by design--so is the WNBA a CLOSED SHOP i.e. must be a union member to participate
Chaos--rarely happens in places of employment, which the WNBA is, when highly skilled people enter or leave --it may change the emphasis What causes chaos--is discrimination in wages benefits.

IF YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS, WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT US?

Not sure why you are choosing to die on this hill.

 

[Vowelguy]

+10000000000000

 

[Carnac]

I have no doubt that Deshields thinks she can pick her WNBA team, one way or the other. It's who she is.

An excerpt from the article: " No official statement was made from DeShields, but Saturday night sources received an inside scoop on DeShields’ next move, while she attended the Wings game.

The newly-turned pro solidified her pro statements, saying she was headed to “Turkey in September” to continue her basketball career. She also added, while in conversation with another person that attended the game, that she would “be out here (Dallas) next year.” This conversation, was held after she asked a current Dallas Wings player, for the phone number of assistant coach Bridget Pettis".

According to the article, it sure sounds that way to me. It sounds like she's already picked her team.

YellwJcket999 & Bestiarius thanks for your input and clarification. It's appreciated.

 

[Trappa]

Swish Appeal sounds loony with this one lol. It's possible she asked for BP's number just to make contact and create some ties in the league for networking purposes, or to ask for advice, or for help making pro-style individual work outs... Really, it could have been a number of basketball related things not related to playing for the Wings next year.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Swish Appeal sounds loony with this one lol. It's possible she asked for BP's number just to make contact and create some ties in the league for networking purposes, or to ask for advice, or for help making pro-style individual work outs... Really, it could have been a number of basketball related things not related to playing for the Wings next year.

Kill joy! It is summer and we were rolling with it.