ESPN's latest WNBA Mock Draft has Evina going #12 | Page 2 | The Boneyard

ESPN's latest WNBA Mock Draft has Evina going #12

As usual, my views are to the contrary of the majority..
I think its likely that E will stay.

Clearly, the diminishment of her offensive accomplishment, this month, has to do with
physical discomfort...and will effect her value in the W.

A summer of (free) physical therapy, might be just what the doctor ordered to
get her into the best possible shape resulting in a much greater value in the draft;
and more importantly, the likelihood of her actual sticking on a roster.
And she can have an additional season to showcase her offensive prowess.
 
eebmg said:
www.espn.com

WNBA mock draft 2021, version 2.0 -- Texas Longhorns' Charli Collier projected to go No. 1 to Dallas Wings

The No. 1 pick changed hands, but Charli Collier still tops the WNBA draft board after a lot of free-agency movement.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Westbrook spent her first two years at Tennessee, then had to sit out a year during her transfer and is in her first season playing for UConn. At 6-0, she has good size for a point guard and is averaging 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Freshman Paige Bueckers is dominating the UConn storyline, but Westbrook has been a good addition for the Huskies. The Aces might see her as adding depth to their guard corps, if Westbrook opts to leave early
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I think she needs to think like Morgan Tuck did, this body has only so many years left in it for basketball so I need to go to the wnba now while I still can.
 
Aluminny69 said:
So, this raises a general question. If a player opts for the draft, then either isn't drafted, or doesn't make a team, should they be allowed to return to college ball? Personally, I can't think of a reason why not. ( Other than, of course, a necessary rule change.)
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Once a player declares for the WNBA the player renounces ALL remaining NCAA eligibility regardless if they are drafted or not drafted or make a team.
 
Aluminny69 said:
But my question is, why?
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That's the current rule which like all rules are subject to change. I've been arguing for a baseball model for WNBA and NBA for years. Essentially draft the player coming out of HS. If the player decides to turn pro then they go pro. If they decide to go to college then the team retains the drafts right to that player but it doesn't preclude them playing in NCAA.
 
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I think Evina will go pro but stranger things have happened. She has proven she can play well on a top ranked team and be a leader. I never doubted her skill when she was at UT but knew something was off, and yes I believe it was a combination of several factors. Her knees may never allow her to play at a high level but she could be a solid sub in the league.
 
I think if Evina is honored in March 1 as a senior, then she’s headed to the draft and not into a graduate program (like Morgan Tuck).

If Evina isn’t honored, then I think we’ll see her next year (like Batouly was honored last year instead of the year before when she was technically a senior).

Geno & Company will want to honor her and what she’s brought to the program, and I’d be willing to bet that they already know her plans.
 
eebmg said:
www.espn.com

WNBA mock draft 2021, version 2.0 -- Texas Longhorns' Charli Collier projected to go No. 1 to Dallas Wings

The No. 1 pick changed hands, but Charli Collier still tops the WNBA draft board after a lot of free-agency movement.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Westbrook spent her first two years at Tennessee, then had to sit out a year during her transfer and is in her first season playing for UConn. At 6-0, she has good size for a point guard and is averaging 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Freshman Paige Bueckers is dominating the UConn storyline, but Westbrook has been a good addition for the Huskies. The Aces might see her as adding depth to their guard corps, if Westbrook opts to leave early
Expand ...
Right now the Aces are kind of in limbo when it comes to ownership and it's future. Mark Davis of the Raiders has agreed to buy them from the MGM and has stated publicly that he wants to take them to the top and give them a better place to play. I really don't see them choosing another guard this year, I see them getting a center that will help them since it looks like Cambridge is going to retire, at least that is what was last published. I also don't see Bill staying as the GM if Davis takes over and if that happens I don't see him staying on as the coach after this year. Davis has the money that the MGM doesn't have and he will try to build a team in line with what Seattle has done over the past few years, so they may look at trading their pick to get someone that will give the team a respectable center to help them if one is not available through the draft.
 
dragon said:
Westbrook has no chance of getting drafted or making a WNBA roster. Same thing for Liv next year.
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I'd say you are 0-2.............if Westbrook is healthy she's obviously going to be drafted and when you're an athletic 6'5" forward/center who can score, pass, block shots and rebound you get drafted...........how long either stays in the pros is up to them...........
 
As with Morgan, obviously wear-and-tear matters. And, as Al McGuire so eloquently said, I haven’t looked in her refrigerator.

But, as I felt with Azure, Evina seems to me to need polishing. Maybe because of her injury, she has a high dribble and not a great handle. Her sssist/turnover is under 2. And, while her defense has improved this season, she isn’t a shutdown defender.

I say all this not to disparage what she has brought to this team. Evina has been a welcome addition. But, as with Jordan Horstan this year, she doesn’t fit now nor when she was at UT what I would expect of a #2 ranked recruit.
 
oldhuskie said:
As a part time Vegas resident and full time Ace's fan, the tail end of the Vegas roster might not be that hard to make. Like many WNBA teams the Aces have tried to spend their cap space on the top 8 players or so, filling the remaining spots with vet minimums or rookie contracts.

They used the little cap space they had to get a bargain with Riquana, but only for one year. They will not have space to sign her next year, so she is a one year rental. The lower salary of a rookie even against the vet minimum makes a difference. Teams don't want to pay a 12th player, using it to upgrade more relevant players, and they don't want to spend anything beyond what they have to on number 10 and 11.
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Oh it appears these people really know what they are doing, since they still have the 14 pick still going to Indiana. The pick they traded for Allen to the Aces.

If their pick is to replace Riquana Williams then the need a shooting guard, which Evina is not. They don't really need another point. Besides the cap space they have gained by trading Allen to Indiana could still be used to sign Sims who is still a free agent without a team. Although there might be some reason why Indiana cut her after trading for her.
 
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dragon said:
Westbrook has no chance of getting drafted or making a WNBA roster. Same thing for Liv next year.
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Wow why so bleak, she can rebound, and play great d, she could definitely make a WNBA roster. Plus playing at UCONN she has really come around in just a few months.
 
FanFromMaine said:
As with Morgan, obviously wear-and-tear matters. And, as Al McGuire so eloquently said, I haven’t looked in her refrigerator.

But, as I felt with Azure, Evina seems to me to need polishing. Maybe because of her injury, she has a high dribble and not a great handle. Her sssist/turnover is under 2. And, while her defense has improved this season, she isn’t a shutdown defender.

I say all this not to disparage what she has brought to this team. Evina has been a welcome addition. But, as with Jordan Horstan this year, she doesn’t fit now nor when she was at UT what I would expect of a #2 ranked recruit.
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I think you were right in your first paragraph. Sure she could use some polishing but the body is what it is. I think she needs to take her shot while she can and get that life experience.

Azure was completely different. Her health was perfect, she should have stayed another year, really learened how to play in the post, and probably a national championship.
 
I just like to appreciate and enjoy the players we have. I don't want to think about when they will leave.
 
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Evina has been guarding the opposing 4 during games. At times she goes for rebounds, you can see at times her knees are giving her issues. I don’t think she will return next year, given the issues with her knees. Until then, I hope she can help this team raise a banner at the end of the year....Hopefully it won’t be a end of the year banner for being the unanimous #1 team in the country
 
donalddoowop said:
Another year could give her knees time to heal.
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I thought the same thing about Morgan Tuck. Especially when she said she was coming back for her "redshirt" senior year, then recanted. If she was told her knees were not going to get any better, then I could see why she left early. The meter was running. If she had only a few miles left in those knees, no doubt she wanted to spend whatever time she had left as a professional. She chose to leave with her two other classmates Jefferson and Stewart.
 
She could leave, but I’m not sure if it makes sense. Realistically, I think it will be an uphill battle for her to make a WNBA roster. This class is weak, but I think a lot of players have started separating themselves from others. To me, being projected at #12 indicates she is in that tier of players that hasn’t quite done so. You can argue for several players projected after her to be in that spot as well.

She could learn from Megan Walker’s experience. Of course she had to deal with Covid, but the Liberty essentially moved on from her after one season of not getting a chance to fully heal, learn and improve. It’ll be interesting.
 
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Why would a team draft a guard in the first round that is less than 100% physically and may never be? Evina has proven to be a fabulous leader and teammate. If the stories are true about her knees, I would pass if I was GM.
 
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dragon said:
Westbrook has no chance of getting drafted or making a WNBA roster. Same thing for Liv next year.
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No spitting match here at all just my take on your take. ;)
For Westbrook, injury history may come into play as there are fewer teams and more quality players coming out each year. I wish her the best here or if moving on.
As for Liv I will reserve my judgement and question yours with this season to conclude and another remaining. How can one other than a say seer predicted what you do here?

Liv has shown improvement all season in a terribly disjointed season. We can only hope next season is something that resembles normal. With AE on board Liv is playing the high post more than ever and making it work. This and showing a couple of new low post moves in her last game. Not sure of your ability to see her value a year and a half from now at all. In politeness I will not add that head banging thing you deserve on this one. :)
 
Woof 101 said:
No spitting match here at all just my take on your take. ;)
For Westbrook, injury history may come into play as there are fewer teams and more quality players coming out each year. I wish her the best here or if moving on.
As for Liv I will reserve my judgement and question yours with this season to conclude and another remaining. How can one other than a say seer predicted what you do here?

Liv has shown improvement all season in a terribly disjointed season. We can only hope next season is something that resembles normal. With AE on board Liv is playing the high post more than ever and making it work. This and showing a couple of new low post moves in her last game. Not sure of your ability to see her value a year and a half from now at all. In politeness I will not add that head banging thing you deserve on this one. :)
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Agreed. Especially about more quality players coming out each year. The depth of the women's game is growing and its increasingly harder to make a WNBA roster. If the league had more popularity, they'd definitely be in a place to consider expansion, talent wise. For Westbrook, I think it comes down to the outcome of this season. If we win the NC, I think her moving on would be a great choice for her.

For Liv, her biggest asset is that you can't teach height. I sometimes think about how pedestrian she looked against Lauren Cox, and then how pedestrian Cox has looked in the WNBA. But we will she how much she improves with her remaining time at Uconn. I predict she will make a roster, but not sure she'll make much impact.
 
Given recent trends of leaving early, I can see E opting out.

Bad for us in my opinion as we are not only a young team but lacking clearly defined "been-there-done-that" leaders.

Neither CW nor ONO appear to have that leadership personality that the team needs from upper classmen.

Paige & Nika clearly do, maybe other under-classmen as well - but I think we need Evina for more reasons than her play alone.

Hope she stays.
 
msf22b said:
As usual, my views are to the contrary of the majority..
I think its likely that E will stay.

Clearly, the diminishment of her offensive accomplishment, this month, has to do with
physical discomfort...and will effect her value in the W.

A summer of (free) physical therapy, might be just what the doctor ordered to
get her into the best possible shape resulting in a much greater value in the draft;
and more importantly, the likelihood of her actual sticking on a roster.
And she can have an additional season to showcase her offensive prowess.
Expand ...
While your glass is half full, her knees are half empty. There is no cure for her knee problems, only rest and treatment can make them feel better. Yes she may stay and if she does a big plus for all involved. I don't envy her situation, however she seems to be a very mature young woman who will do what's right for her.
 
They will both be top 5 picks in the draft.
 
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