Fever Waive Lauren Cox

[UConnCat]

Indiana has a bunch of problems but didn't expect this.

 

[UConnCat]

Richard Cohen writing for HerHoopStats about the Fever. Like many he questions the job Catchings is doing there.

WNBA Dissected: How do you solve a problem like the Fever? Plus more from 2021 Week 6

Examining how Indiana might turn things around, Nneka Ogwumike's omission from Team USA, the lack of WNBA trasparency and more from around the league

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[nwhoopfan]

Wow, did not expect that. She hasn't been very productive, but still.

 

[UConnCat]

 

[UConnCat]

Cox's father has offered up rather mild criticism of the Fever for not playing her more. I doubt that was a factor; at least I hope not.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

Sounds like she should go to Dallas if they can find a spot for her.

 

[baggerbob]

Sounds like she should go to Dallas if they can find a spot for her.

Good pickup for Seattle, wouldn't be forced to play a lot early. She would have time to get well. They have Burke now, but Cox would be an upgrade.

 

[wolfe613]

she must be ecstatic to not play for that dumpster fire

 

[Kaizen]

I think Fever should waive the coach ..

 

[nwhoopfan]

Good pickup for Seattle, wouldn't be forced to play a lot early. She would have time to get well. They have Burke now, but Cox would be an upgrade.

Huh? Burke is a 3, Cox is a 4/5. She'd be competing w/ Magbegor for leftover minutes. Don't see the need or the opportunity for her at all w/ Seattle.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I think Fever should waive the coach ..

And the GM while they're at it.

 

[ConwayGmck]

I think Fever should waive the coach ..

Seriously. With a record like that, the problem(sss) are definitely NOT the players. And Cox should have been given ample playing opportunity, again with a record like that. WHatever starting unit they've been putting out there are not getting it done. The entire season is just like a 40+ point win or loss - empty the bench and see what they can do for you.......

 

[baggerbob]

Huh? Burke is a 3, Cox is a 4/5. She'd be competing w/ Magbegor for leftover minutes. Don't see the need or the opportunity for her at all w/ Seattle.

Stewie can play the 3, 4, or 5. Right now they have Dupree who is a waste coming off the bench. That was a stupid move signing her. Cox could easily do more for Seattle then what they get from Dupree.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Stewie can play the 3, 4, or 5. Right now they have Dupree who is a waste coming off the bench. That was a stupid move signing her. Cox could easily do more for Seattle then what they get from Dupree.

I'm not a Dupree fan either, but Cox's time in Indiana says otherwise. And if Dupree is so useless, why isn't Magbegor playing more?

 

[SECbbfan24]

I don't mean to go off topic but how has Cox been doing with her diabetes lately?

 

[bballnut90]

Man what a waste of a top 3 pick if you're going to bail that quick. Cox was out a good chunk of last year due to covid and never got extended minutes this year. I think she'd be a good pickup for another team. She isn't the quickest big but has immense length and is a skilled player. I love Catch but think this was a bad call....if anything they should can Stanley and find someone who can coach effectively at this level. Indiana has too much talent on their roster to have just 1 win.

 

[bbsamjj]

Man what a waste of a top 3 pick if you're going to bail that quick. Cox was out a good chunk of last year due to covid and never got extended minutes this year. I think she'd be a good pickup for another team. She isn't the quickest big but has immense length and is a skilled player. I love Catch but think this was a bad call....if anything they should can Stanley and find someone who can coach effectively at this level. Indiana has too much talent on their roster to have just 1 win.

They probably have too much talent to have 1 win, but I'm not sure they have enough talent to have more than 3.

They haven't drafted horribly. When they had the #2 pick in WNBA draft and took Kelsey Mitchell, you can argue they should have taken DeShields, but Kelsey has been a solid 2-guard (Atkins was drafted later, but she has outperformed all expectations).

In 2019, they had the best chance to win the lottery, but got the #3 pick. Yes, they could have picked Collier or Arike, but they had a massive hole at the 5 spot, and McCowan has been close to a double double her first three years in the league (though many would argue she has a lot more potential).

In 2020, they had the second worst record and got the third pick (missing out on Ionescu and Sabally). Lauren Cox didn't seem like a bad pick at all, though they left Chennedy Carter on the board (not to mention Dangerfield).

Obviously people were pretty shocked by the Gondrizick pick, though it's not like any rookie as exactly lit the league on fire this year. I would have had them pick a SF (which means they could have ended up with Onyenwere or Rennia Davis).

The question is: What type of team is Indiana trying to build? there seems to be no real strategy around the roster.

 

[bballnut90]

They probably have too much talent to have 1 win, but I'm not sure they have enough talent to have more than 3.

They haven't drafted horribly. When they had the #2 pick in WNBA draft and took Kelsey Mitchell, you can argue they should have taken DeShields, but Kelsey has been a solid 2-guard (Atkins was drafted later, but she has outperformed all expectations).

In 2019, they had the best chance to win the lottery, but got the #3 pick. Yes, they could have picked Collier or Arike, but they had a massive hole at the 5 spot, and McCowan has been close to a double double her first three years in the league (though many would argue she has a lot more potential).

In 2020, they had the second worst record and got the third pick (missing out on Ionescu and Sabally). Lauren Cox didn't seem like a bad pick at all, though they left Chennedy Carter on the board (not to mention Dangerfield).

Obviously people were pretty shocked by the Gondrizick pick, though it's not like any rookie as exactly lit the league on fire this year. I would have had them pick a SF (which means they could have ended up with Onyenwere or Rennia Davis).

The question is: What type of team is Indiana trying to build? there seems to be no real strategy around the roster.

Agree with this. I have no problem with their draft picks (besides this year, granted this year's draft was awful) but your last point is spot on in that their roster strategy is puzzling. Benching McCowan and waiving Cox is definitely a headscratcher. They haven't made any moves to pick up quality vets and instead have picked up ones whose value diminished significantly by the time they got to Indiana (Jantel/DRob). I have no idea what direction they're trying to build long term or if any of their high draft picks factor into that.

 

[Plebe]

Has there ever been such a high draft pick who's been waived so soon? Truly astounding that they couldn't have at least traded for Cox.

 

[maccca3232]

Has there ever been such a high draft pick who's been waived so soon? Truly astounding that they couldn't have at least traded for Cox.

Evelyn Akhator was taken third overall in the 2017 WNBA draft and has played only 1 season thus far (61 minutes over 15 games). She was waived 13 May 2018 (source)

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Cox should be picked up by someone. She is a great defender and can spot of up and hit the 3 on occasion. I dont feel she was given a fair shot at Indiana. Furthermore Indiana has problems. They have too many guards that are all about themselves and I will just leave it at that. Anyone that watches the Fever knows what I'm talking about. I have always said (since college) that Kelsey Mitchell would be so much more effective if she would shoot less and pass a bit more. She can still average 16+ but could easily have 6 assists per game. She would rather shoot. Indy tries to pick and shoot rather than pick and roll and they certainly don't pick and pop because the guards wont pass the ball to the player that pops out. Its a mess sometimes to watch. I could go on but I wont.

 

[cancontent]

I don't mean to go off topic but how has Cox been doing with her diabetes lately?

Man what a waste of a top 3 pick if you're going to bail that quick. Cox was out a good chunk of last year due to covid and never got extended minutes this year. I think she'd be a good pickup for another team. She isn't the quickest big but has immense length and is a skilled player. I love Catch but think this was a bad call....if anything they should can Stanley and find someone who can coach effectively at this level. Indiana has too much talent on their roster to have just 1 win.

I was wondering about these points myself. I hope that her diabetes and recovery from COVID didn't have an impact. As we've seen with Asia Durr, this disease can have lasting effects we may not realize are impacting her ability.

I'm really perplexed especially considering the tandem between her and Brown coming out of Baylor. They both have had their challenges since being drafted to play in the WNBA.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Atlanta needs help.

 

[Reypl21]

Wow, I hope she gets picked up by someone. I think she should. Indiana is a dumpster fire

 

[wolfe613]

best thing to happen to her career, people talk about expansion but I wouldn't be shocked if this team moves somewhere else, even ppl in Indiana that have no association with WNBA say they don't want this team representing their city/state