How the Phoenix Mercury might RUIN the WNBA 2024 Draft!

[azfan]

All this is wrong but go ahead and have your opinion

This site gives a detailed analysis of past, current and projected contracts for the Mercury. You have to scroll down below the large site ad.

This season the Mercury have had three hardship contracts. Perhaps @SJF was making a comment on the quality of some of the players on the current roster?

Phoenix Mercury WNBA Salary Cap Sheet

Phoenix Mercury Salary Cap Sheet and Key WNBA CBA Info from Her Hoop Stats

herhoopstats.com

 

[MooseJaw]

I'm a fan of the Mercury and have been to multiple Mercury games. The players all seem to get along despite a very bad season this year. Definitely a spicier franchise to go to but I wouldn't be worried about Paige going there, especially since she already has a relationship with DT. No franchise is perfect and the Mercury are ones that actually seem to invest in their team.

Franchise I wouldn't want to see Paige, or any UConn player, go to: Chicago, Indiana, and maybe The Sparks

Silly, are you an expert on the different cities, and franchises. There are great things about Chicago as well as bad things, just like all cities with WNBA teams. I used Chicago as an example no disrespect to the other franchises you mentioned.

 

[MooseJaw]

When the Mercury drafted Griner I thought that with her & DT Phoenix would dominate the league but that hasn't been the case. They've won just 1 title together IIRC. Something hasn't been right there for awhile IMHO, I don't know if it's ownership, staff, players or a mix of the 3.

IMO Griner has been an underachiever since she entered WCBB. A player who seemed to have all the ability to achieve greatness. Something that has alluded her most of the seasons she has played. It's tough to dominate however most thought she had all the tools to be great and dominate.

 

[bballnut90]

How can a team with DT and Griner finish last in the league??

1. Coaching: The coaching was a disaster under Nygaard. I think Blue has done a really nice job given the circumstances but the damage during Nygaard's era was done.

2. DT/Griner aren't the same players they were 5-10 years ago. DT 41 years old and is a liability defensively and a very streaky shooter who can light it up or go cold. Griner is still an excellent offensive player but is nowhere near the dominant defense force was during college and her first several years in the W. Even in their prime, Phoenix had 1 great year with DT/Griner together but largely underperformed aside from their brilliant 2014 season.

3. Injuries/players out. DT and Griner have both missed many games this year due to a variety of reasons but when they're out they usually lose. They also have been the entire year without Diggins-Smith.

3. Money. They're significantly overpaying Taurasi based on her value today and flushed another max contract down the drain with Diggins-Smith being on maternity leave (and having no desire to play in Phoenix again). That's a lot of money that could've gone toward recruiting a solid 3rd option or starter.

4. As a result of all of the above (plus horrible team chemistry a year ago) Phoenix was the last place anyone wanted to play in this offseason, leading to a dreadful supporting cast. Most of their players are good individually but would be late on the bench options on different teams but instead start or log big minutes in Phoenix.

 

[Bigboote]

Lemme say I tip my hat to Griner for showing up at all this year. I’d be a basket case after what she’s been through.

 

[Beemer]

Lemme say I tip my hat to Griner for showing up at all this year. I’d be a basket case after what she’s been through.

It might have been better for her if she'd taken the year off to get her feet back under herself after all she went through.

I get her wanting to get back to her life as soon as possible but I think it wasn't a good idea.

 

[Happydad745]

Paige should stay another year at UConn...Clark is probably going #1 if she stays healthy because of that reason and her size...Paige and Fudd would go 1/2 the following year.

 

[GoChips20]

Paige should stay another year at UConn...Clark is probably going #1 if she stays healthy because of that reason and her size...Paige and Fudd would go 1/2 the following year.

I don’t see a world in which Clark isn’t the #1 pick regardless of who else is in her draft class.

 

[Carnac]

I don’t see a world in which Clark isn’t the #1 pick regardless of who else is in her draft class.

The GM's would probably agree with you because of the extraordinary numbers she put up during her college career, and her durability during that time. It's well known and understood by everyone that's involved in sports (players/managers/fans) that the BEST ability a player can have is AVAILABILITY.

 

[EricLA]

How can a team with DT and Griner finish last in the league??

Not to mention Moriah Jefferson - a PG many of us picked as a future Olympian right after she graduated UCONN.

The shorter answer is Dee is getting old, and Brit is coming back from time spent in a Russian prison. The other parts, aside from Moriah, are not players who should be starting on most teams. Turner is getting older as well, and has almost always been an offensive liability. Onyenwere and Cunningham wouldn't be starters for most teams. The supporting pieces just aren't that good compared to other teams.

They are solid - Gustafson and Sutton are good role players, but Turner, Cunningham and Onyenwere should be role players too, not starters.

Side note - hoping Paige stays 2 more years including this year. I'll be disappointed if she leaves "early".

 

[bballnut90]

Paige should stay another year at UConn...Clark is probably going #1 if she stays healthy because of that reason and her size...Paige and Fudd would go 1/2 the following year.

Miles would go ahead of Fudd at this point. Fudd is still somewhat of a wild card since she's had major health issues throughout her career and we haven't seen her play consistently at a high level in her first 2 years.

 

[Hayven]

Miles would go ahead of Fudd at this point. Fudd is still somewhat of a wild card since she's had major health issues throughout her career and we haven't seen her play consistently at a high level in her first 2 years.

The same player who has a current injury. Of which, the status of her injury is unknown. That player will go ahead of fudd?

 

[GoChips20]

The same player who has a current injury. Of which, the status of her injury is unknown. That player will go ahead of fudd?

This isn’t going to be a popular opinion on this board but Miles is a more complete player than Fudd based on what they have shown in college to date.

Fudd is an elite shooter. Miles is a developing scorer but an outstanding rebounder at the guard position and a dynamic passer who would get a lot more attention in the national spotlight were it not for a certain player up the road in Iowa City. Miles is also recovering from injury, but this is the first major injury in her career while Fudd has had myriad issues.

At some point durability is going to come into play and I think that will work against both Bueckers and Fudd until they can play at least one full season.

 

[bballnut90]

The same player who has a current injury. Of which, the status of her injury is unknown. That player will go ahead of fudd?

What @GoChips20 said. Miles is a complete PG with a well rounded game and has the physical tools and court vision to be an elite level WNBA point guard. Last year was her first injury, where Azzi Fudd has missed significant playing time in 3 of the last 5 years. If Fudd can play a full season near the level she started out last year through 6 games, she could surpass Miles, but up to this point she's shown to be primarily a scoring specialist who can light it up or go cold and disappear. Right now I think Miles is clearly the stronger prospect.