more on Bueckers-Wings drama

[Kat]

It would behoove the WNBA to have Paige in a major market, in a well-managed organization. The league should make sure she winds up in a good situation.

 

[Bald Husky]

Paige is a basketball player, a sensational basketball player. She is also a very good person, a sensational person. She has been injured twice since coming here, so there is no doubt she will be playing next year. UConn, no, she won't come back. Risking injury before her pro debut is not smart. Europe, no, don't think so. Again, her health is an issue and going over there is a risk. Dallas, well, that's who will own her rights unless a few WNBA teams can come up with a solution to get her to LA. If not LA, Washington may be a good fit with Aaliyah and Steph there. Chicago with Angel, that would be interesting. Actually, any team but Dallas, an organization that just goes through players like nothing, and just can't find the right combination to go with Arike. Is Paige it, can she work with this self-centered ND person? We may have to find out, but no matter where, Paige will show up and play her game. It's up to the coach to keep order in the locker room and court, so let's find out who they pick and go on from there.

 

[cancontent]

It would behoove the WNBA to have Paige in a major market, in a well-managed organization. The league should make sure she winds up in a good situation.

So, she's basically going to skip the first four teams? Which out of the first four picks are well managed organizations? None of these teams fall into that category.

Dallas, LA, and Chicago all had dysfunctional front offices. Dallas has a new GM but has yet to hire a coach. LA just hired a coach who has never coached in the WNBA. Chicago's GM is still relatively new and will be graded on their HC hire. Washington has yet to announce replacements for their GM and HC from what I last recall.

It doesn't matter where she lands. Any situation she goes into is a unchartered territory. This is another reason why all this caterwauling about what Paige should do doesn't make sense.

 

[Bald Husky]

It might be a problem if Paige doesn't go to Dallas. According to Wings news, the arena has sold out their season tickets, and although they sold out last year, this year it was accomplished 5 months earlier. What do you think made that happen? I wouldn't be surprised if they already made Paige Wings jerseys, which of course would also sell out to fans, especially the young girls. Could be a problem with the Wings fan base if she doesn't end up in Dallas, and it wouldn't matter why that happened. I expect her to honor whoever drafts her, because although I'm sure she would rather be in LA, she is the type of person that wouldn't want to disappoint anyone.

 

[oldude]

It might be a problem if Paige doesn't go to Dallas. According to Wings news, the arena has sold out their season tickets, and although they sold out last year, this year it was accomplished 5 months earlier. What do you think made that happen? I wouldn't be surprised if they already made Paige Wings jerseys, which of course would also sell out to fans, especially the young girls. Could be a problem with the Wings fan base if she doesn't end up in Dallas, and it wouldn't matter why that happened. I expect her to honor whoever drafts her, because although I'm sure she would rather be in LA, she is the type of person that wouldn't want to disappoint anyone.

I don’t know about Paige Wing jerseys before Paige has even been drafted and signed a contract. That would be an exploitive and illegal use of name, image and likeness, and would almost certainly result in a lawsuit by Paige’s agent.

 

[Dynastic]

Paige doesn't strike me as the type of person to manipulate her draft pick standing so she can end up with a "better" team.

Sure, she COULD do that. But she's incredibly media trained. She won't go out and say to an organization/have her agent say to an organization "I'm not going to play for you." Her main goal seems to just to be a part of team success, and to do her best to keep them afloat.

She wants to help a team win, to bring them up in the ranks and to be a core part of the success. She very well could do what CC did for the Fever, and bring them to a playoff, give them a mid-tier standing, etc.

Paige, while deep down, may want to play for the Sparks, won't go around it the same way Manning did. I just don't see it.

Yeah it’s a shame she may end up on the Wings, was hoping for the Sparks personally.

 

[Stagnant]

I never really liked any of these options. I was hoping the phoenix mercury were going to have another really lousy season. And maybe they would be in the lottery mix.

Out of the four at the lottery. Probably Washington was the most appealing. Didn’t happen unfortunately.

 

[cancontent]

I never really liked any of these options. I was hoping the phoenix mercury were going to have another really lousy season. And maybe they would be in the lottery mix.

Out of the four at the lottery. Probably Washington was the most appealing. Didn’t happen unfortunately.

What's appealing about Washington when there's no front office in place? Until there's some form of direction in place, it's anybody's guess as to whether Washington will be on the right path.

 

[Stagnant]

Washington at least never quit on their coach last year. At least she has that comfort with Aaliyah Edwards.

I mentioned it in the same post. I don’t like any of the options. Out of the 4, which has the best structure? Probably Dallas.

 

[cancontent]

Washington at least never quit on their coach last year. At least she has that comfort with Aaliyah Edwards.

I mentioned it in the same post. I don’t like any of the options. Out of the 4, which has the best structure? Probably Dallas.

It's too early to say which of the four has the best structure. It won't be known for a few years at least because we don't know whether things will work out. Look at LA and Miller leaving after 2 seasons. Anyway you look at it we're all just guessing right now.

 

[bbsamjj]

Dallas is the 5th biggest media market in the entire country. It's 20 spots higher than Indy, and look what Clark was able to do from there. A good Dallas team is good for the league, and while it's unclear who will coach and who will stay, a team with Paige, Arike...and potentially Satou, Howard, and McCowan is a force.

 

[Bigboote]

What's appealing about Washington when there's no front office in place? Until there's some form of direction in place, it's anybody's guess as to whether Washington will be on the right path.

The ownership group bought the Mystics and Wizards two or three years ago and said they’d be rebuilding the Wizards first. That’s done, and they’re starting on the Mystics now. I don’t follow the NBA, but from reading the WaPo, I get the impression that the impression that they’ve gotten pretty positive grades for round 1. So cautiously optimistic about the near future of the Mystics.

There is really strong community support for the Mystics. The size of the media market has already been pointed out, but it’s also a three-hour train ride (an hour by plane) to New York.

From Paige’s point of view, her father is less than an hour (plus traffic) from DC, and the Fudds are much closer, and Aaliyah would be a teammate. There’s a lot to be said for being close to your support system.

Perfect, no, but quite possibly way better than most possible landing spots.

 

[cancontent]

The ownership group bought the Mystics and Wizards two or three years ago and said they’d be rebuilding the Wizards first. That’s done, and they’re starting on the Mystics now. I don’t follow the NBA, but from reading the WaPo, I get the impression that the impression that they’ve gotten pretty positive grades for round 1. So cautiously optimistic about the near future of the Mystics.

There is really strong community support for the Mystics. The size of the media market has already been pointed out, but it’s also a three-hour train ride (an hour by plane) to New York.

From Paige’s point of view, her father is less than an hour (plus traffic) from DC, and the Fudds are much closer, and Aaliyah would be a teammate. There’s a lot to be said for being close to your support system.

Perfect, no, but quite possibly way better than most possible landing spots.

This context helps. Wasn't aware her father lived in the area. Thank you.

I think my frustration has been the focus has been solely on Dallas when in reality the top four picks are all unknowns. From my viewpoint it doesn't matter where Bueckers gets drafted because every team is starting fresh in some form.

 

[PacoSwede]

This context helps. Wasn't aware her father lived in the area. Thank you.

I think my frustration has been the focus has been solely on Dallas when in reality the top four picks are all unknowns. From my viewpoint it doesn't matter where Bueckers gets drafted because every team is starting fresh in some form.

we do know that one of them -- for now -- still can't quit arike. that's the x-factor.

 

[cancontent]

we do know that one of them -- for now -- still can't quit arike. that's the x-factor.

Maybe to UConn fans. I'm not of that opinion. It feels more that the ND bias is clouding the situation to me based on the tone of some posts instead of looking at the situation holistically.

 

[Stagnant]

Even Arike. It’s only a year. She has one year left on her contract. What’s the problem?

 

[cancontent]

Even Arike. It’s only a year. She has one year left on her contract. What’s the problem?

No idea. So many moving pieces that this discussion could all be for naught in the long run.

 

[diggerfoot]

I believe Bueckers will control where she ends up, but it won’t be the first year. Everything about her character suggests honor and confidence. She will honor the rules of the system that lands her anywhere and have the confidence to think she will turn that team into a winner.

On the other hand her Lynx roots and fandom runs deep. When the time and opportunity is right I suspect she will end up a Lynx, where she would intend to stay.

 

[Alydar]

Paige doesn't strike me as the type of person to manipulate her draft pick standing so she can end up with a "better" team.

Sure, she COULD do that. But she's incredibly media trained. She won't go out and say to an organization/have her agent say to an organization "I'm not going to play for you." Her main goal seems to just to be a part of team success, and to do her best to keep them afloat.

She wants to help a team win, to bring them up in the ranks and to be a core part of the success. She very well could do what CC did for the Fever, and bring them to a playoff, give them a mid-tier standing, etc.

Paige, while deep down, may want to play for the Sparks, won't go around it the same way Manning did. I just don't see it.

As I see it any manipulation will be done at the league level. The W will put Bueckers where she will do the league as a whole the most good, and that means a contender that won't be eliminated from the playoffs like Indiana was. They made the monster that is Clark and then she was gone at the very time that average people watch the WNBA. That's bad business.

 

[cancontent]

As I see it any manipulation will be done at the league level. The W will put Bueckers where she will do the league as a whole the most good, and that means a contender that won't be eliminated from the playoffs like Indiana was. They made the monster that is Clark and then she was gone at the very time that average people watch the WNBA. That's bad business.

ESPN reported an increase of over 100% for the finals compared to last year, well after Indiana being eliminated. Maybe it would have been higher had Indiana gone further but it's wrong assume this increase didn't include average people watching the games.

The 2024 WNBA season delivers record viewership across ESPN platforms

ESPN’s presentation of the 2024 WNBA season concludes with record-breaking viewership. This season’s broadcasts delivered some of the highest ratings in WNBA history, solidifying the league's continued momentum across ESPN platforms.

espnpressroom.com

 

[nwhoopfan]

As I see it any manipulation will be done at the league level. The W will put Bueckers where she will do the league as a whole the most good, and that means a contender that won't be eliminated from the playoffs like Indiana was.

Come on, Indiana had missed the playoffs for what, almost 10 years before this year? Were they supposed to win the Championship during Clark's rookie year? They have some good pieces in place, they should be able to build off their growth from last year. They met up with Connecticut, a very veteran, very physical team who has been making deep runs in the playoffs for years. It would've been shocking if Indiana had beaten them.

 

[ConnMotors]

I believe Bueckers will control where she ends up, but it won’t be the first year. Everything about her character suggests honor and confidence. She will honor the rules of the system that lands her anywhere and have the confidence to think she will turn that team into a winner.

On the other hand her Lynx roots and fandom runs deep. When the time and opportunity is right I suspect she will end up a Lynx, where she would intend to stay.

Is ARod and partners still in on buying the Minnesota teams? Are the teams still up for sale?

 

[DallasDomer]

As I see it any manipulation will be done at the league level. The W will put Bueckers where she will do the league as a whole the most good, and that means a contender that won't be eliminated from the playoffs like Indiana was. They made the monster that is Clark and then she was gone at the very time that average people watch the WNBA. That's bad business.

The Fever was terrible but Clark and others went. If Paige turns her nose up at any team she had best never play against that team because it will get very physical.

 

[oldude]

The Fever was terrible but Clark and others went. If Paige turns her nose up at any team she had best never play against that team because it will get very physical.

Well yes, but Clark grew up in nearby Iowa and was undoubtedly already a rock star prior to the draft in neighboring Indiana. As far as things getting physical, it’s hard to imagine anyone taking more physical abuse in the W than Clark in her rookie season.

 

[DallasDomer]

Well yes, but Clark grew up in nearby Iowa and was undoubtedly already a rock star prior to the draft in neighboring Indiana. As far as things getting physical, it’s hard to imagine anyone taking more physical abuse in the W than Clark in her rookie season.

I hope you're right.