more on Bueckers-Wings drama

[Alydar]

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.

You miss-understand my opinion. I think the draft is a sham. Whichever team Bueckers ends up at it will have been negotiated between her agent and the league prior to the draft. They are pros. Why shouldn't they seek the best deal? And are you suggesting that WNBA players would assault another player over a perceived insult? The regularity in which players change teams in the W doesn't suggest there's much team loyalty in the W.

But then Arike plays for Dallas so maybe I'm wrong.

 

[ucbart]

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.

But the Fever are a proud franchise, who were/are respected in the league. Dallas has been an absolute dumpster fire, from ownership to coaching, the entire time they've been in that city.

 

[DallasDomer]

But the Fever are a proud franchise, who were/are respected in the league. Dallas has been an absolute dumpster fire, from ownership to coaching, the entire time they've been in that city.

Um you have your opinion but note that in 2023 the Wings finished 4th the Fever tenth.

In 2022 & 2021 they were last, 2020 next to last. So I don't understand your definition of a proud franchise.

 

[DallasDomer]

You miss-understand my opinion. I think the draft is a sham. Whichever team Bueckers ends up at it will have been negotiated between her agent and the league prior to the draft. They are pros. Why shouldn't they seek the best deal? And are you suggesting that WNBA players would assault another player over a perceived insult? The regularity in which players change teams in the W doesn't suggest there's much team loyalty in the W.

But then Arike plays for Dallas so maybe I'm wrong.

"And are you suggesting that WNBA players would assault another player over a perceived insult?"

Based on what happened to Clark yes.

 

[bballnut90]

But the Fever are a proud franchise, who were/are respected in the league. Dallas has been an absolute dumpster fire, from ownership to coaching, the entire time they've been in that city.

They were a proud franchise when they had Catchings. Since she retired 8 years ago they’ve been an absolute dumpster fire until landing CC this year. I’m not sure if any franchise in the history of the league has missed 8 consecutive WNBA playoffs the way Indiana did, especially considering 2/3 of the league makes the playoffs every season.

 

[packwrap]

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.

You are quite the conspiracy theorist.

There is a limit to what league/TV can manipulate. WNBA was thrilled with Clark in Indiana. Midwestern girl in the ultimate midwestern market, virtually guaranteeing attention and sellouts.

By manipulating the front end of the schedule to get Clark on TV, however, they almost sunk Indiana by starting them out 1-8.

The only thing they can do to move Paige is to support a trade. Washington and Golden State have enough ammo.

I doubt this will happen though, so Paige will have to rely on new mgt in Dallas to get it right. Dallas is a great market for a star.

Physicality? After watching CC in WNBA last year, I am now quite comfortable right from day 1. Paige is actually very similar to Clark in both stature and skills. Like Clark she will get banged around, but that won't stop her from being effective.

 

[Alydar]

You are quite the conspiracy theorist.

There is a limit to what league/TV can manipulate. WNBA was thrilled with Clark in Indiana. Midwestern girl in the ultimate midwestern market, virtually guaranteeing attention and sellouts.

By manipulating the front end of the schedule to get Clark on TV, however, they almost sunk Indiana by starting them out 1-8.

The only thing they can do to move Paige is to support a trade. Washington and Golden State have enough ammo.

I doubt this will happen though, so Paige will have to rely on new mgt in Dallas to get it right. Dallas is a great market for a star.

Physicality? After watching CC in WNBA last year, I am now quite comfortable right from day 1. Paige is actually very similar to Clark in both stature and skills. Like Clark she will get banged around, but that won't stop her from being effective.

How? Let's start with the draft order lottery. How many chance drawings are done behind closed doors? Would you buy a raffle ticket if you were told that 2 or three unnamed people would go into a room a lone and come out and tell you who won? Wouldn't you be a little suspicious?

 

[DallasDomer]

How? Let's start with the draft order lottery. How many chance drawings are done behind closed doors? Would you buy a raffle ticket if you were told that 2 or three unnamed people would go into a room a lone and come out and tell you who won? Wouldn't you be a little suspicious?

The internet says "The actual drawing involves a lottery g and is often broadcasted for public viewing."
I didn't watch the show this year but that sounds like a typical lottery.

Besides if it was rigged wouldn't the Sparks have the money and influence than Dallas would?

How would you want it changed?

 

[azfan]

Wonder if Curt and the gang would take the rights to Diana Taurasi in exchange for the Beuckers pick?

Then the amazing Phoenix organization could trade the rights to Beuckers to Los Angeles for the rights to Lisa Leslie.

 

[cancontent]

Wonder if Curt and the gang would take the rights to Diana Taurasi in exchange for the Beuckers pick?

Then the amazing Phoenix organization could trade the rights to Beuckers to Los Angeles for the rights to Lisa Leslie.

What did Lisa Leslie do to get dragged into this??!!??

 

[Alydar]

The internet says "The actual drawing involves a lottery g and is often broadcasted for public viewing."
I didn't watch the show this year but that sounds like a typical lottery.

Besides if it was rigged wouldn't the Sparks have the money and influence than Dallas would?

How would you want it changed?

There is a show but at some point they just announce the results, like the Academy Awards.

I worked in the gaming industry for over 30 years. Before every drawing the balls are weighed and inspected by state auditors and security personel and the actual drawing is public. We had a saying at work, "if it can be fixed, it will be fixed".
I've been saying this for years with responses like yours.

 

[BRS24]

Will Paige Bueckers use her unprecedented leverage? She could force a trade or return to UConn

Women's basketball players are gaining more power. Could Bueckers lead the way in choosing her future path in the WNBA?

www.nytimes.com

"Bueckers, however, is in a rare situation where she wields more leverage thanks to her marketability, NIL portfolio and college eligibility. (She can return for a sixth season at UConn because of COVID-19 eligibility rules.) If she decides against playing for the Wings — and the buzz around the league is that Dallas was not her preferred destination — she could exert whatever levers she can to get where she wants as soon as possible.​

​

Given the state of the lottery teams, Bueckers could return to college by foregoing her draft eligibility at the end of the NCAA season and putting off the WNBA until 2026. That unfortunately still leaves her at the mercy of the lottery, but perhaps the threat of playing another season for UConn would motivate the Wings to take a trade demand seriously.​

​

Furthermore, it might behoove her financially to postpone the start of her WNBA career. By entering this season’s draft, she would lock herself into a four-year rookie-scale contract that averages $87,000 annually. However, the WNBA will enact a new collective bargaining agreement before the 2026 season, one that figures to increase player compensation.​

Trade demands are old hat for WNBA veterans, and stars usually win. Within the last 10 years, Kahleah Copper, Elena Delle Donne and Sylvia Fowles successfully negotiated their way to new teams. Fowles even sat out half a season while waiting for the right deal. Bueckers would hardly be noteworthy if she expressed a desire to play for a different team, even if the timing of her request would be unique."​

 

[DallasDomer]

Will Paige Bueckers use her unprecedented leverage? She could force a trade or return to UConn

Women's basketball players are gaining more power. Could Bueckers lead the way in choosing her future path in the WNBA?

www.nytimes.com

"Bueckers, however, is in a rare situation where she wields more leverage thanks to her marketability, NIL portfolio and college eligibility. (She can return for a sixth season at UConn because of COVID-19 eligibility rules.) If she decides against playing for the Wings — and the buzz around the league is that Dallas was not her preferred destination — she could exert whatever levers she can to get where she wants as soon as possible.​

​

Given the state of the lottery teams, Bueckers could return to college by foregoing her draft eligibility at the end of the NCAA season and putting off the WNBA until 2026. That unfortunately still leaves her at the mercy of the lottery, but perhaps the threat of playing another season for UConn would motivate the Wings to take a trade demand seriously.​

​

Furthermore, it might behoove her financially to postpone the start of her WNBA career. By entering this season’s draft, she would lock herself into a four-year rookie-scale contract that averages $87,000 annually. However, the WNBA will enact a new collective bargaining agreement before the 2026 season, one that figures to increase player compensation.​

Trade demands are old hat for WNBA veterans, and stars usually win. Within the last 10 years, Kahleah Copper, Elena Delle Donne and Sylvia Fowles successfully negotiated their way to new teams. Fowles even sat out half a season while waiting for the right deal. Bueckers would hardly be noteworthy if she expressed a desire to play for a different team, even if the timing of her request would be unique."​

I have heard lots of things but I have not heard anything directly from her. What exactly has she said?

 

[cancontent]

I have heard lots of things but I have not heard anything directly from her. What exactly has she said?

All I've heard her say is that she's focused on the season. Everything that is out there is third hand, off the record or opinions from what I've seen.

 

[Just.A.Fan]

I have heard lots of things but I have not heard anything directly from her. What exactly has she said?

All I've heard her say is that she's focused on the season. Everything that is out there is third hand, off the record or opinions from what I've seen.

It wold not be in her best interest to comment period regarding anything past this season.

 

[cancontent]

It wold not be in her best interest to comment period regarding anything past this season.

It's not her fault and she's just caught in the middle of everything. This is all media hype because of the multitude of scenarios that are possible. It sells and the media will leverage it anyway they can. Personally she shouldn't be expected to make any statements. Let her enjoy this season.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Isn't this the obvious problem with threatening to delay entering the league for another year--the following year the team with the #1 draft pick could be just as undesirable as Dallas. What then?


Just my opinion, but she's already a year behind most of her peers, it's time to go be a pro.

 

[oldude]

Isn't this the obvious problem with threatening to delay entering the league for another year--the following year the team with the #1 draft pick could be just as undesirable as Dallas. What then?


Just my opinion, but she's already a year behind most of her peers, it's time to go be a pro.

Aside from which team will end up with Paige there is one pretty significant difference between being a rookie in the W in 2025 vs 2026. Any 2025 rookie will be bound by the current collective bargaining agreement and pay scale for their first 4 seasons in the W.

In 2026 there will be a brand new collective bargaining agreement with, by all accounts, a much higher pay scale. That’s also one of the reasons why 90% of veterans in the W have opted out of the CBA beyond the 2025 season.

 

[bballnut90]

Aside from which team will end up with Paige there is one pretty significant difference between being a rookie in the W in 2025 vs 2026. Any 2025 rookie will be bound by the current collective bargaining agreement and pay scale for their first 4 seasons in the W.

In 2026 there will be a brand new collective bargaining agreement with, by all accounts, a much higher pay scale. That’s also one of the reasons why 90% of veterans in the W have opted out of the CBA beyond the 2025 season.

On the flip side, it delays her from earning a veteran salary until she’s 28 or 29 years old, so from a financial perspective it might make more sense to start the rookie contract earlier to get a bigger payout in year 5. Regardless, I doubt money is going to be a major issue for Paige as whatever she makes from her W salary is likely a small fraction of how much she makes from endorsements

 

[oldude]

On the flip side, it delays her from earning a veteran salary until she’s 28 or 29 years old, so from a financial perspective it might make more sense to start the rookie contract earlier to get a bigger payout in year 5. Regardless, I doubt money is going to be a major issue for Paige as whatever she makes from her W salary is likely a small fraction of how much she makes from endorsements

Assuming the new CBA continues to lock up rookies for 4 years.

 

[WBBTakeover]

After seeing who Dallas hired as their head coach, here are my updated thoughts. Maybe Paige should consider all of her options.

 

[DallasDomer]

After seeing who Dallas hired as their head coach, here are my updated thoughts. Maybe Paige should consider all of her options.

True Chris Koclanes has not been a head coach but has experience in the WNBA and NCAA, is there something else you see that isn't to your liking?

 

[Puppy Love]

True Chris Koclanes has not been a head coach but has experience in the WNBA and NCAA, is there something else you see that isn't to your liking?

Can we start with the fact that there is not one thing on his resume that would even suggest he knows how to put out a dumpster fire?

 

[cancontent]

Can we start with the fact that there is not one thing on his resume that would even suggest he knows how to put out a dumpster fire?

The dumpster fire you're referring to has layers to it. This is one part of what needs to improve. The head coach can't fix everything by themselves though.

Front office decisions have been the primary cause. The main person responsible is still part of it, but least they have Miller who has built a successful organization in the past. Miller obviously saw something in him to think Koclanes may be capable.

 

[UConnCat]

Paige needs to go to the WNBA and she will. I don't believe she's given any thought to returning.

Maybe she won't be the #1 pick. I don't know how Paige feels about that but the fan in me would like that result. I make it a point not to watch Dallas play and I don't want a reason to change that.